Greg Warren MPLabor's Three Point Plan to Resolve Central Coast Council Mess
NSW Labor has demanded the Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock,
put her hand up and take responsibility for the mess on the Central Coast created
by her government’s bungle 2016 forced mergers policy.
The creation of Central Coast Council – a result of Wyong Shire and Gosford City
councils merging – has been a financial catastrophy.
NSW Labor has a three point plan it said the Minister must adopt to resolve the
Central Coast Council mess.
That plan includes the state government:
- establishing a public inquiry into the botched merger
- footing the bill for the excessive and crippling costs associated with the
merger
- allowing residents to have their say on a referendum to demerge
Premier Gladys Berejiklian recently shut down the possibility of an inquiry despite
a petition for the concept receiving more than 20,000 signatures.
“I think the community doesn’t necessarily want review on review on review , they
want to see action and they want to see fairness,” the Premier said.
Shadow Minister for Local Government, Greg Warren, said it was clear the
shotgun marriage between Gosford City and Wyong Shire councils did not work.
“This mess was of the government’s own creation so they must be the ones to
clean it up and foot the bill,” he said.
NSW Deputy Labor Leader and Swansea MP Yasmin Catley added: “For the first
time in 10 years, this government needs to prioritise the needs of residents on the
Central Coast.”
The Entrance MP David Mehan said allowing Central Coast residents to hold a
referendum examining a possible demerger was the fair and sensible option.
“The government must let residents on The Central Coast have their say and
make a decision about their future.”
Gosford MP Liesl Tesch said a public inquiry was a non-negotiable.
“Our community must have transparency and certainty moving forward.”
“The government cannot run and hide from this issue no matter how hard they try.”
Wyong MP David Harris added: “It should be this draconian government that foot
the bill for the mess created following the amalgamation of the Central Coast
Council.”