Character question is redundant

Debra Wales has made it quite clear that the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has extensive interests.

The Chamber has provided viewing decks, banners and signs to support corporations such as Aldi, Coles, Woolworths, Bunnings and McDonalds at Umina without any side effects.

McDonalds at Umina was approved with the following comment from council staff,"the building is designed as a corporate McDonalds Restaurant therefore the needs of the applicant should be balanced against the character requirements".

Revitalisation of Umina Beach Town Centre equates to character tradeoffs.

Is this acceptable to the Chamber?

The rezoning application (that will create 80-100 casual and full time jobs) also trades off character.

With the rezoning and expansion of Umina Beach Town Centre, the question posed in Gosford Council's Draft Community Strategic Plan is: How do we address the dilemma of wanting to retain the small villages with our desire to grow?

This is now redundant.

Decks and banners should not be substituted for character.

Letter, 15 Nov 2012

Norman Harris, Umina