Tesch welcomes recommendation to keep council land
Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch has welcomed the recommendation by Central Coast Council staff to remove important community infrastructure and green space from sale following community outcry.
Council had initially proposed selling off of community assets under Tranche 3 of the Asset Sales Program which included the Umina town centre carpark behind West St, the Ingenia affordable housing estate in Ettalong, green space along Memorial Ave, Blackwall, lots on Angler St, Woy Woy, and the community park on Brisbane Ave Umina.
"All of these have now been removed from sale."
Ms Tesch said a petition she launched to stop the sale of the Umina carpark was signed by more than 2000 local residents and was supported by many of the local businesses across West St.
She also supported the community in protesting the sale of the park in Brisbane Ave, Umina and the Ingenia estate.
Ms Tesch says that people power has triumphed over Council's ill-conceived fire-sale.
"This decision demonstrates that people power across our community can make a difference" said Ms Tesch.
"In particular, the potential loss of the Umina car park would have been devastating to many of the local businesses who are located along West St.
"Many of their customers use this car park and the laneway access is used regularly by trucks to restock these local shops".
"I want to congratulate the good people across our community who protested, signed petitions and made submissions to Council especially while we don't have democratically-elected representatives to hold them to account."
In the absence of elected councillors, Ms Tesch said she would continue to work to make sure the voice of our community was heard at local government level.
SOURCE:
Media release, 22 Jul 2021
Liesl Tesch, Member for Gosford