Carpark and bush block could be sold immediately
The Bullion St carpark in Umina and the council bush blocks in Memorial Ave, Blackwall, could be sold off without further community consultation, according to the Community Environment Network.
Other parcels at Austin Butler reserve and Angler St, Woy Woy; at Brisbane Ave, Umina; and the home park in Fassifern St, Ettalong, need to be reclassified from "community" land to "operational" before they can be sold.
The Network's executive member Mr Gary Chestnut said: "Council has acknowledged that it is legally bound to lodge a planning proposal before it can reclassify land from community to operational and that process can take between 12 and 18 months to complete.
"Council is also required to have a public hearing to be convened by an independent facilitator so this will give the community another opportunity to voice its opposition to reclassification of community land."
However, that process does not apply to land that is already classified as "operational", such as the Bullion St carpark and the Memorial Ave bush block.
Mr Chestnut said: "Residents were told at the beginning of this period of administration that no environmental assets would be sold and yet this latest list of land sales includes a wetland and bush lots.
"It includes some of the same community assets that the former Gosford Council was forced to withdraw from reclassification in 2015 as a result of community push back," he said.
Mr Chestnut said CEN would support the community's fight to protect community land.
"The sale of community land is not the only option, and it is certainly not the best option, for reducing Council's debt," he said.
The consultation period for community comment has been extended until May 28.
SOURCE:
Media release, 15 May 2021
Gary Chestnut, CEN