Chamber did not work with Council for Bullion St sale

I refer to the letter written by Ms Kay Williams of Pearl Beach "McInerney to speak on planning" (Peninsula News July 11) and her comments that I and the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce had worked with Gosford Council to bring about the sale of the Bullion St car park.

Ms Williams' comments are wrong on any number of levels.

The Chamber of Commerce was involved in the community consultation process for the Umina Beach Traffic Management and Accessibility Plan back in 2014 as were some 50 other community members.

These consultations included the future of the Bullion St car park as a civic square and mixed use precinct while preserving the public car parking capacity.

Ms Williams is wrong when she said that the community rejected the proposals put forward by Council.

The community input was generally very supportive of what Council was proposing although the Chamber did not support some of the more specific recommendations.

Ms Williams is also wrong when she said that I and the Chamber had continued to work with the Council to bring about the sale of the Bullion St car park.

Neither I nor the Chamber had any subsequent discussions with the Council and have had no involvement in the current Expression of Interest for the development of Bullion St.

For Ms Williams to infer that either I or the Chamber had such involvement is incorrect and misleading as are many of her other comments.

Email, 14 Jul 2016

Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce