Overwhelming community response to Gosford City Council’s water forum 2006 

Local residents turned out in droves to Gosford City Council’s community Water Forum 2006 at the Erina Centre on Saturday, with more than 650 people attending the four- hour community information session.

According to Gosford City Mayor, Laurie Maher, the willingness of the community to come and listen to what Council had to say as well as to share their own views demonstrates just how ‘top of mind’ water currently is on the Central Coast.

‘The most important feedback that Council was able to take away from the meeting is that the community wants us and Wyong Shire Council, as partners in the joint water authority, to get on with the $100 million of capital works we have underway as quickly as possible,’ said Laurie Maher.

‘They also made it clear that there is widespread community support for Gosford City Council to introduce water recycling for both non-drinking and drinking water as quickly as possible as their preferred option for sourcing additional water supplies.

‘During the Forum and from the comments made by the community before and after the information session, it is clear there is strong support for recycling as the preferred solution to creating a diverse and sustainable water supply system.’

During the half-day Forum, attendees heard presentations from three senior Gosford City Council Water & Sewer managers including Rod Williams, Director, Pam McCann, Manager, Asset Management and Steve Martin, Manager, Operations.

The keynote address from Ross Young, Executive Director, Water Services Association of Australia, sought to put in context the Central Coast’s worst drought on record. He also made it clear that everyone on the Central Coast was in for a continuing rough ride in terms of dwindling rainfall over the next couple of years.

‘Ross Young gave an excellent presentation that explained it’s not just the Central Coast that’s suffering,’ said Laurie Maher. ‘He also highlighted why it has been so difficult for the planners to accurately predict what the would be for the next 10 years. He even went as far as to say that you cannot accurately plot an average rainfall for anywhere in Australia.

‘Question time, following the presentations, was a lively event but what was important was that the community got to ask their questions and the senior Water & Sewer managers were there in person to deal with their queries directly and honestly in language that we could all understand.”

A highlight of the Forum was presentations from local school children who put in their own words why they think everyone in the community should save water and how they can do this. Their speeches drew warm and appreciative applause from the audience.

‘It was great to hear what the children had to say as they represent the next generation. That was one of the main reasons why we wanted them to be involved as what we’re doing now to diversify our water supply system won’t just impact us, it will also be the legacy we leave for them,’ said Laurie Maher.

‘In line with the resolution that was passed by Council to hold the Water Forum, the  community now has 14 days to provide any submissions they wish to make to Council on the Forum. A report on the Forum will then be prepared and brought back to Council.

‘All attendees at the Forum also had the chance to submit additional questions on the forms provided and around 65 of these were received. Answers to these will be provided via either email, fax or mail within five working days.

‘We also asked the community to answer a number of survey questions to allow us to obtain valuable feedback. The results from this survey will be included in the report back to Council,’ concluded Laurie Maher.

The Water Forum is the start of a intensive program of community interaction over the coming months including Water Week which runs from 16 October until 21 October, the Central Coast Water Festival and Expo at the Entrance on Saturday 21 October 2006, and the commencement of shopping centre displays around the region which will provide practical, hands-on advice as to how people can cope with the Level 4 restrictions.

ENDS

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