COMMUNITY ACCESS EDITION 496 REAL INDEPENDENT LOCAL NEWS 15 JUNE 2020 Campaigners reject Council position on soap in public toilets Despite advocating hand- Council removes the signs we washing to help minimise leave to say where the soap has the spread of coronavirus, come from. Central Coast Council has “The pandemic has brought the issue to a head, but we need to decided not to provide soap have basic public health measures in many of its public toilets, at our facilities all the time. according to community “Other councils have soap in all group Operation Soap in their facilities – so why can’t we?” Public Toilets. Professor Short said the group The group, which has itself would continue its campaign into placed soap in toilets around the the future. Peninsula, claims the Council “This is an urgent basic public “removes the signs we leave to say health matter,” she said. where the soap has come from”. “It’s also an OH and S matter for The group is backed by Council employees who use these Professor Stephanie Short, who facilities, along with tradesmen and specialises in public health at the members of the general public. University of Sydney’s Faculty of “Now we are going to see more Medicine and Health, and who is a holidaymakers in the area. We Woy Woy resident. want them to feel welcome and “Our mayor tells us to continue safe on the Peninsula.” to practise good hygiene, including Professor Short said she was washing your hands before and hopeful a formal motion would after using any equipment, yet soon be brought to Council on the there is no soap supplied in the matter. majority of Council-owned public Despite a recent review, the facilities,” she said. decision was made to remain with “Council has advised we are status quo to minimise the risk of ready to welcome visitors … but vandalism and slipping accidents, we have been advised to continue resulting from soap spilt on floors. to act responsibly and follow the A staff response to a Question Australian Government directions with Notice from Cr Kyle Mac to help minimise the spread of Gregor at Council’s May 25 Covid-19. meeting said Council staff would be “We were told there were three Professor Stephanie Short developing a Public Toilet Strategy instructions (at the beginning of which would allow Council to look coronavirus restrictions): stay at looking at doing this. Leisure Centre at Woy Woy and a number of Peninsula facilities, at ways to include soap in a safe home, socially distance and use “Despite receiving promising Kiddies Corner at Umina Beach. including at Umina and Ocean manner in any of the new builds or hand hygiene. responses from six councillors to “The Peninsula Community Beach surf clubs, and at Ettalong renovations that occur. “But when I went to use a public emails I have sent, Council has Centre and Umina Library have and Pearl Beach, and the SOURCE: toilet I realised we couldn’t follow decided to ‘maintain the status soap, but what about all the campaign was ongoing. Email, 1 Jun 2020 these basic rules unless there was quo’, which means no soap going smaller facilities including at our “Sometimes the soap we leave Interview (Terry Collins), 1 Jun 2020 soap in every facility.” into these facilities. beaches?” is stolen, but more often it stays Stephanie Short, Operation Soap in Public Toilets Professor Short said: “I am very “There is soap in the major Professor Short said members put,” she said. disappointed that Council isn’t venues, such as the Peninsula of the group had placed soap in “It is disappointing to know On-demand commuter bus service stops abruptly The on-demand commuter “Right from the start the interchange was even about. Transport New South Wales be directed to other local projects CoastConnect minibus government seemed unwilling to “I wrote to the Minister on has said it would learn from this aimed at cutting the parking service at Woy Woy has tell commuters how this service several occasions requesting trial, as well as from several similar demand. ended its 24-month trial, could improve their first and last material which I could use to go trials in other parts of the State, to “It makes sense that this mile journeys,” Ms Tesch said. out and advertise this service and improve public transport services. money should go to improving without announcement on “No more going around in was rejected. Ms Tesch said: “I’ve spoken infrastructure that will encourage Friday, May 29. circles looking for a park, no “I ended up making my own to users throughout the program active transport options like cycling “There has been confusion and more trudging from the back of flyers and handing them out, she length and know just how much or walking to the station, or adding outrage that the Government would Deepwater Plaza to the station said. many have come to rely on the extra regular bus services to give provide this service and then with in the rain, no more unlit walks to Requests to allow the use of service as a quick and easy way people more options,” Ms Tesch no communication with the users the free parking behind the tennis Opal Cards were not taken up. to save travel time, or reduce the said. simply cut it one Friday afternoon,” courts. “Passengers had to use their burden on family members who “The government has been said Member for Gosford Ms Liesl “This was a service that could credit cards, and the system was would otherwise have to pick spending this money on the Tesch. pick you up from near your house never integrated into the Opal Card commuters up from the station Peninsula and it should stay on the Ms Tesch said the Government and take you directly to the station network, which was just another early in the morning or during the Peninsula.” had not backed the program from to meet your usual train, but not barrier for potential riders.” dinner rush.” SOURCE: the start and had failed to advertise enough people knew what the The service was started as a She said, if the service was not Media Release, 28 May 2020 the service and what it could mean mini-bus at the end of the bus trial in 2018. to be continued, the funding should Liesl Tesch, Member for Gosford for travellers. THIS ISSUE contains 43 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford - Phone: 4325 7369 - Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 - E-mail: [email protected] - Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au Page 2 - Peninsula News - 15 June 2020 Info Peninsula records low rainfall COMMUNITY ACCESS Peninsula News is a fortnightly community newspaper owned by in wettest month The Peninsula has only Woy Woy Community Media Association Inc., an incorporated, non- recorded 24.6mm of rain, profit association. 15 per cent of the average Its aims include providing a viable, non-partisan news medium and forum exclusively for the Peninsula and developing a sense of community on the monthly rainfall, in the first Peninsula. 12 days of the June. June is usually the wettest See www.peninsulanews.info for all editions published month, with an average rainfall of Editor: Mark Snell 168mm. Commercial Operator: Ross Barry March and April are the next wettest with averages of 150mm CEO: Cec Bucello, for Central Coast Newspapers Pty Ltd and 148mm respectively. Design & Production: Total rainfall for the year at the end of May stood at 934.3mm, Justin Stanley, Lucillia Eljuga 46.7 per cent above the average of The second half of the year has Even if no further rainfall was Journalists: Sue Murray, Dilon Luke, Merilyn Vale 647mm for that time of year. much lower average rainfall than recorded until September, the Head of Distribution: Anthony Wagstaff The current cumulative total the first half, with July and August cumulative total will remain above of 958.9mm remains well above being the two driest months with average until then. NEXT EDITION: PENINSULA NEWS 497 the average at the end of June of averages of 60mm and 67mm Spreadsheet, 12 June 2020 805mm. Deadline: June25 Publication date: June 29 respectively. 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