Central Coast Forum
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On 15th March 2010 a gathering of Central Coast representatives from business, government and the community debated the future of local government in the region as it feels the effect of increasing population pressures.

Consult Australia convened the Forum to progress the recommendations developed in their report Sydney Towards Tomorrow.

Participants at the Forum engaged in a passionate discussion covering a range of issues critical to the long term success of the Central Coast. The audience was representative of a broad cross-section of the local community including local school students, councillors, state MP’s as well as leading business and community representatives.

There was a strong feeling among the audience that the Central Coast should be treated as a single region for planning purposes. Representatives indicated their support for a regional governance model to build the capacity of the Central Coast to meet increasing population pressures, and realise opportunities for economic growth. Many participants considered amalgamation of local government to be a useful first step, but one that needed to be combined with additional funding by state and federal governments for infrastructure projects critical to the region.

Winning students from Gosford High School participated in the Forum’s Panel facilitated by George Negus. The students were the winners of a $1000 essay competition, sponsored by Myer, debating the amalgamation of Gosford and Wyong Shire Councils (read the finalists’ entries on the ‘consultation’ page).

The Panel of Speakers:
Chris Holstein, Mayor of Gosford
Bob Graham, Mayor of Wyong
John Asquith, Chair, Central Coast Community Environment Network and Secretary, NSW Nature Conservation Council
Lillian Davis, Natalie Hodgson, Oscar Wilkie, Gosford High School
Greg Hoffman, Director of Policy and Representation, Local Government Association of QLD
David Stuart-Watt, PB