Central Coast Stadium

[pjennings]

Yes it looks dire!! I would hope for some relief from Gladys (I gave amalgamation funds to non-amalgamated councils) - though the MSM still have her as cross between the Virgin Mary and Mother Theresa.

 

[Insertnamehere]

And the same inept f**kwits who were supposed to have over sight will probably stand again at the next election too.

Fancy signing off on a performance review for the CEO where he didn't provide financial kpi data

I'd be very curious for an audit going back to the merger when the previous administrator was in.
See how the timelines go for the expenditures.

$200m on illegal pet projects. FMD. There's surely going to more massive illegal expenditure.

 

[Avoca]

“If” there is a rate rise, then people will be more frugal with their funds. This might affect the patronage at Mariner’s games.

Citizens of the Coast will suffer because of mistakes made by the council. There needs to be a deeper investigation.

 

[Ironbark]

Significant rate hikes...protests be a-comin'

 

[pjennings]

Don't forget to protest against both the Council and the State govt that short changed us on amalgamation funds while giving much more substantial funds to Councils that didn't amalgamate

 

[midfielder]

From the ABC ... does not make pleasant reading

Central Coast Council's financial debt of more than $565 million laid out in damning report

Central Coast Council, the sixth largest in Australia, has forecast a budget blowout of more than $200 million and more than $565 million of debt in its administrator's report.

www.abc.net.au

Central Coast Council's dire finances, including more than $565 million of debt, laid out in damning report​

The sixth largest council in Australia, Central Coast Council, is in the grip of a financial crisis with a forecast budget blowout of more than $200 million and accrued debts of more than $565 million.

A damning report detailing the findings of a 30-day investigation into the financially-stricken council, just north of Sydney, was released by newly-appointed administrator Dick Persson on Wednesday.

Thirteen councillors, including the mayor, were suspended in October when the council revealed it was facing an $89 million budget blowout and was on the brink of being unable to pay its 2,000 staff.

But the full extent of council's financial position has sent shockwaves through a community which will ultimately be forced to pay the price for what has been described as serious financial mismanagement and the unlawful use of millions in restricted funds.

"They don't expect to see things go from what seemed to be okay to what I'm calling the greatest financial calamity in the history of local government in New South Wales," Mr Persson said.

Debt continues to grow​

Mr Persson's report details how the council went from a $65 million surplus to a $200 million deficit in four years.

The 10-page document reveals the Central Coast Council's operating loss for the current financial year is forecast to be about $115 million, on top of last year's known $89 million deficit.

While the investigation found no evidence of theft or corruption, the report confirmed the former chief executive officer, who was sacked just days ago, and the former chief financial officer were aware of the illegal use of restricted funds and allowed it to continue.

Mr Persson defended the elected councillors, to a point, by maintaining they could not have been expected to be aware of the unauthorised use of the restricted monies, particularly when it was not detailed in reports to council.

But he said they had ample powers to obtain any financial information they wanted, and by not doing so also "failed to perform one of their most important responsibilities".

The amalgamation of Gosford and Wyong councils to form Central Coast Council continues to be a divisive community issue with some ongoing calls for the entity to be de-amalgamated, and the latest financial crisis has fuelled that argument.

The administrator was adamant the council merger played only a small part in the council's "rapid financial decline".

 

[Insertnamehere]

So if its not the councillors or the CEO at fault, who the fk is?!

From the ABC ... does not make pleasant reading

Central Coast Council's financial debt of more than $565 million laid out in damning report

Central Coast Council, the sixth largest in Australia, has forecast a budget blowout of more than $200 million and more than $565 million of debt in its administrator's report.

www.abc.net.au

Central Coast Council's dire finances, including more than $565 million of debt, laid out in damning report​

The sixth largest council in Australia, Central Coast Council, is in the grip of a financial crisis with a forecast budget blowout of more than $200 million and accrued debts of more than $565 million.

A damning report detailing the findings of a 30-day investigation into the financially-stricken council, just north of Sydney, was released by newly-appointed administrator Dick Persson on Wednesday.

Thirteen councillors, including the mayor, were suspended in October when the council revealed it was facing an $89 million budget blowout and was on the brink of being unable to pay its 2,000 staff.

But the full extent of council's financial position has sent shockwaves through a community which will ultimately be forced to pay the price for what has been described as serious financial mismanagement and the unlawful use of millions in restricted funds.

Debt continues to grow​

Mr Persson's report details how the council went from a $65 million surplus to a $200 million deficit in four years.

The 10-page document reveals the Central Coast Council's operating loss for the current financial year is forecast to be about $115 million, on top of last year's known $89 million deficit.

While the investigation found no evidence of theft or corruption, the report confirmed the former chief executive officer, who was sacked just days ago, and the former chief financial officer were aware of the illegal use of restricted funds and allowed it to continue.

Mr Persson defended the elected councillors, to a point, by maintaining they could not have been expected to be aware of the unauthorised use of the restricted monies, particularly when it was not detailed in reports to council.

But he said they had ample powers to obtain any financial information they wanted, and by not doing so also "failed to perform one of their most important responsibilities".

The amalgamation of Gosford and Wyong councils to form Central Coast Council continues to be a divisive community issue with some ongoing calls for the entity to be de-amalgamated, and the latest financial crisis has fuelled that argument.

The administrator was adamant the council merger played only a small part in the council's "rapid financial decline".

 

[Wombat]

Does anyone go to Gosford anymore though?
I thought it was strange when they were talking about selling the council building.
I know a couple of people who now work from home permanently. So is there need for more office space in Gosford?
And would retail get people there with Erina not far away. I'm not a shopper so I don't know the answer really.

I was there yesterday and it was pretty busy. Not the Ghost Town is was 12 months ago.

 

[Wombat]

This post (& stadium debate) was started in 2016. Back then, Mike Charlesworth had some foresight & said:

“The council don’t have the resources to do much with the stadium,” he offered. “They’ve been running it for 20 years and haven’t attracted other content.”

It’s now 2020 and MC was correct. Nothing has changed.

Maybe now a middle ground can be found, & a private investor can run the stadium.

I urge fans to go back & read the first post.

The trouble is Pikey is a bit a nutter. What is he going to attract.......World Nude Darts? Arabian Ballroom dancing, Bikram Yoga?

 

[Wombat]

From the ABC ... does not make pleasant reading

Central Coast Council's financial debt of more than $565 million laid out in damning report

Central Coast Council, the sixth largest in Australia, has forecast a budget blowout of more than $200 million and more than $565 million of debt in its administrator's report.

www.abc.net.au

Central Coast Council's dire finances, including more than $565 million of debt, laid out in damning report​

The sixth largest council in Australia, Central Coast Council, is in the grip of a financial crisis with a forecast budget blowout of more than $200 million and accrued debts of more than $565 million.

A damning report detailing the findings of a 30-day investigation into the financially-stricken council, just north of Sydney, was released by newly-appointed administrator Dick Persson on Wednesday.

Thirteen councillors, including the mayor, were suspended in October when the council revealed it was facing an $89 million budget blowout and was on the brink of being unable to pay its 2,000 staff.

But the full extent of council's financial position has sent shockwaves through a community which will ultimately be forced to pay the price for what has been described as serious financial mismanagement and the unlawful use of millions in restricted funds.

Debt continues to grow​

Mr Persson's report details how the council went from a $65 million surplus to a $200 million deficit in four years.

The 10-page document reveals the Central Coast Council's operating loss for the current financial year is forecast to be about $115 million, on top of last year's known $89 million deficit.

While the investigation found no evidence of theft or corruption, the report confirmed the former chief executive officer, who was sacked just days ago, and the former chief financial officer were aware of the illegal use of restricted funds and allowed it to continue.

Mr Persson defended the elected councillors, to a point, by maintaining they could not have been expected to be aware of the unauthorised use of the restricted monies, particularly when it was not detailed in reports to council.

But he said they had ample powers to obtain any financial information they wanted, and by not doing so also "failed to perform one of their most important responsibilities".

The amalgamation of Gosford and Wyong councils to form Central Coast Council continues to be a divisive community issue with some ongoing calls for the entity to be de-amalgamated, and the latest financial crisis has fuelled that argument.

The administrator was adamant the council merger played only a small part in the council's "rapid financial decline".

Stinks of corruption and fraud to me. How long did Skase spend in jail?????

 

[Pirate Pete]

Stinks of corruption and fraud to me. How long did Skase spend in jail?????

Yep, someone should go to jail, but just like Skase, they won't.

 

[Insertnamehere]

Stinks of corruption and fraud to me. How long did Skase spend in jail?????

What's got me fkd is the new admin guy has said while people have been ignorant its not any specific persons fault. Wtf? $200m on pet projects, illegally spent.

 

[pjennings]

If this has been going on for 4 years who is on the Audit Committee? What have the auditors said? If they haven't found anything so blatant as the illegal use of restricted funds - why not? If they have given a clean bill of health with something apparently so blatant can they be sued for damages?

 

[Avoca]

Next year Central Coast residents will vote for 15 new councillors. Let’s hope most nominees support the Mariners.

 

[Holy]

Drove past the stadium this morning and it's a dust bowl, with 2 x backhoe's levelling out topsoil.

No new turf as yet.

With the Macarthur game less than 2 weeks away, can't see the pitch would be ready, but what would I know.

Are there any greenkeepers amongst us that could give their expertise?

 

[finally retired]

Drove past the stadium this morning and it's a dust bowl, with 2 x backhoe's levelling out topsoil.

No new turf as yet.

With the Macarthur game less than 2 weeks away, can't see the pitch would be ready, but what would I know.

Are there any greenkeepers amongst us that could give their expertise?

is this part of council's cost cutting measures?....re-turf the stadium without any turf,

 

[turbo]

With the Macarthur game less than 2 weeks away, can't see the pitch would be ready, but what would I know.

I believe Bankwest got theirs turned around faster than that a while back but I have a bit more confidence in the people running a brand new start of the art stadium.

 

[pjennings]

I have previously spoken to the groundsman and he said that if the turf is already prepared elsewhere it just takes a few days to bring across, re-lay and get it to knit together.

I would still be worrying about getting a stud caught and the risk of serious knee damage if not done in plenty of time.

 

[pinklady]

Just on the Stadium - has this been mentioned before?

Central Coast Stadium - MEMBERSHIP

From my calculations this undercuts the cost of purchasing an outdoor tennis box for the same number of games and people. And I'm thinking what (if any) cut does the club get from this if someone chooses to purchase from the Stadium.

 

[Pirate Pete]

Just on the Stadium - has this been mentioned before?

Central Coast Stadium - MEMBERSHIP

From my calculations this undercuts the cost of purchasing an outdoor tennis box for the same number of games and people. And I'm thinking what (if any) cut does the club get from this if someone chooses to purchase from the Stadium.

Someone mentioned it a few weeks ago and I posted in the podcast thread.
Asking if the podcast guys could ask Shaun.