The beach was the place to be

For many people, the beach was definitely the place to be on the Australia Day weekend.

All car parks were full and many cars were patrolling endlessly looking for parks.

Some had a long walk to the beach.

Ocean Beach Surf Life Saving Club has reported its patrolling members had amassed more than 1000 hours for the December and January period to date.

The club has counted a beach attendance of 49,252 people, and has taken 751 prevention actions, was called on for First Aid 18 times and performed 14 rescues.

SOURCE:

Social media, 17 Jan 2025

Ocean Beach SLSC

Council plans changes to school drop-offs

Central Coast Council is investigating changes to "student access, pick up and drop off" at two Peninsula schools, the Local Traffic Committee has been told.

Council officers have met with the Department of Education and school representatives at Woy Woy Public School and at Umina campus of Brisbane Water Secondary College.

The committee was told that draft concept plans were being prepared by Council staff for Bowden Rd, adjacent to Woy Woy Public School.

These were "likely to include modifications to the accessible parking, relocation of the No Parking - kiss and drop, and construction of footpaths and pram ramps to support the proposed kerbside changes".

"Further community consultation and referrals to Local Traffic Committee will be required in relation to these changes."

As a precursor to the changes, the committee decided to remove an unused bus zone in front of the school which would "provide increased kerbside parking for parents picking up and dropping off at the school".

It agreed to remove the zone in the school holidays "in preparation for the return of students in the 2025 school year".

The proposal to remove the bus zone followed "a number of requests from the community regarding issues with parking infringements".

Plans for changes in Veron Rd for the Umina campus of the College had reached the design phase.

"Funding has been allocated to complete design works associated with the proposal," the committee was told.

"The design phase will include further consultation with the school community and adjacent property owners."

The question of the plans for Veron Rd was raised by committee member Mr Jayden Delbridge representing Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch.

At the meeting, Council director Mr Boris Bolgoff reminded the committee that it was "a technical review committee that advises Council on matters related to the regulation of traffic that are referred to it by Council staff, working under delegations from Transport for NSW".

Mr Bolgoff said the process of selecting items for each meeting agenda was via Council staff in line with exercising the functions delegated by Transport for NSW to Council

SOURCE:

Website, 12 Dec 2024

Local Traffic Committee, Central Coast Council