Mayor criticises Wicks - 'We get no recognition at all'

Gosford mayor Cr Lawrie McKinna has criticised Member for Robertson Ms Lucy Wicks failing to recognise the council's role in a number of local projects.

"Ms Wicks stood in Parliament to speak about 12 major projects and initiatives, but failed to mention that council has planned, driven and is delivering at least nine of these for residents on the Peninsula," Cr McKinna said.

He said she also failed to acknowledge that the Government had made the council's job harder with a freeze on local spending.

"What Ms Wicks also didn't mention was the Government's decision in the 2014 budget to freeze the indexation of Financial Assistance Grants for three years, which will cost councils across Australia an estimated $925 million.

"We know the state of the Peninsula's local roads is an ongoing concern for residents and this freeze will only make it harder for Council to fund the improvement of these roads."

Cr McKinna said that without much-needed Federal funding many of these projects might not have been finished or even started yet, but Gosford Council had played a significant role in making the projects happen.

"Council developed the masterplan for Woy Woy Oval's redevelopment, secured $5.5 million in Federal and State funding for the project and we're currently building it.

"Plus, we've invested almost $3 million towards the redevelopment, but no recognition from our Local Member.

"It's a similar deal with upgrade works at McEvoy Oval in Umina.

"Council staff have put in a huge effort along with local sporting groups to develop a masterplan for the entire site, invest $220,000 towards the project and also make sure the NSW Government matched our funding contribution.

"We put a lot of resources into securing $680,000 in grant funding under the Safer Streets program for Gosford City.

"Due to these efforts, it is Council that is now replacing and upgrading $370,000 worth of CCTV cameras in Woy Woy, Umina and Ettalong.

"There wouldn't be any new roundabouts on Rabaul Ave in Umina and Trafalgar Ave in Woy Woy, if council hadn't made the case for Black Spot program funding and then built them.

"And it is council that has completed over $1.6 million worth of upgrade works along parts of Lone Pine Ave in Umina and Springwood Ave in Ettalong, with the help of $245,000 from the Australian Government's Financial Assistance Grant program.

"At least Ms Wicks recognised that council has had to live with years of neglect from both levels of government, even though we've tried to get many projects off the ground on the Peninsula with little or no help.

"And now that council has been able to, we get no recognition at all," Cr McKinna said.

Media release, 12 Feb 2016

Lawrie McKinna, Gosford Council