Information about long-term plans

Information about the NSW Government 10-year State Plan and Gosford Council's Vision 2025 will be provided at a free community information forum on Monday, May 28.

The forum will start at 4.30pm at the Ettalong Beach Memorial Club, The Esplanade, Ettalong Beach, hosted by Penlink Incorporated.

PenLink chairman Mr Keiran Booth said the group would also announce a proposal to establish a "Chamber of Community" for the Peninsula services and community members.

PenLink Incorporated is an independent community group made up of community members who have experience or interest in a range of community service organisations and community groups.

Mr Booth said PenLink was not affiliated with, or aligned to any other government or non government organisation, despite the event being co-ordinated through the Gosford office of the Premier's Department.

Mr Booth said: "This will be a great opportunity for service organisations and members of the Peninsula community to hear first hand of the plans for our community under the plans.

"It is also an opportunity for local community groups and organisations to assess the opportunities available to community groups as a result of those plans."

PenLink Incorporated also planned to launch its proposal for the establishment of a Chamber of Community for the Peninsula area and hopes to have a wide range of individuals and community and service groups joining the chamber.

"It will be an opportunity to bring together the great range of community talents and service skills within the local area as well as being an opportunity for local people to develop localised solutions to local issues," Mr Booth said.

Mr Booth said that the chamber "will be an opportunity for all interested Peninsula community members and organisations to have a cohesive, supportive and coordinated approach to the issues concerning our local community".

Mr Booth said: "All too often the service groups and agencies come up with wonderful solutions or proposals that are sometimes isolated from the rest of the community.

"PenLink's intention is to bring together a wide range of community representatives and their views to ensure that all aspects of the community are considered, that local services are able to deliver the services required by the community and to reduce the level of duplication of services."

Mr Booth said the Chamber of Community would operate in the same manner as the "successful Peninsula Chamber of Commerce", in that the individual needs, objectives and direction of organisations and community members would be respected and supported but actions or proposals would be informed by the "desired needs and opinions" of other service or community organisations and members of the Peninsula community.

"PenLink hoped that the proposed Chamber of Community would allow the Peninsula community to have a united, coordinated and effective peak organisation," Mr Booth said.

"It will support a wide range of individuals and organisations who wish to see the Central Coast Peninsula community as a cohesive, thoughtful and supportive community who values and considers the diversity of needs of its community services and individuals.

"This is a great way for the Peninsula community to take control of local issues from a whole of community perspective and to propose and develop long term community strategies to deal with local issues.

"PenLink's strategic partnerships put it in a wonderful position to engage direct pathways to relevant State and local government organisations who can assist those strategies and proposals."

All community members, organisations and community services working in the Peninsula are welcome to attend.

For catering and seating purposes, those attending should register their interest by contacting Ms Alison Ford at the Gosford office of the Premier's Department on 4337 2311 by Wednesday, May 23.

Press release, 7 May 2007 Keiran Booth, PenLink Incorporated