Groups oppose environment restructure

Two environment groups based on the Peninsula are among an alliance calling on Gosford Council to abandon plans to remove its environment department.

The groups are the Woy Woy-based Association for Environmental Education (Central Coast) and the Umina-based Ocean and Coastal Care Initiative (OCCI).

"We are alarmed by this move to get rid of the environment directorate - especially when it appears to be motivated by a desire to attract developers and to allow development applications to be processed faster," said Ms Jane Smith in a media release on behalf of the alliance.

Former Gosford councillor Mr Geoff Preece of Tascott said that council now seemed intent on disregarding advice about council's management structure.

"It was only four years ago that council embarked on a management structure audit by an independent consultant, KPMG.

"At that time, Environment and Development were in a combined directorate and this presented an obvious conflict of interest.

"One of the key recommendations and outcomes of that process was the creation of a separate environmental planning unit.

"This was identified by staff, councillors and the community as a priority and reflected the increased community expectations and legislative responsibilities for the environment."

Mr Preece said that there had been examples of environmental issues on the Peninsula that had been handled well recently.

This was a sign that the current environmental structure was working, he said.

He feared that this would not continue under the revised structured.

Ettymalong Creek Landcare convenor Mr Bryan Ellis said: "The process is the important issue. Will it become too easy for development applications?

"Developers don't want to come to a place that's been devastated. They sell views, and without the environmental safeguards that will suffer."

Mr Ellis said he was also concerned that the item was put forward so late in the meeting after most people, including he himself, had left.

Cr Terri Latella said that the reshuffle would mean the environment would suffer.

"Sustainability will suffer: Issues such as waste, water and energy."

"With things such as the sustainability document, we won't be taking it to the next step. I can't see it happening, unless there is that separate department."

The item was not on the agenda for the meeting, and not available on council's website until after the meeting and was put forward as a late Mayoral Minute.

Three councillors were absent from the meeting including Cr Terri Latella, Cr Robert Bell and Cr Trevor Drake.

The report followed recommendations from a series of workshops held with councillors and the general manager Mr Peter Wilson.

Under the new structure, council's seven directorates will be merged into five new directorates.

Acting general manager Mr Nic Pasternatsky said that in rationalising the number of directorates within the current organisation, the restructure aimed to improve cooperation and integration and build on the synergy between various areas.

Implementation of the new organisation structure would proceed immediately.

Mr Pasternatsky defended the way the decision was made.

"Due process was followed in the review of Council's organisation structure," he said

"When a new council is elected they have an opportunity to review the organisation structure.

"The councillors who have been elected by the community have the knowledge and understanding of the roles and functions of the organisation structure and have been provided expert advice by the general manager, directors and staff to assist in determining the most appropriate structure for council at this stage.

"There is no requirement for council's organisation restructure to go to the community."

Lyle Stone and Stuart Baumann, press releases, May 13 Council agenda MM.4, May 10