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Collapse Issue 540:<br />21 Mar 2022<br />_____________Issue 540:
21 Mar 2022
_____________
Collapse  INQUIRY INQUIRY
Government 'terminates' all councillors
Crouch welcomes Council inquiry report
Inquiry recommendations 'disappointing', says Tesch
Councillors 'not adequately supported', inquiry finds
Inquiry recommendations focus on councillor training
'Perhaps' no councillor had skills, inquiry finds
Council reports 'designed to obfuscate', inquiry finds
Councillors should collaborate, despite differences
Inquiry ventures no opinion due to court case
Collapse  NEWS NEWS
Large tides could wash more debris ashore
Wicks' inquiry finds social media must take responsibility
Food van washed up at Patonga
Canoe club helps with beach clean-up
Sun shines on Opera in the Arboretum
Umina streets to be closed over nine weeks
Two new council directors
Gosford Rotary club holds fundraiser for Mingaletta
Road closures announced for Anzac Day
Fire brigade rescues dog stuck under shipping container
CWA branch holds 'big Easter raffle'
Storytime resumes at local libraries
Teddies are ready
Community group re-elects most of current committee
Comments sought about management of rare bushland
More than 300mm of rain this month
Collapse  PLANNING PLANNING
Revised proposal for dual occupancy on Paul St
Council recommends street tree planting
Appeal lodged against rejection of Ettalong proposal
Changes requested for Centrelink site development
Citizens must ask for missing details, Panel told
Collapse  FORUM FORUM
Housing solution does not rest in bigger and higher
Are amalgamation problems caused by Labor?
Planning is harder than rocket science
Is there movement at the station?
Recent rain is a reminder of the need for good planning
Collapse  HEALTH HEALTH
Case numbers jump from year low to six-week high
Closed to visitors after gastro outbreak
Professor to talk about dying with dignity
Soil turning for start of major aged care development
Seniors centre will hold a free open week
Free sessions at leisure centre for Seniors Week
Come and 'have a cuppa with Gordon'
Free dance for health session at Woy Woy
Nominate a senior who helps our community
Free group exercise program for women
Collapse  ARTS ARTS
First overseas artist at folk club in two years
Play scripts and directors wanted for Flash festival
Children's story to create interest in Papua New Guinea
'Stunning quilts' at crafts centre
The Bays art show had sold-out opening night
Collapse  EDUCATION EDUCATION
Bullying awareness and strategies focus at St John's
Busy week for Year 6 students
Harmony Week activities planned at Woy Woy South
Collapse  SPORT SPORT
Shane wins back-to-back Major Singles finals
'Smiles on Dials' returns to Umina Beach
Wicket was just too wet
Southern Spirit cricket results
Novice bridge team champions
Women bowlers hold presentation day
Turn Around Triples at Umina
T-shirt giveaway to celebrate 20 years
Great day at Cessnock
Just short of the chase
Lap swimming at Leisure Centre

EXTRA!!!

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Recent rain is a reminder of the need for good planning

The recent torrential rain reminded me two past events I witness during my 50 years as a Central Coast resident.

The first was a violent storm around 1973 where huge waves ripped yachts from their moorings and deposited them in the ditch beside the rail line along Tascott Straight and Woy Woy waterfront and flooded low-lying areas of Saratoga and Davistown.

We now see the area around Woy Woy waterfront frequently under water,

I haven't visited Saratoga or Davistown for many years, but I'm sure they suffer similarly.

Even in the 1970, affordable housing often required moving to the Blue Mountains or Central Coast and commuting to Sydney and suburbs to work.

As luck would have it, we were offered free accommodation for our first 18 months in a sleep-out at Saratoga, cold tank water outside shower.

I worked at Umina, a 50-minutes' drive each way, before the Rip Bridge, and we were expecting, all incentives to quickly jump into the housing market.

We bought a weatherboard and fibro cottage in Kallaroo Rd in south west Umina, a decision we have never regretted,

To pursue a career required commuting to Sydney and suburbs, often spending three or more hours travel on crowded trains, often standing all the way - part of the price you pay, not just for affordable housing, but a great lifestyle, sand, surf, sports fields all surrounded by bush in the overlooking National Park.

We moved to South St, Umina, 15 years ago to be nearer shopping, doctors and other facilities.

The exact timing of the other major event I can only guess, but it was in early 1980s.

I walked through waist deep flood waters with my youngest son, now 40 years old, on my shoulders and he was only a toddler.

In 1970-80, Umina had lots of creeks, natural water courses and swamps to take run-off from the surrounding hills.

The area bordered by Neera Rd, Kahibah Rd and Lake View Parade was locally known as Ettymalong Swamp and it used to act as a natural drainage collection point during heavy rains.

As I recall, the entire area was purchased by a property developer who somehow managed to get permission to fill in the swamp with rocks and waste from a major road construction between Kariong and Woy Woy.

It is now call North Pearl Estate.

Not long after that we had a major rain storm and king tide and water backed up, flooding all the local creeks and water courses to such a level that the foot bridge over Iluka and Kahibah creeks were totally submerged with only the hand rail above water.

Major works were undertaken with creek dredging, weirs and damming by the council, I suspect at rate payer's expense, to mitigate any future problems.

It is another case of poor planning with the main beneficiary being a developer, who no doubt made a fortune.





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