A NSW Government review that could stop millions of dollars in controversial work at Warnervale airport should be released within two weeks, former senior Hunter police officer and Central Coast co-ordinator general Lee Shearer said.
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The statement puts a deadline on months of criticism about Central Coast Council’s pursuit of a regional airport at Warnervale and commitment of $12 million for road and flood mitigation works.
The commitment was made despite the government review of the Warnervale Airport Restrictions Act that is expected to recommend retaining the Act, which would rule out the council’s controversial expansion plans.
Wyong MP David Harris said he and Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper were briefed on the government review in late 2016, after Lake Macquarie Council and Newcastle Airport joined Central Coast critics of the airport expansion, and were told then that the review was almost finalised and recommended the Act be retained.
Mr Harris was concerned at the millions of dollars that have been spent on site and the release by Central Coast Council of an expressions of interest document in March describing Warnervale Airport as a “general aviation industry hub”.
He was also concerned the document failed to include that the NSW Government was reviewing an Act that would severely restrict activity at the site. It instead carried a disclaimer saying “The information and intentions set out in the EOI may change at any time without notice”.
Mr Piper also expressed concern at the amount of work at the site while the review is underway, saying “I would have thought it more appropriate to restrict funding to maintenance”.
Ms Shearer said she was very aware of community concerns about recent development at the site and was confident there would be an announcement by Planning Minister Anthony Roberts within two weeks.
Central Coast New Independents candidate Laurie Eyes, who repeatedly obtained information about the former Wyong Council’s controversial big problems using freedom of information legislation, said the objective of the Warnervale Airport Restrictions Act was to restrict future development and operations at Warnervale to protect communities in surrounding areas.
“The Act should be retained on that basis alone,” Mr Eyes said.