PUDS voting conundrum

Some Gosford Councillors certainly got themselves into a voting conundrum on the Peninsula Urban Directions Strategy (PUDS) at their meeting on 11 April, 2006.

Councillors Holstein and Brooks had introduced a "lower growth" amendment (an option more closely representing the wishes of the majority of Peninsula residents) to the Council staff recommendation to accept the "higher growth" option recommended by the PUDS consultant.

Councillor Doyle also seemed to favour the "lower growth" option but wanted an amendment to allow six storeys in Woy Woy.

So how did Councillors vote?

The first vote showed, in favour of the "lower growth" option, Crs Holstein, Brooks, Latella, Macfadyen and Scott - no support from Cr Doyle and defeated on the mayor's casting vote.

The second vote on Cr Doyle's motion was then defeated when neither Crs Macfadyen nor Scott supported the motion: their support would have allowed the motion to pass.

The third vote on the "higher growth" motion was passed on the mayor's casting vote with the support of Cr Doyle.

The motion was supported by Crs Hale, Drake, Maher, Bell and Doyle.

O what a tangled web we weave. Pity is: Peninsula residents suffer.

Michael Gillian, Ettalong Beach