Gosford CBD a disgrace and deserves better
Bill Kerr addressing the Chamber Luncheon on Wednesday 12th November
“The CBD is a disgrace and those who conduct business or visit the area deserve better”. These are some of the words uttered by a relaxed and confident Bill Kerr during his address to the Gosford chamber luncheon yesterday, 12th November, at Iguana Joes.
With over 90 guests attending the luncheon, some travelling from Sydney to hear him, he concluded his address by fielding tricky questions with authority. This alone shows he has done a bit of homework on the city.
After so many past disappointments at getting the regions capital city into line with the ‘living city concept’ we might just have the right chap to take us there. We had John McInerney the Architect a Town Planner with special interests in transport and heritage. And as a past National President of the Planning Institute of Australia and former Manager of Planning for the City of Sydney and City of Melbourne, had high hopes for his deliverance.
Then came Frank Sartor, but not much happened there, now we rest our hopes on Bill Kerr. He openley stated how important it is to consult with all stakeholders for their views on Gosford’s future. He has discussed issues with local education specialists, looked into the social fabric of Gosford, beaten a path to local property holders and generally talked his pants off to get to the root of the problem, before looking to implement anything at all. For this he is to be congratulated.
“Gosford is located in one of the most beautiful settings in Australia,” Mr Kerr said, referring to the nearby waterfront and the scenic hills. “But it puzzles me why the waterfront and the town centre have not been connected,” he said.
It seems every man/woman and his/her dog wishes that derelict building gracing Donnison and Mann to be redeveloped. Spurbest also has been brought into the equation. We all know we have the basic ingredients for a beautiful place, all it needs is a team with creative insight and the ‘nouse’ to get it going. Make those hard decisions which will not please everyone, Kibble is an example of that, and get moving.
Kerr dispeled some of the myths surrounding Gosford Public School, and wonders just where the local media get their stories from. He openly states he knows not what outcomes will eventuate, but the demands made of his team will ensure the highest quality by the time they are formed in 2009 and promises to give future development an edge. Glossy brochures alone do not impress this bloke!
The Gosford Challenge Launch
The Grunt agrees with the Mayor Chris Holstein and Bill Kerr when they openly tell those who consistently knock our city by the water to move somewhere else.
The Grunt asks the question. Do we start at the waterfront and move development toward the CBD? Or do we start within the CBD and work toward the waterfront? Either way the waterfront is our oyster and forms an integral part of any development plan. Check out the Gosford Challenge website. And more here.
Get involved here, ‘cause your thoughts are not only welcome, they are vital.
4 Comments »
Leave a comment
-
Archives
- February 2009 (1)
- December 2008 (1)
- November 2008 (2)
- October 2008 (4)
- September 2008 (5)
- August 2008 (3)
- July 2008 (2)
- June 2008 (4)
-
Categories
-
RSS
Entries RSS
Comments RSS
Gosford is a beautiful city. So many of us live and work in the area and as such we share a passion and love of this great place. I know I am not alone in the desire to move forward and create a vibrant living city that addresses the needs of the communities, both business and social. There are many people who share this passion and hold this vision. “The Gosford Challenge” is so aptly titled. The “Challenge” is to get it all right for everyone. There are many community consultation sessions planned by our Council and the William Kerr Co. to listen to the community and its needs. I urge you all to stand up and have a voice. Attend your local forum and have a say in what will shape this, OUR CITY, for the future.
We are to be reminded that the 1980’s were also an exciting time in the Gosford CBD, so much so that we purchased a Mann Street property and opened a business.
We still retain some of the press reports which are intended to be kept for our grandchildren so they could see what Gosford ‘used’ to be like.
17th July 1983: 15 Storeys in Town Centre – City Highrise
6th June 1984: At Last – Electric rail Link
27th June 1984: New look for City; Mayor predicts drastic change
30th August 1985: Exciting city high rise plan
4th September 1985: High rise offices linked to club; $15Mill Gosford tower Plan
23rd October 1985: City high rise race; Church behind 12 storey twin towers project
23rd July 1999: Call to get behind civic plan
25th September 2003: Delay to $24Mill civic scheme
25 years later our grandchildren are growing up and the next generation will soon be here. However, Christopher Bearman aptly stated ‘Cities grow, change and evolve, Gosford will come again in its own time. Express Advocate 5th November 2008.
During this period the excellent Kensmen Building was constructed but unfortunately the turning lane into Donnison Street was never built. The Workcover building was another landmark in Gosford, but insufficient car parking space was provided. Full marks to the Gateway Centre for the substantial additions of office space and car parking provided at this prominent centre.
The community must be encouraged to attend the current Gosford Challenge Seminars as this may be the last chance for a while, as the last 25 years have been a period of unprecedented change and economic prosperity.
It is disappointing that minutes or some record of the questions and replies at the various meetings are not available for those who attend, although an invitation specified that all attendees register ‘to satisfy council’s public sector probity’.
Yours
Peter Turnbull [formerly of Citicoast Realty]
Public Sector Probity. There are a lot of meetings which influence the decision making process, yet have no minutes to show who and how influence was used. Some Councils are already putting their public meetings sound and vision on the Net, in the interest of open and informed governance. Certainly the attendance at Gosford City Council meetings is sad with perhaps five citizens in the gallery on a bad night. The full discussion heard in open council is not a matter of public record in the Agenda. There is no good reason today that pod cast of meetings related to public business are not freely available and in common currency.
Edward James
That william Kerr is a genius, i have seen some of his work and he really knows his stuff. Myself and many of my colleagues are exciting to see the outcome of Gosford. We know it will be a winner if Mr. Kerr is involed.