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The Central Coast community’s pushback against the proposed sale of community assets is gathering momentum.
By Jackie Pearson
Many small groups are joining forces to oppose some of the land sales included in Tranche 3 of Central Coast Council’s disposal of assets to pay off its debts. Yesterday locals gathered at Brisbane Avenue in Umina to voice their opposition to the latest proposal to reclassify two bush blocks in that street from community to operational land. Gosford Council attempted to sell the same lots in 2015 but the community protest was strong enough for the plan to be scrapped.
Interim Administrator Mr Dick Persson seemed flummoxed when he called ABC Central Coast Radio’s breakfast program on Thursday. He commented that ratepayers couldn’t afford not to sell land at Blackwall for the wellbeing of a nearby resident and didn’t appear to grasp the importance of green spaces to the wellbeing and amenity of the broader Central Coast community. Note – our bushland and our beaches and waterways, are why we live here.
It seems the urgency and depth of the debt emergency ebbs and flows depending on whose interests are being served. Two parcels of land at Warnervale were taken off the market because they were deemed necessary for the expansion of the Warnervale Aircraft Landing Area. Yet bush lots, community halls and carparks are deemed lazy assets that MUST be disposed of. When it comes to assets the ordinary residents of the Coast value, we have no choice.
The official media release regarding this initial consultation period said: “Council’s financial recovery plan required a review of Council’s property assets which could be disposed of to assist with the financial situation.
“Properties that have been identified in this next stage for sale have been grouped into three categories due to the different legislative and disposal processes involved. These groupings are:
Operational classified and appropriately zoned land
Operational classified land which requires rezoning
Land parcels where Council is seeking reclassification from community to operational land, and requiring Council to prepare a planning proposal to rezone the land prior to sale
“Residents can provide feedback, view the location and a description of the land parcels by visiting yourvoiceourcoast.com.
Council Administrator, Mr Dick Persson AM encouraged residents to have their say now as their feedback will assist the new Administrator to understand all viewpoints prior to making a final decision on any property sales.
“There is still a need for Council to raise funds through the sale of surplus or ‘lazy’ assets to pay down debt and keep moving forward with financial recovery,” Mr Persson said.
“I can assure residents that all due diligence is being undertaken in this process. This includes assessment against the Community Strategic Plan, consultation with the independent Property Advisory Committee and always independent market valuation assessment.”
The public exhibition closes 5pm on 21 May 2021.
A further report about the proposed property sales will return to the Council before the end of June this year.
Go to yourvoiceourcoast.com for more information.
