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Collapse Issue 440 - 12 Mar 2018Issue 440 - 12 Mar 2018
Collapse  NEWS NEWS
Peninsula identified as having high gambling risk
Petition calls on council to reinstate play equipment
Injured girls waits 24 hours for rescue
Council grants six non-complying DAs in three months
'Standards set out in DCP have not been complied with'
Construction certificate issued for multi-dwelling project
Endangered bushland is not 'significant' to Council
Council works start ahead of schedule
Liberal and Labor lobby for position on dredge purchase
Innovative waterways solutions needed, says Holstein
Council is procrastinating, says Chamber
Woy Woy tip to get upgrades
No jetski incidents were reported
Fuel prices continue to be up to 35 cents higher
Award recipient objects to nursing home
Petition calls for skate park upgrade
Holstein to seek council support for rail underpass
Floating pontoons should replace wharf, says Mehrtens
Book fair on Easter Saturday at Pearl Beach
No start date set for on-demand buses, says Tesch
New members at Rotary
Wicks starts roads petition
Candidate blames state of roads for pensioner's fall
Umina woman chosen for council advisory group
Agency helps prepare wills and powers of attorney
Top real estate performers
Collapse  FORUM FORUM
Precedence is not acceptable for flaunting the rules
Planning codes and standards do not meet the need
Planning democracy? Not from this council
'Significant' applies to issues raised, not numbers
Flood level can be a matter of life and death
The most streets without footpaths?
Better use for sandstone blocks
Revisit 1977 breakwater option
Collapse  HEALTH HEALTH
Disability service provider opens homes at Booker Bay
Lifeline presents domestic violence awareness session
Patients pay $32.45 to see a doctor, says candidate
Bulk-billing rate rises to 86.6 per cent
Lifeline presents suicide intervention session
Discount during International Coeliac Week
Collapse  ARTS ARTS
Proceeds to Rotary projects
Pearl Beach artist presents wildlife exhibition
Collapse  EDUCATION EDUCATION
Parents told of play equipment ban
Maintenance work at Woy Woy
Sandpit toys wanted
Registered for action against bullying
Polynesian dance troupe
School musical is planned
Collapse  SPORT SPORT
Aron Sherriff moves to Queensland
Swimmers manage qualifying times at Homebush
Social club donates to Woy Woy Juniors
Season launch for Woy Woy Rugby Union
Busy month for Umina Surf Life Savers
Event to raise money for village
Mixed bowls

Planning democracy? Not from this council

Mathew Wales' claim that reducing the number of DA objections required to trigger a referral to Council will "impede the orderly development we need" is, of course, patent nonsense.

Orderly development is not a planning policy and, if Mr Wales considers what is happening in the Peninsula's backyards to be orderly development, he really needs some help.

Ad hoc, ill-conceived, poorly-designed granny flats make a mockery of the so-called planning of the Peninsula.

You can't drive down some lanes at night and rubbish is piled in heaps beside the broken down cars, while residents have to drag their rubbish bins half a block to the nearest side street for the weekly pick up.

Mr Wales' further assertion that "Council staff who assess and liaise with applicants to ensure that such developments meet all the require code and standards" (Insulting to building industry and council planners, Peninsula News 439) is astonishing.

Mr Wales in his haste to read his and others published letters and comment has missed your front page articles on a monthly basis.

For example, "Another non-complying application is lodged," Peninsula News 439.

Developers are so used to getting any shonky buildings they like through Gosford Council they aren't even bothering to give council the courtesy. Why would they?

This Central Coast Council is no better, just Gosford Council but bigger and more disinterested.

While developers are flaunting council processes, council and developer spruikers like Mr Wales are actively seeking to stop residents involving themselves in the democratic process.

Considering that the 15 objections required to bring a non-complying development before council is inadequate (because all development is good development), these people now want a return to 50 responses before they act.

The reality is that only the near neighbours, typically five adjoining, are notified so someone has to have the time and nous to wrangle up some objectors and you usually get a fortnight.

Once the objections are in, that is it.

You then have to constantly ring the planner responsible for updates while the developer reads your submissions then has access to Council staff to "assess and liaise" ways around your objections.

Objections are usually "ill-informed" and variations are conveniently allowed which are invariably "well-founded and minor".

Objectors then find out about it by mail or by reading about it in the paper.

In my recent experience, a "minor" variation allows a two-storey monstrosity to shade my entire property and my neighbours breakfast area at mid-winter.

The non-complying side setback should be double what is being allowed.

Due process? Planning democracy?

Not from this council.





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