Budget changes and other decisions
March 24, 2026 council meeting.
Council failed to get through its agenda on March 24 and will meet again on March 31 to finish the job.
Much of the night was taken up with debate that resulted in 12 decisions.
It started with councillors:
1/ Refusing to allow Cr Corinne Lamont to attend the meeting remotely.
So, she donned a mask and arrived an hour later to applause from some councillors and some people in the gallery.
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2/ Councillors adopt the operational plan and budget which will now go out on public exhibition before coming back for final sign-off.
The 10% rise for families using council’s 8 childcare and early education centres stays in.
The proposed fees for car parking at Terrigal and The Entrance was dropped.
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3/ The Blueprint I wrote about here has been adopted by the usual majority Liberals and Team Central Coast councillors 8 v 6 in minority – because Cr Lamont is not allowed to attend remotely. And at this stage, although we didn’t know it at the time, she was driving to the venue.
4/ Cr Eaton realises there is no way council is going to get through the agenda so he suggests a change of order in the items to get the most important decisions done tonight.
He gets support 8-6.
First the two monthly financial items are adopted as per staff recommendations.
Then the budget and financial plan were about to be debated when suddenly I hear clapping: Cr Lamont comes in. It is 7.29pm; the meeting has been going for one hour.
So, she is in time for the budget debate. It lasts another hour before being being adopted.
Then the next eight items are debated.
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5/ Item 7.1 High Speed Rail Authority Community Information Centre in Gosford is adopted.
6/ Item 7.2 Notice of Motion – Support for Ettalong Blackspot Application is adopted by unanimous vote.
7/ Item 7.6 Notice of Motion – Community concerns about targeting of endangered species is adopted by unanimous vote.
8/ Item 6.2 Capital Works Adjustments for this financial year is adopted.
Basically, Road Renewal, Heavy Patch and Carpark Programs get money early while several delayed multi-year projects such as Avoca Drive, Malinya Road and Tuggerawong Foreshore shared pathways, Marine Parade boardwalk renewal, Little Wobby wharf renewal, slope stabilisation and drainage works and the Ocean Beach Rawson Road intersection project get delayed.
And $7M needs to be spent on a blockage within the Kincumber Sewer Tunnel that needs to be done urgently. Also adopted.
9/ Item 6.8 Masters Games.
Council will spend $330,000 to join surrounding councils on a bid for the 21st Australian Masters Games in 2027.
Adopted unanimously.
10/ Item 6.6 New Welcome to Coast signs
Three new 6m high gateway signs; at Kariong, Tuggerah and Warnervale to cost $600,000.
Adopted 8-7.
See my post on this a day ago.
11/ Item 6.7 The regular grants recommendation is adopted unanimously. See screenshot below.
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12/ Item 6.1 The minutes and recommendations of the Environment and Planning Committee.
Oh wow, what a way to end the meeting. Councillors are all over the place with this.
You had to be there to see the confusion.
Only three items were adopted.
There were:
# EPC-26/142 – Proposed Miscellaneous Amendments to Central Coast Development Control Plan 2022 to go out on public exhibition.
# EPC-26/143 – Burns Road Flood Warning System – Implementation and request for upgrade of rail guards adopted.
# EPC-26/144 – Asbestos Policy – adopted.
The Open Pile Burning Policy remains to be dealt with.
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That is the short version of tonight’s meeting.
Four hours and a mere 12 items dealt with.
It has about 20 more on the agenda.
That’s why there will be an extra meeting next week.
It will be held at Wyong, As usual, I plan to be there.
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Oh, one last thing; Council agreed to spend $15M on improvements to Buttonderry Waste Management Facility, commonly referred to as the tip.
It was passed en masse at the beginning of the meeting along with the Water and Sewer bi-annual delivery plan report.. En masse meaning it was not debated.
