Buying the other half

I was interested to read (Peninsula News, June 29) that Council may negotiate to purchase half the bushland block on the corner of Hilliew St and Veron Rd, Woy Woy, because the environmental sensitivity of the land makes it unsuitable for development.

It would seem that the rationale for purchasing half is lack of money.

In case this is correct, I would like to offer two obvious suggestions that would enable the purchase of the whole block.

First, the shortage of funds results from the allocation of Peninsula S94 funds to the construction of a regional facility, the Regional Leisure Centre at Woy Woy.

Given that Peninsula S94 funds are being used for a facility that will serve the region, it would be fair to allocate some S94 funds from other areas in the LGA instead of only using Peninsula funds.

Second, we live in an age of credit.

Surely Gosford Council has adequate credibility to borrow funds from a state government body or financial institution to purchase this land.

There are many other innovative ideas available from community members to ensure we retain this bushland block for the benefit of existing and future populations of people and wildlife.

Shirley Hotchkiss, Umina