(L-R): Kyle MacGregor, Member for The Entrance, David Mehan and Margot Castles support the 'No Vote for the Council referendum' at the recent Labor conference.

31 July 2024

 

CENTRAL Coast Administrator Rik Hart has been telling local community groups to vote yes in the upcoming referendum to reduce the number of councillors in the local government area from fifteen to nine. But Rik Hart's dogmatic approach is a legacy of the previous Administrator, Dick Person, who, at the behest of 613 Coast residents, decided it was a good idea to hold a referendum alongside the council elections.

 

Persson maintained that in his final report to the Local Government Minister he had community support for a referendum to vote on going from 15 councillors to 9, and the Ward structure from 5 to 3, when the council elections were held - so, he approved it. 613 residents completed the online survey, of which only 78 percent were in favour of the referendum - hardly indicative of community support!

 

Persson said at the time, “Approving this change will not guarantee improved outcomes and performances however I am confident it would make a positive difference.”

 

But how can this be a better deal for the Central Coast?

 

The referendum is, without question, a dictatorial imposed one, and its desired outcome continues to be propagated by Council Administrator Rik Hart.

 

The individual roles and responsibilities of each of nine councillors will carry more than a 50 per cent increase in constituent representation from what was previously required by 15 councillors. So, who looses out? The Central Coast community!

 

At its NSW State Conference held at Sydney Town Hall last weekend, delegates endorsed resolutions from Central Coast Labor Party Branches supporting the status quo and retention of 15 councillors on Central Coast Council.

 

"The Labor Party will support the status quo on Central Coast Councillor numbers and not support the referendum to reduce councillor numbers on Central Coast Council," Member for The Entrance, David Mehan said.

 

“Less representation will mean minimal effective outcomes for the community. Our community deserves better, and given our growing population, the reduction in Councillors makes no logical sense.”

 

The referendum, to be held in conjunction with the 14 September LGE, will ask Central Coast residents to either vote ‘Yes” or ‘No’ to a referendum proposal which will ask: "Do you favour a reduction in the number of Central Coast Councillors from fifteen to nine? This will result in three Wards with each Ward electing three Councillors."

 

To pass, the question would need to be supported by a majority of Central Coast electors.

 

Lack of democracy on the Central Coast has now been endured for too many years - reducing our local representation is not the answer for a democratic future!

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