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Estimates may lead to 'pickle'

 

Peninsula Aquatic Centre, costing some $25 million, has been financed on the assumption that the population of the Peninsula will grow to some 50,000 people, according to the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce.

Estimates of population growth of less than 7000, contained within the draft Peninsula Urban Design Strategy, would clearly place Gosford Council in a substantial financial "pickle", according to Chamber president Mr Matthew Wales.

In a submission in response to the draft strategy, Mr Wales said that the situation would require "considerable adjustments to future funding sought through developer contributions and an obvious winding back of many of the planned community facilities".

"These population growth figures, when combined with proposed growth targets in other areas of the city, are also at odds with Council's 'population cap'.

"It is the Chamber view that this philosophical position should be revisited so that mixed messages are not sent to the wider community and to government," he said.

Submission, July 5 Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce