Round Table Coffee Talks 18th October 2016 – Somersby School of Arts Hall
Local residents were invited to a round table exchange of ideas, and expressions of hopes and concerns, with members of the Representational Committees of the new Central Coast Council.
It provided an opportunity for members of the Representational Committees to meet members of the community, and be informed of matters they wanted taken to Council.
We are grateful to members of the Representational Committees, Hillary Morris, Bob Ward and Vicki Scott for participating, and appreciate input from Tim Kemp, Chairman of the local banch of NSW Farmers Association, Michelle Smith from the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Niel Jacobsen from Dane Consulting.
A few of the topics on the table were: representation and the ward system, the future of farming, effects of the Draft Regional Plan and any role for community consultation, changes to the rating system – effects on agricultural land, rubbish dumping, the need for a Regional Library, selling of public land, a voice for youth, preservation of heritage, formalising local representation, landfill irregularities, The proposed Harvest Trail, Central Coast Food Network, traffic and the condition of the roads and implications of proposed changes to Crown Lands Management. Of course not all could be covered on the night, but the list identified key concerns and the evening provided an opportunity to progress thoughts on many issues.