Council kiosk to remain unoccupied

The new kiosk built by Gosford Council as part of the "recreation precinct" at Umina Oval will remain unoccupied until it has an appropriate zoning, according to Cr Vicki Scott.

Cr Scott said the kiosk was fully equipped for a restaurant or coffee shop but Council was not able to use it "because we need to change the LEP, which could take another two years".

Cr Scott said Council needed to be able to lease the premises out so that the precinct was financially self-sufficient.

"We need to be able to lease that out so we can make some money from it and, with the money, we will be able to pay for a full time groundsman," said Cr Scott.

Cr Scott said Council was considering a spot rezoning as an alternative 'but that's one of those things that takes time too".

"The State Government doesn't like doing spot rezoning so we have to really justify why we need it instead of waiting for the LEP to be approved," she said.

Gosford Council's manager of open space and leisure services Mr Phil Moore said the kiosk was currently available as a meeting room for community groups.

Kaitlin Watts, 28 Sep 2011 Interviewees: Vicki Scott, Phil Moore