Residents call to 'genuinely consult' on car park sale
The Peninsula Residents Association has called on Central Coast Council to reconsider the sale of the Woy Woy commuter carpark and to "genuinely consult" with the community before it does so.
"This decision seems to have been made in a rush, without any community consultation," said Association vice-president Mr Julian Bowker.
"This has been a public asset for many years.
"While there may be good commercial options being offered now, the public must be consulted for such a significant decision.
"There has been only four days' notice of this proposal created by council staff.
"This was subsequently supported by the Administrator in spite of a public objection delivered on the night of the council decision via the only channel available - a three-minute address."
Mr Bowker said the council should genuinely consult the public on significant matters affecting their future as is the obligation of council under the Local Government Act.
"It is timely to remember that the Local Government Act, Chapter 3 Principles of Local Government, Section 8A(2) states many things."
These included that councils should consider the long-term and cumulative effects of actions on future generations, that they should consider the principles of ecologically sustainable development, and that council decision-making should be transparent and decision-makers are to be accountable for decisions and omissions.
"The sale is premature and inappropriate in the light of Council's foreshadowed strategic planning exercise for the Peninsula.
"That exercise may well suggest a range of options which could take advantage of it being a public asset, and options that would be prevented if it was not.
"This carpark and the associated commercial agreement are significant community assets, and the council should be much more circumspect in selling it.
"There appears to be no great urgency to make this decision and, at a minimum, it should be delayed until we have an elected council.
"In the light of the recently-exhibited floodplain risk management study, we would like its potential use for emergency planning assessed," he said.
SOURCE:
Media release, 2 Mar 2023
Julian Bowker, PRA