Ignoring a larger problem

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce's media release of December 22 about the council's downfall unsurprisingly follows the well-worn path to councillors, when paths to state and federal politicians are the right ones to travel.

Funding is made available with attached conditions with strict time limits, based on the interests of both governments, and personal political gain.

An example is the Performing Arts Centre proposed for Gosford City Centre.

Instead of politicians accepting they are responsible for handing over problems that have made it impossible to select a site that ticks all the boxes without cheating, they use the situation to advance their political ambitions.

All indicators of a larger problem are ignored.

Even without the existing and proposed developments in Gosford's city centre, selecting a site to accommodate the burgeoning needs and demands of residents was going to be impossible.

Did anyone in state or federal government recognise the indicators as a bigger problem to be addressed?

All comment from government and politicians targeted the strict time limit applying to funding and its immediate cancellation.

These problems will still exist after the departure of Mr Persson as Administrator.

Similarly, the Chamber has used this situation to advance its interests into the future.

SOURCE:

Letter, 15 Jan 2021

Norman Harris, Umina