Councillors achieve three years in office

Central Coast Councillors have been in office for three years.

If it were not for the coronavirus pandemic, they would have been due for election on September 12 and would have been telling of their achievements in their election campaigns.

The elections have been postponed until September 4 next year.

Gosford West Ward councillors, who represent the Peninsula, saw as the most significant achievements over the past three years.

Cr Richard Mehrtens was the only councillor to respond.

He cited the resolution of issues with the rebuilding of Umina Mall, the free tree program and town centre banners.

He said the new Umina Mall project was expected to commence before the end of the year.

"This has been a decade in the making and it should not have taken the amount of effort it did to get this $12 million investment into our community on track," Cr Mehrtens said.

"I am pleased that the community will finally have their local shops back, bigger and better than ever."

Cr Mehrtens said the Free Tree Program was "an investment in better communities tomorrow and are vital in identified urban heat islands like the Peninsula".

"One of the great things I get to see is the free tree stalls at various community events and the lines of excited residents looking to take their new plant home," Cr Mehrtens said.

"There are few better things we can do as an individual or household than to add a tree to our yards and nature strips as they reduce temperatures, protect against the weather and increase property prices."

Cr Mehrtens said that were few issues as unpopular as the former Gosford Council's decision to remove town centre banners from Umina and put the onus back on to community groups to pay for seasonal banners.

"After a lot of pushing and working with staff, I am so pleased that the banners have returned to Umina and Gosford, giving just that little bit more life to our town centres," he said.

"Residents said banners had made West St feel alive and it was different after they were removed.

"To add insult to injury, council had continued to fund and install banners on former Wyong Council assets but because the policy didn't extend to Gosford they couldn't possibly do it."

Cr Mehrtens also listed other achievements as the Central Coast Greener Places Strategy, Woy Woy Wharf funding and a Woy Woy Town Centre Structure Plan to guide public realm improvements.

Another achievement was the opening of the Woy Woy Oval kiosk after more than five years sitting dormant.

SOURCE:

Media statement, 30 Aug 2020

Richard Mehrtens, Central Coast Council