Rally at council chambers to oppose land sale

A public rally outside Gosford Council Chambers on Tuesday, February 9, aims to highlight community concerns about Council's current land sale strategy.

Mr Mark Mann from Save Jumbuck Crescent Reserve and the Peninsula Environment Group said he encouraged residents who were concerned about the sell-off of community land on the Peninsula to attend the rally, which will take place at 6pm.

Mr Mann published all Gosford councillors email addresses on the Save Jumbuck Crescent Reserve facebook page and encouraged residents to write to them.

Council already endorsed Stage One and Stage Two of the strategy without any public consultation, according to Ms Sue Chidgey from Save Central Coast Reserves.

Of the parcels of land that have been listed for reclassification and sale on the Peninsula, two locations at Umina are listed in Stage One for reclassification to operational land so they can be sold.

Those lots of community land are at Brisbane Avenue Umina and 40 to 42 Albion St Umina.

Stage Two lists two lots of land at 23 Memorial Ave Blackwall that are already classified as operational.

Council has confirmed those lots will be advertised for sale shortly.

A further three parcels of Peninsula community land are to be reclassified as operational in order to be sold.

They are located at 40, 42 and 46 Pozieres Ave Umina, 9 to 11 Mackenzie Ave Woy Woy and 10 to 12 Jumbuck Close Woy Woy.

February 9 will be the first Gosford Council meeting for 2016 and it is expected a motion will be put forward by Cr Vicki Scott to change Council's direction and withdraw a number of the parcels of community land that have been listed for reclassification to allow their sale.

Cr Scott was unable to put her motion to the last 2015 meeting of Gosford Council as it was within three months of councilors passing a resolution in favour of Stage One of the Land Sale Strategy.

The motion she intends to put to the February 9 meeting can only address Stage One of the strategy.

Matters relating to Stage Two cannot be reconsidered by councillors until three months have elapsed following their endorsement of Stage Two last November.

"The rally will highlight the community's concerns over Gosford Council's proposed reclassification and sell-off of 25 public reserves, parks and green spaces", Ms Chidgey said. "Most of the lands in question have vital community and/or environmental benefits to residents," she said.

"It is staggering that Council is not consulting with communities to properly discuss the true value of these lands.

"As people become aware of what Council is proposing, they have been quick to band together to call for a better, more transparent process and community consultation.

A recent public meeting called for Gosford Council to withdraw from sale sites already classified as operational and halt the process of reclassifying community land.

The meeting moved a motion calling upon the council to develop a strategy that is put out on exhibition for public comment, and to undertake community engagement to assess the true social, environmental and economic value of any sites being considered as having sale potential.

"We hope that all community members from Patonga to Forresters Beach will stand up on February 9 and let the Council know that they do not consent to the sale by Gosford Council of community lands," Ms Chidgey said.

Media release, 2 Feb 2016

Sue Chidgey, Save Central Coast Reserves

Website, 3 Feb 2016

Mark Mann, Save Jumbuck Cres Reserve