B2B - Keeping you in the know

Central Coast Taskforce has labelled the Central Coast Regional Plan “ The Good , The Bad and The Ugly ”

Taskforce Chair Chris Holstein believes “ The Good “ in the plan is the implementation plan direction to increase job containment in the region and strengthen the economic selfdetermination of the aboriginal communities . Working with largest land holder on the coast in Darkinjung land council has the potential to benefit the indigenous community but create projects that will benefit all the Coast in job creation and economic growth . The identification of new economic employment opportunities especially for those who now have to travel outside the region for employment is essential for the local economy but also for the social well-being of the families , and community in general .

“ The Bad “ comes in the implementation plans lack of defining the specific projects , comments are general and vague . The previous 2012 plan had project and priority action on specific road and infrastructure projects . Not so the current for the current plan with 110 actions , with timing allocations of immediate , short , medium or long term . It should be noted that the 9 actions marked as immediate are highlighted by words like “ monitor , plan or review ”, whilst the 28 short term ( 3-5 years ) and 1 medium term ( 5 to 10 years ) actions with the next State election a little over 2 years away , one might question the commitment to deliver .

And then we come to “ The Ugly “ 72 of the 110 actions are Strategies using those key words like Plan , Coordinate ,

Encourage , Enhance , Facilitate , Improve , Manage and that old favourite Review .

It ’ s hard to comprehend that after all of these years we don ’ t know what ’ s needed and so the “ analysis paralysis “ continues . Had a fraction of funding for strategies been directed to projects … What could be ? said Mr Holstein

The performing Arts Centre for the waterfront is a prime example , says Mr Holstein .

What ’ s worrying is the fact that the plan shows of the 110 actions the New Council have lead responsibility on 91 of those actions . With just on 12 months before a democratic Council will be elected and then the division into 5 wards , will there be a unified or divided direction by the elected reps .

The amalgamation of 2 council into 1 was sound on the basis of having one voice for the Central Coast and the opportunities to leverage a greater share of government funding at both State and Federal level . But the divide into 5 wards has the potential to lead to parochialism and self interest in decision marking e . g . leading the implementation of the plan , and that would be ugly for all on the Central Coast .

Chris Holstein | Chair Central Coast Taskforce | 0418 796 375