News & Events

Community Environment Network
Breakfast with the Birds

Please join us for Breakfast with the Birds at Spencer.

Date: Thursday 2nd Feb 2012 7:30-10am

Participants will be taken on a guided bird watching walk along Breakfast Creek followed by breakfast at the Spencer Community Centre.
Bookings essential for catering: 4349 4757 or waterwatch@cen.org.au

Gosford Councillors oppose any airport plan

SOMERSBY Plateau residents breathed a sigh of relief on Tuesday night after Gosford councillors voted unanimously to oppose any airport in the area.

The council will write to infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese urging him to abandon consideration or investigation of a second airport in the area due to fears of negative impact on residential and agricultural land.

The council will also write to State Liberal MP for Gosford Chris Holstein seeking his support.

Greens councillor Terri Latella, who put the successful motion, said the community on the plateau deserved peace of mind.

This followed recent speculation on the suitability of the site for a second major international airport for the Sydney region.

Continue reading --> Express Advocate

Central Coast airport a lead issue at farm talks

PEATS Ridge farmer Tim Kemp will join other horticulturalists to talk about the issues facing agriculture at the NSW Farmers Annual Conference next week. The carbon tax and mounting unease over talk of a second Sydney airport on the Somersby plateau will be high on the agenda.

“I will be representing the Central Coast Horticulture branch of NSW Farmers with two others on the first day of the conference and then I will stay on for the next two days to discuss broader issues,” Mr Kemp said.

“This area doesn’t have too many specific problems to raise, but we will be seeking the support of head office in fighting any proposal for an airport in the area.

“Such a move would be completely devastating for agriculture on the plateau. The amount of earthworks involved would destroy us - whole mountains would need to be levelled off and valleys filled.

“It’s reassuring to hear Gosford Council say it wouldn’t support an airport on the plateau, but things remain uncertain until the end of the year when the federal committee makes its recommendations.”

Source: Central Coast Advocate

Coast Councils vote against merger

The Mayor of Wyong has criticised Gosford Council's decision to reject any move to amalgamate the two organisations, despite initially supporting the plan.

Plans to conduct a feasibility study into a possible merger were discussed at a joint meeting of the two Councils last week, but the majority of Gosford Councillors voted against it.

Wyong Mayor, Doug Eaton says he is bewildered by the move and is urging his Gosford counterparts to re-consider.

"The realities are it will happen," he said.

"What's disappointing as well I suppose for Wyong is now we've got to figure out a way forward to cope with our finances which aren't on a sustainable footing.

"Gosford is in exactly the same situation as we are, if not worse.

Continue reading --> ABC News

Amalgamation with Mangrove Country Club

On 30th March Members of the Mangrove Mountain Memorial Club voted in favour of the proposed amalgamation with the Mangrove Country Club. Having peviously rejected the proposal, the Mangrove Country Club then held another vote on Tuesday 31st May and also voted in favour of the amalgamation.

It is understood the Deed of Amalgamation is is now in the process of being being signed off by both Clubs and will then be in the hands of the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing for approximately 6 - 8 weeks, and hopefully all will be finalised by September.

Coca-Cola's water use before court again

A dispute over Coca-Cola Amatil's bid to permanently increase the amount of groundwater it extracts from its New South Wales Central Coast bottling plant is once again before the Land and Environment Court.

Earlier this year, the company sought approval from Gosford Council to permanently boost the amount of water it takes from the local acquifer to 66 megalitres a year.

The Council wouldn't agree this due to environmental concerns, and wants the extraction permit reviewed after 10 years.

Read the full articl at ABC News

Central Coast Airport Plan grounded before take off

THE Central Coast should NOT be home to Sydney’s second airport. That was the clear message from Gosford Council this week.

At a special meeting on Thrsday night councillors said they would not sanction an airport anywhere on the Somersby plateau.

Mayor Laurie Maher admitted he had been "hauled over the coals" by fellow councillors for floating the idea along with Wyong Mayor Doug Eaton.

Comments he had made highlighting the advantages of an airport on the Central Coast were made without consultation with the full council.

At the same, time, Cr Maher said there were tracts of land for a possible airport site west of the F3 excluding the plateau suburbs of Kulnura, Peats Ridge, Somersby and Mangrove Mountain...

...Liberal Cr Chris Holstein reminded the meeting that any decision on a future airport would be made by a federally appointed committee, with federal and state government representation.

Read the full article in the Central Coast Express Advocate-->

Somersby residents 'devastated' by airport plan

ANGRY residents of the Somersby plateau are marshalling their forces to oppose the development of Sydney’s second international airport in their area. Many have described the news that the area is under consideration for an airport as devastating.

They say it has cast a shadow over their future and even if a decision is not made soon it will make it difficult to sell their land.

“Who would want to move into an area with a cloud like this hanging over your head,” resident Peter Campbell said. “It’s Badgery’s Creek all over again.”

Mr Campbell questioned why the joint announcement by the mayors was made without any community consultation.

Read the article in the Central Coast Express Advocate-->

..and there is more on the airport here.

TAFE is offering Career Education and Employment courses for Women and a BREW Men’s course next semester.

These courses are for both women & men who would like to re-enter the workforce or gain further educational qualifications. There is more information about the women's courses here and the men's courses here.

New freshwater fishing destination for Central Coast

There’s a new tourist attraction on the Central Coast that is fast becoming the hottest destination for avid and aspiring anglers to catch sport sized fish.
Glenworth Valley’s new Fishing Park is a recreational fishing facility growing Australian native freshwater fish and is now open for fishing amongst 3000 acres of pristine wilderness. There is more information here.
Glenworth Valley's Fishing Park is open by appointment daily and bookings are essential. Phone (02) 4375 1222 or visit www.glenworth.com.au for bookings or enquiries. Combine fishing with Glenworth Valley's horse riding, quad biking, kayaking or abseiling activities and save 15% off the regular price.

Country Club Tennis

Due to the closure of the Mangrove Counry Club, the Tuesday social tennis ladies have relocated to the Kulnura courts.
Tuesdays 9am to 1pm, new members welcome.

Convict Trail Project welcome's World Heritage Listing

The Convict Trail Project is celebrating the fact the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee meeting has accepted Australia's nomination for the inclusion of eleven Convict sites on the World Heritage List.
This nomination includes a significant part of the Great North Road, specifically the road up Devines Hill and Finch's Line on the northern side of the Hawkesbury River. These sites contain some spectacular convict-built road works including buttressed walls that are actually drains to take the water away from the walls on Devines Hill. The Great North Road now joins other significant sites such as Port Arthur and parts of Norfolk Island on the World Heritage List.
More details here.

Mangrove Mountain Country Markets
Mangrove Mountain Receation Reserve
Cnr Wisemans Ferry Road and Waratah Road
Contact: Nola Charles
Email: nola@birdsong.com.au
Phone: 4377 1162
From 9.00 - 2.00pm, normally on the last Sunday of each month.
There will be local stall holders, local fresh organic produce, free demonstrations, gourmet food and drinks, and plants and seedlings.

Back to top