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Council asks for rate rise

Gosford Council has decided to ask ratepayers to agree to a rate rise of an average of $23 a year.

The increase would pay for the new multi-purpose Woy Woy aquatic centre and basketball stadium, as well as six new surf club buildings including two on the Peninsula.

The Woy Woy aquatic centre is expected to cost $17 million and the surf club buildings $6 million.

Mayor Cr Robert Bell said: "Many residents in the community have said we need facilities now.

"The clubs are 70 years old and we have waited long enough.

"The only way council can possibly achieve this outcome is to ask the community for an extra 45 cents per week."

"The new surf clubs will include Umina and Ocean Beach, as well as Avoca, Copacabana, Killcare and Wamberal.

"This is an opportunity for our young people to be involved in these projects and be a part of the new surf clubs to take us to 2025.

"For the first time young people will be involved in the decision making for their future and we believe up to 2000 new young people will join these state of the art facilities," said Cr Bell.

The council will also allocate $35 million from its budget to roads and transport.

"For some time, council has been saying that we need an integrated transport system to improve traffic flow.

"We are providing more money for roads, but we need a comprehensive ferry service in the Brisbane Water.

"Council is upgrading 11 wharves over the next two years as its contribution.

"Council supports a fast ferry, 38 minutes to Circular Quay, but we need more buses, a commuter bus service to Sydney and a light rail to Terrigal from Gosford Railway Station.

"Council can provide assistance to government but its priority is allocation of funds to roads," said Cr Bell.

A proposal last year to raise rates 7.2 per cent to pay for kerb and gutter, footpaths, roadworks and water safety was abandoned after it was overwhelmingly rejected by ratepayers.

Media release, April 24