15% rate rise application submitted as part of Council’s financial recovery Council will formally apply to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for a 15% rate rise.
My first three months as Administrator for Central Coast Council has involved working out what had happened, who was responsible, and most importantly what we needed to do to return the Council to a positive financial position.
Central Coast Council Administrator, Mr Dick Persson AM has tonight presented to the community his 3-month Progress Report at an Extraordinary Meeting of Council. Mr Persson said this report, now 3 months into his term, brings the community up-to-date on events outlined in his 30-day Interim Report into Council’s financial mismanagement delivered in late 2020.
Central Coast Council is planning the future water needs for our region and is looking to the community to be a part of the conversation.Residents can have their say on two important water projects:the Integrated Water Resource Plan:
Referendum to be held to reduce Councillor numbers and consultation to be held on preference for ward structureA referendum will be held at the same time as the 2021 Local Government elections for community consideration to reduce the number of Councillors from 15 to 9.Before the referendum question is finalised consultation will be undertaken to gauge community preference for a ward structure or even for no wards at all.Administrator Dick Persson said it was important that the elected body of Council works in a constructive and effective way for the benefit of the Central Coast community.“I believe 15 Councillors is simply too many and does not facilitate collaborative and effective decision making and that has to change,” Mr Persson said.“The only way to change this is through a referendum so the community of the Coast will have a direct say in this change.“Wards is another area that needs review.
Central Coast Council is working with the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia NSW and ACT Division (IPWEA) to trial new technology using video footage and machine learning to deliver an automated assessment of road conditions.The exciting new technology has the potential to deliver superior data whilst also saving time and money.Council Director Roads Transport Drainage and Waste, Boris Bolgoff said the system is designed to be easily mounted to Council vehicles which are already driven across the road network on a regular basis.“Our goal is to deliver thorough, regular and cost-effective assessments of our road network and this incredible new technology could see standard Council vehicles equipped to asses our roads,” Mr Bolgoff said.“Video and machine learning is the future of road assessments and indicators suggest that the technology we are trialling could provide a safer and more cost-effective means for monitoring and assessing 2,200 kilometres of Central Coast roads.”Council Administrator, Mr Dick Persson AM said it is Council’s responsibility to explore and utilise the most effective techniques for maintaining and developing the local road network.“The Central Coast is an expansive region with an extensive road roadwork and it is exciting to be exploring a technology that offers the potential to provide us with better data in a more cost-effective way.”IPWEA is also working with Canterbury Bankstown, Georges River and Blayney Councils for the trial and there is no direct cost to Central Coast Council to participate.The evaluation of the trial will be released at the IPWEA state conference, at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley from Tuesday, 23 March until Thursday, 25 March 2021.
Council has reached an important milestone with the adoption of the consolidated region-wide Central Coast Local Environmental Plan (CCLEP) and Development Control Plan (CCDCP) to help alleviate planning complexities and inconsistencies across the region and creating certainty for residents and the local development industry.Since amalgamation the Central Coast has been operating under five different planning instruments each with different planning controls. These include: Gosford Local Environmental Plan 2014 (GLEP 2014);
Council considers increasing IPART application by 5%Council will consider applying to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for a fifteen percent Special Rate Variation (SRV), inclusive of the rate peg, to secure the long-term financial future of Council.Consideration of an alternative rate rise is now on the table.