9 SEPTEMBER 2022
ISSUE 358
News
A strong community campaign has failed to save a 60-year-old Norfolk Island Pine at Killarney Vale even though it’s on Central Coast Council’s Significant Tree Register. See page 10
Out&About
Wyong brigade wins NSW firefighter championships
Central Coast Watercolour Society will hold its 2022 Springtime Exhibition at Gosford Regional Gallery from September 13 to October 3. See page 14
Firefighters from Fire and Rescue NSW Station 505 Wyong have taken home the crown at the regional Firefighter Championships held over the weekend August 27 and 28.
Business
See page 8
Photo: Anthony Jones Wyong firefighters in action at the event
Summit seeks solutions to housing crisis A lack of available land, delays in development approvals and a community resistance to medium and high-density housing projects were identified as some of the key problems in addressing the Central Coast’s housing crisis at a summit on September 7. Held at Tuggerah’s Red Tree Theatre, the Housing Summit saw business leaders, government representatives and regional stakeholders gather to discuss the lack of
affordable housing on the Coast and give input on the way forward. A full program of speakers outlined the effects lack of affordable housing is having, particularly in relation to business growth, and the major obstacles to providing more affordable housing in the region, with several viable solutions mooted. Organised by Business NSW Central Coast, Pacific Link Housing and Regional Development Australia, Central Coast, the summit saw a
packed theatre addressed by local MPs, housing providers, developers, planning experts and many others. It also saw an announcement by Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes, Anthony Roberts, that an Urban Development Program committee was to be established for the region. Business NSW Central Coast Regional Director, Paula Martin, said that with an annual population growth of 7 per cent, the region would be home to more than 400,000 residents
by 2041, with an extra 43,000 homes needed to cope with the growth. “More than 2,000 jobs in the region were advertised last month and we need to offer affordable housing options to meet the needs of these workers,” she said. Martin said that with an average weekly rental rate of $620pw, many were struggling to find somewhere to live, with almost 2,000 Coasties homeless. “The number of development
applications has doubled since May, 2020, but this is also leading to increased wait times for approval,” she said. Larissa Llowarch of Key2 Realty said demands on the social housing sector from very low income earners was extremely high with providers such as Pacific Link Housing struggling to keep up with demand. “We’ve had under one per cent rental vacancy for some time,” she said.
Coast & Country Primary Care has taken out three of the five major awards as the Gosford Erina Business Chamber (GEBC)/ Lasercraft 2022 Business Awards. See page 21
Sport
Avoca Beach have booked a date with Minor Premiers Terrigal in the Major Rugby Semi-final. See page 31
Continued page 3
Puzzles page 18
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