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Workshop on strategic plan

Public workshops to provide feedback and input into Gosford Council's draft 2003-2008 strategic plan will be held in Woy Woy and Umina in early September.

Gosford Council recently adopted the 2002-2007 City Management Plan (CMP) at its meeting on June 4 and, with the completion of the plan, the council has now commenced planning for the next round of public workshops.

The feedback from the workshops will be used in compiling the council's draft 2003-2008 strategic plan to be adopted by the council in June 2003.

The public workshops will also focus on the finalisation of the draft 2002 State of the Environment report and will provide the opportunity to make comment on the draft report which will be on exhibition.

The 2002-2007 report will be available at the workshops and outlines the strengths, weaknesses and opportunities of local business activity, the community life and spirit and the natural environment of the Peninsula area.

The report details Councils action plan for the district which includes reviewing the Ettalong parking management plan for the fast ferry service, extending the commuter car park at Woy Woy and upgrading Brisbane Avenue and Bourke Road at Umina.

Upgrading the CBD of Umina, Woy Woy and Ettalong as well as a Woy Woy Branch library project are also planned in the report.

Flood mitigation works at Middle Creek, Pearl Beach, Turo Creek as well as trunk drainage works for the Peninsula are also outlined.

Council also plans to monitor and review sewerage loadings into Woy Woy catchment and to plan for the closure of Woy Woy land fill.

The report by the council found that strengths of local business activity included good local facilities, good local stores, increasing professional services, eco-tourism and public transport.

Weaknesses included a need for greater variety, traffic pressure, vacant shops and a large low-skilled local workforce.

Strengths of the community life and spirit were found to be a diverse population, community groups, safe facilities and the little theatre complex.

Weaknesses were lack of local work, the facilities required for the aged, youth and low-income population, lack of police numbers and resources, increasing crime and drug use and a lack of good roads, drainage, kerbs and gutters.

Strengths of the natural environment were safe clean beaches, the Woy Woy environment centre and that community facilities were well maintained.

Weaknesses were flooding and bushfire risks, pollution monitoring and the quality and management of lagoons and foreshores.

The workshops for the 2003-2008 strategic plan will be held on Monday, September 9, at Umina Beach Community Hall, Sydney Ave, Umina, and on Thursday, September 12, at Woy Woy Little Theatre, 93 McMasters Rd, Woy Woy.

Letter and report, July 30