4 September 2024

 

SHARON WALSH, Labor's number one candidate in Gosford East Ward, said that since 2021, Council, while under administration, has imposed a 15 per cent pecial rate increase each year hat will remain in place for the next seven years.

 

“We were told the council needed this ‘special rate variation’ to strengthen its financial position. Now we’ve been told our council’s financial position is healthy but it doesn’t look like our higher rates are translating into improved infrastructure, or roads or services,” Sharon Walsh.

 

“In many areas across the East Ward our roads are falling apart, and we seem to have inferior infrastructure when compared with other NSW local government areas with smaller rate bases.

 

“The Labor Team in the Gosford East Ward wants to find out what residents and rate payers think about the ‘value for money’ Central Coast Council is currently providing. Is it good enough?” she said.

 

Number 2 on the Labor Ticket, Trevor Drake, said his own rates in Terrigal have gone up 60% since 2020 “but I cannot see where the value is going. The Scenic Highway is in a state of disrepair and many other local roads are as bad if not worse,” Drake said.

 

Victoria Collins, Number 3 on the Labor Ticket in Gosford East Ward said sub-standard infrastructure is a problem across the East Ward. “Council’s capital expenditure doesn’t seem to be keeping up with the need for road repairs, let alone adding value with things like kerb and guttering for areas like Springfield.”

 

Sharon Walsh said whole new suburbs are being created in some parts of the Central Coast while residents and ratepayers in more established areas are expected to live with antiquated and inadequate infrastructure and the absence of even basic services.

 

“We will be visiting local shopping centres in the days and weeks leading up to the election to hear from you about whether you think Central Coast Council is currently delivering value. If elected on 14 September, I promise to have a very close look at the council’s spending priorities," Ms Walsh said.

 

“This community has been without elected local government for at least five of the past eight years. That’s why I am eager to listen to how the community thinks our rates should be spent. I want to make sure the voices of our residents are heard loud and clear when our democracy is restored in three weeks.”

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