Channel is political football, says Doyle

The responsibility for the Brisbane Water Channel has been a political football for years, according to Gosford's deputy mayor, Cr Craig Doyle.

"Gosford Council has no jurisdiction over the water at all. Our jurisdiction stops at shore," Cr Doyle said.

He said responsibility for ensuring the channel remains safe and functional clearly and squarely rests with the NSW Government.

"The State Government takes care of other channels including the one at Swansea so why are we getting a second-rate service?" he said.

"Gosford Council has no income to generate these works.

"The only ones who have income from the waterways are the State Government because they have control."

Cr Doyle said the Gosford Council does not get any revenue from fishing licences, oyster farming licences or anything other waterways-generated revenue.

"We came to a point of frustration about five years ago when council, on behalf of its residents contributed a quarter of a million dollars, maybe more, to open the channel but it was a very frustrating exercise.

"If you pick up sand from that channel you have to deposit it back on same water course.

"If you deposit on beach at Ettalong and get a major storm event it goes back into the channel.

"We have done the right thing in the past by spending money on the channel and now the state government is going to make us pay for it.

"The question is clear: who has jurisdiction of the waterways?

"It is State Government.

"Who captures all the income from all the licenses?

"It is State Government.

"What money can Gosford Council generate?

"None."

He said that Gosford Council had not been approached by the NSW Government to enter any partnership to fund the work required to restore the channel to an acceptable width and depth.

Peninsula News has asked both the Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Mr Scot MacDonald and Shadow Minister Mr David Harris, along with the Member for Gosford, Ms Kathy Smith for an explanation of why the NSW Government will not commit to fixing the current narrowing of the channel.

Interview, 17 Mar 2016

Craig Doyle, Gosford Council

Reporter: Jackie Pearson