Mayor praises community involvement

Community involvement has overcome objections to siting a marine vessel sewage pump-out facility near the Peninsula, according to Gosford Mayor Cr Laurie Maher.

Community involvement had allowed council to find a "lateral solution", he said.

"It was initially resolved that the facility would be sited at Araluen Dr public wharf at Hardys Bay," Cr Maher said.

"However, at a public meeting on October 17 last, members of local communities made it clear they were strongly opposed to that site.

"Despite the opposition, three chaps who attended the meeting suggested we investigate installing the facility on a private wharf or marina."

As council had received grants from both the State and Federal government for equipment for the facility, the "lateral thinking concept" had to be checked to ensure it did not contravene the grants' conditions before it proceeded, Cr Maher said.

"Both the federal Department of the Environment and Heritage and NSW Maritime Authority have now endorsed the solution, and council is calling for tenders for installation of the facility on a private wharf or marina," Cr Maher said.

"The Department of the Environment and Heritage described the private wharf solution as 'consistent with the objective of the program to fund works that demonstrate a range of solutions in providing integrated marine waste reception facilities'."

Cr Maher said council would only accept a privately owned and operated marina if it guaranteed that the pump-out facility would be available to the general public free of charge and that it fully maintained the facility.

Press release, January 24 Marion Newall, Gosford Council