Grapevine News Online July 2024

NEWS ARCHIVES

31 July 2024

Welcome to the electricity price gouge

Electricity prices have soared thanks to costly gas, coal outages and market manipulation, bursting Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen’s bubble to keep Australia’s renewable energy dream on target.

31 July 2024

Making renting fairer in NSW

Central Coast renters will benefit from the State Government's improved rental laws, which will help make renting fairer with the introduction of new laws that will end no-grounds evictions. Along of these new laws will be the introduction of the first Portable Rental Bonds Scheme, allowing renters to move home and transfer their bond with them.

31 July 2024

New fishway set to improve Australian native fish migration

Central Coast Council is collaborating with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in testing a new way to encourage Australian native fish to move across creek and river weirs improving native fish migration.

31 July 2024

Minister asked to refuse rezoning of iconic bushland

The Total Environment Centre (TEC), National Parks Association (NPA) of NSW, Better Planning Network, Great Eastern Ranges and Greater Sydney Landcare have joined calls for NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully to refuse a rezoning that could destroy at least 300Ha of prime conservation land on the Central Coast.

31 July 2024

Second veterans' forum planned

A forum has been organised for the veterans’ community to discuss matters relating to veterans and their families.

31 July 2024

Wheely good news for shared path

The Australian Government’s $7 million election commitment towards a new shared pedestrian and cycle pathway connecting the suburbs of Mannering Park, Kingfisher Shores, and Chain Valley Bay has taken a major step forward, with the funding now ready to flow.

31 July 2024

Vote NO to council referendum

Dictatorship is an ugly word and is undesirable to enable any semblance of democracy to thrive - but this has been the fact of the Central Coast now, for far too long. The upcoming council election in September will allow Coast residents to regain the democratic process in local government, yet the current Administrator would see community representation in council reduced.

31 July 2024

Avoca Drive upgrade progresses

Central Coast residents are invited to help shape the long-awaited Avoca Drive upgrade at Kincumber by having their say on proposed safety and efficiency improvements options.

31 July 2024

Using MRNA technology to prevent cancer and treat disease

The Federal Government is awarding more than $19 million to six research projects that use mRNA – the medical technology that underpins the Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccines – to find vaccines to prevent cancer and urinary tract infections.

31 July 2024

Wyong community service award

David Harris, Member for Wyong, acknowledges the NSW Government Community Service Award recipient Jessica Cain-Westaway from Elanor Duncan Aboriginal Services.

31 July 2024

Electronic scoreboard, scores upgrade

The Peninsula Leisure Centre Sports Hall has scored an upgrade to the electronic scoreboard under the Community Building Partnership Program!

31 July 2024

SMS handset checker now available

The estimated number of 4G mobile handsets that could lose access to Triple Zero after the 3G switchover has decreased from 740,000 in March 2024 to 102,000 as industry measures ramp up, including the new 'handset checker'.

24 July 2024

Blue screen of death

George Orwell’s classic novel, 1984, depicts a dystopian society where a totalitarian regime uses extensive surveillance systems to assert indoctrinating control over all aspects of society. Sound familiar? Last week’s computer meltdown, caused by a cliché in the Crowdstrike software, was a poignant reminder of how far today’s society has blindly accepted the ‘Big Brother’ way of life.

24 July 2024

Every vape is a hit to your health

Vaping is unsafe and dangerous to your health. While the long-term health effects are unclear, what is known is that vaping in the short-term has been associated with nausea, vomiting, mouth and airway irritation, chest pain and heart palpitations. Research has also shown that vaping is bad for your heart and lungs.

24 July 2024

Gosford’s oldest train driver marks 55 years of service

One of the state’s longest serving train drivers, a Central Coast resident known affectionately as G.O.D, is marking 55 years on the railways of NSW.

24 July 2024

Toll review benefits Central Coast commuters

The NSW Government will weigh up benefits to Central Coast commuters as it considers the final report of the Independent Toll Review handed down by Professor Allan Fels and Dr David Cousins last week.

24 July 2024

Repairs to stairs complete

The Jenny Dixon Beach stair repair is now complete. The extensive works have restored access to the beach for locals and visitors to enjoy.

24 July 2024

First look at NSW Hydrogen Centre of Excellence

The NSW Government yesterday unveiled the design of NSW’s first Hydrogen Centre of Excellence, that will train thousands of plumbers and gas fitters and ensure NSW has a pipeline of multi-skilled workers for the hydrogen industry.

24 July 2024

Expert panel to examine health impacts of power stations

Future Sooner is holding a Citizens Inquiry that boasts a panel of eight of Australia’s leading doctors, professors, academics and health experts, and is the ﬁrst of its kind held in Australia to examine the impacts from pollution on the health of local residents from coal-ﬁred power stations and the lack of action by the NSW government.

24 July 2024

Sporting clubs enjoy grant windfall

Three Central Coast sporting clubs recently enjoyed the fruits of victory via a financial windfall to help with much-need improvements to their facilities!

24 July 2024

Come along and get your hands dirty!

Central Coast Council invites residents to participate in two community tree planting events, at Killcare Beach and Porters Creek Wyong, for National Tree Day, on Sunday 28 July 2024.

24 July 2024

Amenities at Archbold Road return

Member for The Entrance, David Mehan is pleased to see the return of the amenities building at Archbold Road, Long Jetty, within the Long Jetty Foreshore Reserve, albeit with reduced facilities.

24 July 2024

Keeping the community connected

New directives from the Federal Government are now in place to make it mandatory for telecommunication companies to provide financial hardship assistance to all customers experiencing difficulties paying their bills, including prioritising keeping customers connected.

17 July 2024

The high price of insurance greed

The ever increasing price rises in the cost of essential goods, such as utilities, petrol, insurance and groceries, continues to raise concern for many Australians who are struggling to make ends meet. But for many people, including an ever-increasing number of Coasties, it’s a never-ending merry-go-round of having to seek financial help from various charities.

17 July 2024

Please don’t destroy the Central Coast

An alliance of Central Coast Community Groups is urging the NSW Planning Minister to reject the Council’s bushland rezoning!

17 July 2024

Another decline for the Central Coast

The recently published IPART water utility customer satisfaction survey clearly outline that Central Coast residents were not satisfied with Central Coast Council's performance to supply water to residents at a reasonable cost.

17 July 2024

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

New partnership to support the Central Coast

A program that helps to break down barriers to access government payments and services for people experiencing homelessness has expanded to include more locations across Australia.

17 July 2024

Experience Pickleball for free

Central Coast residents are invited to dive into the world of Pickleball with free equipment hire, courtesy of a new initiative aimed at getting people active through one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.

17 July 2024

Innovative business program now open

The State Member for Wyong, David Harris is calling on local businesses across the Central Coast to apply for the MVP Ventures Program.

17 July 2024

Gosford Crown Reserve secures funding for maintenance

Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch MP today announced $3,692 to target noxious weeds to maintain Crown land reserves at Mangrove Creek Recreation Reserve.

17 July 2024

Supporting the health workforce

The Federal Government is investing in Australia’s health workforce by upskilling our nation’s nurses and midwives through a new $50.2 million scholarship.

10 July 2024

Birthing a dictator

Last week’s revelation and judgement by the US Supreme Court that Donald Trump’s actions to overthrow the US Government are not illegal, because the actions of a serving president are immune from prosecution, makes it just that much easier for Trump to fulfil his promise to be a dictator.

10 July 2024

Girrakool Blues gets backing

The Girrakool Blues is set to draw in locals and visitors alike after being named as one of the 66 recipients of the NSW Government’s 2024/25 Regional Event Fund.

10 July 2024

20 students chosen for WW2 Japan scholarship

Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Veterans David Harris today formally announced the 20 NSW students awarded a NSW Government scholarship to travel to Japan in September.

10 July 2024

Freeze the boredom these winter school holidays

Students on the Coast can get ready for a dynamic experience these winter school holidays with Central Coast Council running over 60 free and affordable events at our libraries, leisure centres, theatres, Gosford Regional Gallery, and outdoor spaces.

10 July 2024

Little Tern colony turns heads

Around 36 percent of all Little Tern fledglings hatched in NSW have come from a colony in Karagi Point at The Entrance, making it the most successful Little Tern breeding colony in the state this year.

10 July 2024

Genomic research forwarding the fight

against genetic disease and cancer

The Federal Government is unlocking the power of genomics research to improve early cancer detection and treatment, with more than $27 million for eight new projects from leading researchers across the country.

10 July 2024

Critical projects for NSW’s clean energy future

The NSW Government has declared six renewable energy projects Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI) given their potential significance to the NSW economy.

10 July 2024

Reid to host senior's information session

Following the success of the local cost-of-living forum and anti-scams forums, Federal Member for Robertson, Dr Gordon Reid, will now host a Seniors’ Information Session at Broadlands Village, Green Point on the 1st of August 2024.

10 July 2024

Beyer-Garratt 6029 delights on Gosford steam weekend

Located in the beautiful rainforest setting of Brisbane Water National Park, alongside waterfalls and viewing platforms, the new and improved Somersby Falls Visitor Precinct has officially opened thanks to a $4.4 million commitment by the NSW Government.

10 July 2024

New and improved Somersby Falls Visitor Precinct

For Coasties living close to the railway line between Gosford and the Hawkesbury River, it was hard not to raise a smile, hearing the evocative sounds of a steam train whistle blowing from a bygone era.

3 July 2024

A nuclear waste of time

Last week’s lead story, Dutton’s nuclear meltdown, drew an enormous response from Grapevine readers, who vehemently opposite nuclear power as the solution to addressing our energy crisis – a clear indication that Peter Dutton was stuck in some space-time-continuum, where fact and fantasy meld into nonsensical policy.

3 July 2024

Inaugural Community Champion Awards

Central Coast residents seeking to shine a spotlight on individuals in the Central Coast community who are going above and beyond are encouraged to nominate a ‘Community Champion’ in the inaugural Gosford Community Champion Awards.

3 July 2024

Airborne coal dust impacts health

According to Gary Blaschke OAM, the real reason behind the NSW Government decision to extend the life of old, decaying and polluting coal-fired power stations is a chronic lack of courage. Yet, as a country we have the courage to follow the US on submarines!

3 July 2024

Flu season drives demand for emergency care

The community is being urged to contact Healthdirect for advice if they are experiencing non-life-threatening medical issues as influenza, COVID and RSV cases continue to rise placing significant pressure on NSW public hospital emergency departments (EDs) and NSW Ambulance.

3 July 2024

Be properly alarmed

Last winter, the Central Coast was home to the third highest reported number of residential fires, with kitchen fires the most common. Across New South Wales, nearly half of the 1,080 homes impacted by fire did not have a working smoke alarm, or any alarm in place.

3 July 2024

Acting on health and climate

Australia has taken a world-leading stand on the impact of climate change on health by co-sponsoring a groundbreaking resolution at the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva.

3 July 2024

Gathering feedback on water and sewer services

Central Coast Council is continuing with community engagement, seeking feedback from residents and businesses about their water and sewer services.

3 July 2024

Hospital security body camera trial

The NSW Government will undertake a 12-month trial of body worn cameras for security staff at Wyong hospital to improve safety for staff, patients, and visitors.

3 July 2024

Cost of living relief

With the cost of groceries, energy bills and fuel increasing dramatically over the past year, more than 40 per cent of Aussie households have struggled to afford household basics in the last three months, and over half of Australians say they will struggle to pay an essential bill over the next three months.