Final Gosford Council report mentions Peninsula

A final "delivery report" mentioning Gosford Council achievements on the Peninsula for the period January to May has been tabled in a Central Coast Council meeting.

The report highlights the former Council's achievement in being part of the redevelopment of the Woy Woy Oval.

"Council welcomed news that the Australian Government is set to provide $304,000 in funding towards upgrade works at McEvoy Oval in Umina," the report said.

"Council had previously allocated $220,000 to the project, and secured an additional $220,000 from the NSW Government for the works.

"A major component of the project will be the construction of a new amenities building, which includes improved storage facilities, canteen, club room and toilets."

Another achievement outlined in the report was the Deadly Young Aboriginal surf program at Umina Beach held in January.

"The free program included beach safety and three learn-to-surf workshops for local Aboriginal children aged between eight and 16 years," the report said.

"Twenty one participants took part in this event, which also included a sausage sizzle from council's Youth Engagement Strategy team."

In terms of environmental achievements, the Woy Woy tip rated a mention.

"Council previously operated a temporary resource recovery and waste transfer facility at Woy Woy landfill," the report said.

"This was assessed as a possible work health and safety risk to both council staff and customers.

"As such, council resolved to construct a new $2.4 million waste transfer facility at the Woy Woy landfill site.

"Incoming products include general hard rubbish such as green waste, cardboard, scrap metal and hazardous metals such as batteries, motor oils and tyres.

"The new permanent facility was commissioned on April 18."

The management of the Peninsula Leisure Centre also met its objectives according to the report.

Its key business performance measure was to achieve direct expense recovery of 80 per cent while providing low cost services and programs to the community.

The centre's customer service satisfaction target was 75 per cent of users satisfied with the level of service and quality of the facilities.

The centre achieved 78.5 per cent cost recovery and 75 per cent user satisfaction, the report said.

According to the report, the new Central Coast Council Operational Plan for 2016-2017 was prepared as a composite of the existing operational plans of the former councils.

"As such [it] is considered an interim plan to guide the new council through the first year of the transition.

"The requirement in the Act for all councils to have a delivery program and community strategic plan will be fulfilled by the Delivery Programs and Community Strategic Plans of the former councils until a new program and plan is prepared by the incoming Council after its first election.

"Early in 2017, Central Coast Council will commence community engagement to inform the development of the new Community Strategic Plan and Resourcing Strategy, as well as the 2018-2021 Delivery Program.

"The new Community Strategic Plan, Resourcing Strategy, Delivery Program and Operational Plan will be completed and adopted by the newly elected Council no later than July 1, 2018."

The report was tabled at the Wednesday, November 23 ordinary meeting of the Central Coast Council and outlined the former Gosford Council's progress against the objectives outlined in the four year Delivery Program 2013/14 to 2016/17 and the Community Strategic Plan 2025.

"While there have been no specific instructions from the NSW State Government regarding the need to complete a Progress Report for the former Councils, this final report is deemed necessary in order to close-off on a number of actions that did not flow into the new Operational Plan, having been completed, cancelled or superseded," the report said.

"Central Coast Council considers that from a governance perspective, and in order to ensure transparent and accurate reporting to the community, this final Progress Report is essential.

"It should be noted that a high number of actions have been deferred due to the amalgamation of the former Wyong and Gosford Councils on May 12."

Central Coast Council agenda 4.3, 23 Nov 2016