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Collapse Issue 447 - 18 Jun 2018Issue 447 - 18 Jun 2018
Collapse  HONOURS HONOURS
Julie Dolan recognised for service to soccer
Couple honoured for services to art and education
Dedicated to voluntary community service
Recognition for welfare service
Collapse  NEWS NEWS
Flat-townhouse complex draws 14 objections in a week
Council's insurer refuses liability for water damage
Too many water main breaks, says Marquart
Holstein seeks action on 'sleeping rough' deaths
Additional homeless resources needed, says Tesch
Group applies for on-demand bus for The Bays
Scaffolding to be removed
Chamber calls for more dredging money
No agreement on how to fix beach erosion
Tesch seeks Government action on erosion
Chamber welcomes dredging work
Councillor wants to protect surf break from dredging
Ferry wharf application rejected?
Tidal pool report may lead to upgrade, says Mehrtens
Kiosk tender to be advertised for the third time
Chamber wants Minister to impose planning controls
Woy Woy to get Service NSW 'digital hub'
Council staff agree that speed limit proposal 'has merit'
Scientific paper on local pelicans expected soon
Tesch pays tribute to pelican rescuer
Bushcare group seeks volunteers
Indigenous tourism has 'role' in reconciliation
Euchre players raise money for charity
Firefighter receives long service medal
Stargazing draws 250 people
CWA branch celebrates 86 years
Guides attracts 25 girls for a 'snippet' of the experience
Rotary club celebrates success of Opera in the Arboretum
Environment group and Mingaletta receive grants
TV cameras failed to identify vandals
Replica firearm found during search
Water and sewerage review starts
Chefs return to Woy Woy from New York
Collapse  FORUM FORUM
There are good people about
Two thought-provoking details
Labor will fund expensive, but necessary, rail underpass
Pearl claims were incorrect
My interest was not positive
Ettalong loses tree that witnessed many stories
Can the tooth fairy fix the other problems?
Forgotten south misses out
Walk is a pleasure, except for the footpath
Dismayed at councillor's State election candidacy
Collapse  HEALTH HEALTH
Health chief claims collaborative GP approach is best
Nurse practitioner receives aged care award
National volunteer of the year
Collapse  ARTS ARTS
Young musicians receive Conservatorium awards
Blues Angels to play at the Troubadour
Patonga workshop writes group poem
Art show
Collapse  EDUCATION EDUCATION
Ettalong school celebrates 90 years
College students join combined Europe tour
Selected for representative side
Students study culture of soccer countries
Umina wins Central Coast AFL rounds
Netball team makes it to fourth round
Pyjama day for charity
Woy Woy students in international assessment
Kindergarten classroom helpers wanted
Collapse  SPORT SPORT
Umina surf club named Club of the Year
Volunteering medal presented to two surf club members
Men's fours final at Umina
Bay to Bay run to be held on June 17
Umina wins first tennis competition

Chamber calls for more dredging money

Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has called on the NSW Government to provide more money for dredging the Ettalong Channel than is available under the Rescuing Our Waterways program.

Emergency dredging work is expected to commence within weeks, weather permitting, following hydrological surveys completed by Crown Lands NSW in the Ettalong Channel.

"That has given Palm Beach Ferries some comfort that they will be able to resume their normal services in late June or early July," said Chamber president Mr Matthew Wales.

"The Chamber is still looking for a longer-term solution and we will keep working with NSW Minister for Lands Mr Paul Toole's office," Mr Wales said.

Mr Wales said he acknowledged that the ongoing maintenance of the navigation channel at the entrance to Brisbane Water was "not something that can be done through Rescuing Our Waterways".

Rescuing Our Waterways is the $6 million pot of money offered by the NSW Government to be shared by 14 coastal Councils for dredging and assorted other maintenance programs.

Councils are expected to match any Rescuing Our Waterways funds provided by the NSW Government dollar-for-dollar.

Until May 14, Central Coast Council had steadfastly argued that dredging the navigation channel at Ettalong was a state government responsibility and should be 100 per cent funded by the NSW Government.

Sustained political and community pressure resulted in a majority of Councillors agreeing to lodge a complying Rescuing Our Waterways funding application by the June 8 deadline in return for a commitment from the Department of Lands to another round of emergency funding.

The hydrological survey has been a precursor to that new round of emergency funding.

It is the first time the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has acknowledged the maintenance of the Channel will cost much more than the funds made available under Rescuing Our Waterways.

"There may be some legislative things that can be done to put more certainty in place but the NSW Government has said it is prepared to co-fund ongoing maintenance of the channel," Mr Wales said.

"They really are committed to finding a long-term solution because the government doesn't want to have this annual debate and nobody wants to see a repeat of the petty politics we have seen in Council recently," he said.

"We believe the budget should be around $5 to $6 million to do the major program and then around $250,000 annually to maintain the channel.

"What is really compounding the issue is the shocking state of the Ocean Beach foreshore which is a state of affairs we have to acknowledge needs urgent intervention," Mr Wales said.





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