Merger will lead to higher rates and neglected concerns

Below is my submission to the review of council amalgamation.

As a resident of Umina, I wish to express my strong opposition to the proposed merger of Gosford and Wyong councils.

While there are certainly problems with local government in my area, I do not believe that amalgamation of the two councils will do anything to address the problems and in my opinion, it is likely to exacerbate them.

Residents of the Peninsula see themselves as a separate group from other Coasties and we welcome the fact that we support an independent newspaper, the Peninsula News, which deals exclusively with local events.

Under the Gosford Council administration, most side-streets on the Peninsula remain without kerb and guttering even though rate-payers here pay water rates and a stormwater levy.

There is clearly an impression that rate monies go to improvements in other areas.

Umina is proud of its beaches but these have been consistently rated as poor by independent rating agencies.

Stormwater still arrives at the beachside and causes erosion.

Gosford Council relies on expensive consultants who have failed consistently to find permanent solutions.

With an even greater area to cover, it seems improbable that a new, amalgamated council could do more than merely prioritise, on an even longer list, works in our area which are long overdue.

There is clearly a feeling among Peninsula residents that we have been given a "raw prawn" response recently from council and state government.

The State Government refused to reverse its decision to close the motor registry office in Woy Woy.

Even though there were several protests and a petition signed by 15,000 people, the State Government went ahead and shut down the Woy Woy outlet.

Many like me had problems with this change.

I was forced to visit Gosford twice to apply for a disability parking-permit so that I can transport my father, aged 102, around the city.

To add insult to injury, the State Government ignored a request to establish a Service NSW office in Woy Woy.

During my lifetime, I have lived in Australia's largest local government area, Brisbane City, and its smallest, the City of Fitzroy.

I have seen mergers in action with Toowoomba Regional Council and with the City of Yarra (combining Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond).

All of these changes led to heartache for residents, higher rates, neglected local concerns and disused buildings.

It would be remarkable if this did not occur again under the proposed merger of Gosford and Wyong.

What is needed is reform within Gosford Council rather than adding more challenges to policy and administration.

Email, 12 Feb 2016

Jack Lloyd, Umina