Squandered opportunities
I refer to the recent criticisms made by Cr Chris Holstein condemning fellow councillors Mayor Laurie Maher, Peter Hale, Vickie Scott, Jim MacFadyen and party colleague Liberal Trevor Drake for their decision to defer a multi million dollar development at Ettalong Beach.
His comments that he has had "15 years experience in Council' suggests that time in a job means best practice and expertise.
That's not always the case.
It is irrelevant when based on the outcomes of what he actually delivered while mayor and a councillor.
The record shows Cr Holstein time and time again squandered opportunities for investment in our city and any future prospects of jobs.
It's the very reasons why 17,000 people voted for positive change in the last council election when they voted for Central Coast First.
Does he really think that the five newly-elected councillors have absolutely no business experience or qualifications to make an independent assessment?
Cr Holstein has had ample opportunity to support multi-million dollar projects that would have stimulated life into our city: Spurbest $110M development, Terrigal's $50M Rapedo development, the Gosford marina, Woodlands Golf Course, Springs Golf Course and numerous resorts and residential projects that would have brought jobs and investment to the Central Coast.
But he as repeatedly chosen the path of regression and created obstacles to further promote himself to the detriment of our area.
We always thought that councillors were there to represent the community fairly and in an unbiased fashion, so what do you call bagging fellow councillors in the media?
The fact is these five councillors deferred the Tesrol proposal so that the applicant had the opportunity to present amended plans which reduced the height and scale of the residential-commercial complex.
It's an opportunity to discuss the matter and its merits rather than losing, once again, another opportunity.
Isn't that acting in a far more professional responsible matter?
Bruce Eickelman, Point Clare