Community gets the shaft

Local government plays a key role in meeting the needs of their communities infrastructure, which includes amenities, such as public toilet blocks that include showers and changing rooms where people swim or engage in other water activities – more often the bureaucratic empire building ignores the community’s needs.

7 February 2024

ALAN HAYES

 

‘COASTIES’ are renown for standing up against corporate giants, government and even international interests to protect their patch from their greedy machinations, and who have little, if any interest, in the needs of Central Coast residents or in protecting the environment in which they live.

 

The local community stood firm in their resistance to protect the Central Coast’s major drinking water catchment from the destruction of gas and coal mining – an asset that belongs to local government. Yet, when it comes to something as necessary as like-for-like replacement of a community asset, locals have to fight the inflexible and dismissive attitude of incestuous, unaccountable empire-building, local government public servants. So, while the Central Coast community brought mining to heal in the water catchment, they still get the shaft.

 

Last week the Grapevine reported on local resident’s concern about Council’s plans to reduce the proposed facilities of the amenities block in Archbold Road Long Jetty by more than half of that of the existing facilities, including the removal of all changing rooms and showers.

 

Outrage citizens intend to present Council with a petition to replace the aging amenities with like-for-like facilities, and the Member for The Entrance, David Mehan wrote to Council to reinforce community concerns. But his plea on behalf of the community fell on deaf ears!

 

Mr Mehan said that Council has dismissed community concerns about its plans for new public amenities buildings within the Long Jetty Foreshore Reserve.

 

“It is disappointing,” Mr Mehan said.

 

“It’s unacceptable for the Council to think that an area like Long Jetty can see a reduction in cubicles from 14 down to 6, with the complete removal of existing showers and changing rooms.

 

“It flies in the face of the community, that basic amenities can be reduced, without their input. Council needs to meet with and listen to the community’s concerns before any work commences.

 

“Council still has no plans for the maintenance and placement of historical information signage at the Archbold Road amenities building. This should have been at the forefront of Council’s mind when the plans were developed.”

 

Council has removed the heritage signage from the Archbold Road amenities building.

 

Council’s response confirms that the amenities buildings will be reduced to three cubicles in each of the upgraded buildings. The current buildings contain seven cubicles each, together with changing rooms and showers.

 

Boris Bolgoff, Central Coast Council’s Director of Infrastructure Services, said in a letter dated 31 January 2023, in reply to David Mehan, “There will be three new, modern cubicles in each of the two upgraded buildings. A review of usage was undertaken indicating that three cubicles in each renewed amenity block would meet visitor needs.

 

“The renewed amenity blocks will also incorporate digital technology in their daily locking and un-locking system. Currently security guards physically lock and un-lock them every day at sunset and sunrise.

 

“The renewed amenity blocks will also incorporate digital technology in their daily locking and un-locking system. Currently security guards physically lock and un-lock them every day at sunset and sunrise. Having an electronic locking and unlocking system will save costs…”

 

Having an external shower to rinse off is not the same as being able to shower, dry-off and change out of your swimmers. Or is Mr Bolgoff suggesting that if you wish to change, visitors revert back to a time when you could stand beside an open car door, and while juggling a towel, strip-off, dry-off and slip into street clothes – all the while hoping your modesty would remain intact? When the Central Coast was still a backwater tourist destination, with maybe two flies and mosquito hovering close by, changing beside the car was not a problem - nowadays it is not only unacceptable public behaviour but personal modesty must remain intact. The dismissive attitude of Mr Bolgoff’s letter clearly shows that he is out of touch with community needs.

 

Then, of course, there is Mr Bolgoff's claim the proposed electronic locking system for the new toilets is far better than providing employment to lock and unlock the toilets just to save costs. What will it cost to repair the locks when they are vandalised, which is inevitable? And how long will it take to repair any damage, so that the toilet amenity is again accessible? And will there be sensors to determine that no one will be locked inside the toilets when a computer decides it's time to lock the gates?

 

Council staff need to understand their ‘key role’ and listen to the people, so as to meet their needs. But then, when ‘Coasties’ have to live in the shadow of a local dictatorship, without the checks and balances of a democratically elected council, inhouse empire building and 'client autocracy' will continue to be rife.