Independent stands

for Gosford West Ward

Kevin Brooks has announced his candidacy for the September Central Coast Council elections.He made the announcement in the Public Forum before the last Council meeting.

17 July 2024

 

KEVIN BROOKS has so far delivered around twenty speeches in the Public Forum during the past three years opposing excessive rate hikes and has also represented community concerns on many other issues that impact upon Central Coast residents.

 

Mr Brooks announced his intention to run at the end of a speech responding to Council’s Operational Plan to incorporate a 4.8 percent increase in general rates and 11.9 per cent increase in water rates from 1st July.

 

Mr Brooks pointed out that Council rates (both general and water) have now risen 39 per cent in just four years, yet services continue to go backwards in priority areas.

 

“Ratepayers are paying more for less because Council has still not addressed underlying problems within the organisation, in management, efficiency, productivity, prioritisation and above all its culture," Kevin Brooks said.

 

"Instead, during four years of taxation without representation, an unaccountable bureaucracy has put its own interests above those of the community.

 

"For too long we, the humble and blameless residents of the Central Coast, have been paying the price for poor leadership, mismanagement, and dysfunction in Central Coast, Gosford, and Wyong Councils.”

 

Mr Brooks further said that it is up to the community “to be the change we want to see” and urged residents to join his campaign.

 

“A fresh approach is needed.

 

"But if we want change, is up to all of us in the community to be the change we want to see.

 

"That is why I announced my intention to run as a candidate in the September elections.

 

"And I say to the community, if you are tired of paying too much for too little and want change – then you too can be the change you want to see.

 

"You can join the campaign by contacting me at ratepayerschoice@gmail.com.”

 

Mr Brooks said that ratepayers are not getting value for money from recent rate hikes. He has continually reiterated that three years ago, Central Coast Council told the community it must choose between higher rates or worse services.

 

"We have ended up with both," he said.

 

Despite increasing revenue from, priority services continue to decline. The average time for determining development applications has more than doubled and water and sewer unplanned service interruptions, mains breaks, and leaks are all increasing.

 

Seventeen per cent of our roads get the lowest possible one-star AusRAP rating and more thirty per cent of Council's customers surveyed did not think Council’s response was “empathetic.”

 

"A terrible indictment on customer culture,” Mr Brooks said.

 

Kevin Brooks is a former elected Council Leader from the UK, who was credited with turning around a struggling Council’s financial position and performance.

 

He is currently a retiree, having held senior positions in the public and private sector, including global banks.