Open forum with local councillors

Peninsula residents will have the chance to speak directly to their ward councillors in an open forum on March 17.

The meeting aims to provide an opportunity to ask questions or learn more about what's going on across the Peninsula.

Gosford West ward's Crs Richard Mehrtens and Cr Chris Holstein will be available for a "town hall-style" public meeting to allow the community to raise issues, seek guidance and gain updates.

The ward's other representative, Cr Troy Marquart, is unavailable on the night.

Cr Marquart said he hoped Peninsula residents would take the opportunity to have their say.

"It is difficult for councillors to reach out and speak with the community like other politicians as we don't have a community engagement budget like MPs do," Cr Marquart said.

"I welcome this new opportunity that we have created for people to come along, meet their councillors, have their say, or provide us with some issues that we can follow up.

"We've had several shopping centre pop-ups which have been well attended by local residents."

Cr Holstein said he was disappointed that the sessions were happening in only two of the five wards - the other being Gosford East ward.

"They are based on councillors making themselves available," he said.

"Councillors should be interacting with the community every day, if they are undertaking their roles as councillors," Cr Holstein said.

Cr Troy Marquart said he was unavailable to attend the session.

"I informed staff that I was unavailable on this evening and offered my apologies the moment this date was proposed," he said.

"While I am not against this particular type of public interaction, I do question the timing.

"If particular individuals wanted to frame or create such a public forum, why have they waited two-and-a-half years to raise the idea.

"A cynical individual might conclude that a re-election soap box has been created at two minutes to midnight," Cr Marquart said.

SOURCE:

Media statements, 9 Mar 2020

Chris Holstein, Troy Marquart, Richard Mehrtens, Central Coast Council