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YOUR WEEKLY INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWSPAPER d Retire
EDITION #522 THURSDAY, 5 FEBRUARY 2026
THE HILARIOUS COMEDY THEATRE SHOW
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24-25 FEB
THE ART HOUSE • WYONG
Historic win for Gosford Water Polo
SEE PAGE 16
Out&About
P19 Artist of the year holds solo exhibition
Business
P30 The victorious men’s and women’s teams together
Council supports plan to alleviate rental crisis Central Coast Councillor Doug Eaton wants the Australian Government to introduce a system to incentivise retirees to rent out vacant rooms in their family home to alleviate the existing rental crisis.
Cr Doug Eaton
He says such incentives could include exemption of rental income from income tax and pension allowable income and exemption from capital
gains tax that would otherwise arise from the rental of the family home. He said the family home was exempt from capital gains tax but this exemption was lost in part if the home was part rented. Similarly the rental income received is assessable income and subject to tax and this could reduce or eliminate the pension. Cr Eaton said the financial impacts
made renting out a room in the family home unviable. “Removing these impacts for say one room for homes owned by retirees and pensioners would do a lot to alleviate the housing and rental crisis with around 200,000 rooms becoming available if just 1% of housing stock took up the opportunity,” he said.
P21 Govt backs next phase of major film studio
Sport
P30 Coasties to compete at Winter Olympics PUZZLES PAGE 18
Continued page 11
PLANNING A BATHROOM RENOVATION IN 2026?
Before You Renovate, Check This: Is waterproofing compliant for coastal conditions? Will the layout still work in 5–10 years? Are materials chosen for humidity and not just looks?
Good planning makes the difference. Visit our Erina showroom for a free quote 8/188 The Entrance Rd, Erina
02 4330 0305
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