dibo
Well-Known Member
Tear down CBD eyesores
14Mar08
Councillor Craig Doyle is backing Gosford Council moves to allow demolition of unslightly rundown buildings.
DERELICT buildings will be demolished at the owners expense if Gosford Council gets its way.
It wants a return to tough old-style powers in a bid to clean up the city.
The council stung by criticism of the rundown state of the CBD this week voted unanimously to lobby the State Government to increase fines for owners who allowed their buildings to fall into disrepair.
It also wants Local Government Minister Paul Lynch to reinstate legislation under the Local Government Act which would allow it to tear down decrepit buildings at the owner's expense.
The moves come after a decade of inaction and stalled development during which parts of Gosford's CBD have slid into squalor.
Councillor Craig Doyle (pictured right) said it would be better to see a vacant block of grass than some of the dozen or so buildings left vacant and crumbling in the heart of Gosford.
"I think it's a disgrace to own property in such a beautiful area and let it go to ruin," he said.
Cr Doyle said the council would also refer the matter to the next local government conference and garner support for tougher penalties from other councils across the state.
Describing the present laws as reducing the council to a "toothless tiger", Cr Doyle said the ability to issue demolition orders would give it the power to deal with the public safety issues caused by vacant buildings which were in disrepair, vandalised or infested by vermin or used by squatters.
"These buildings are a visual scar that goes to the heart of a healthy and living city".
"We're not asking for new legislation," he said. "Councils used to have this power."
Chamber applauds CBD clean-up
Friday 14 March, 2008 12:00am
GOSFORD Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the push to give Gosford Council more powers to demolish derelict buildings and impose heftier fines on owners.
At its monthly lunch on Wednesday, the chamber applauded the council's notice of motion to lobby the State Government.
Chamber treasurer David Bowler said it was "the first step" in cleaning up Gosford's image and stimulating investment in the CBD.
"In terms of the chamber we are supportive of the idea and the process,' he said.
"Potentially it would certainly assist in Gosford moving forward.
"If a premises is maintained and if things like graffiti are washed off quickly it rarely develops into a bigger problem and that helps everyone."
Chamber vice-president Deborah Warwick said the initiative would certainly improve the appearance of Gosford.
She said making the CBD more attractive had a "flow-on effect" providing shoppers with a more pleasant experience and, in turn, enticing investors into the city.
This could be really interesting - on the old forum we had some really interesting discussion about the State Government's new planning powers and the Department of Planning's new strategy for the next 25 years in Gosford. This is one thing that could kick the thing along.
As I read it, owners of sites will most of all be required to keep their property looking OK to prevent their neglect creating an eyesore and in turn hurting the interests of their neighbours. This can extend as far as requiring them to demolish derelict structures. It's not compulsory acquisition - they'll still own the land and in the case of Froggys there, that's prime real estate and would be worth a lot in sale value or otherwise be an attractive prospect for the current to develop.
This could be the thing that kicks people on to do the work to maximise the value of hitherto crumbling sites. Once some work is done to kick the CBD along, other work will follow so that it won't just be derelict buildings but eventually other sites will attract interest from potential investors and developers and the whole strip will rise in value.
What do other peeps reckon?
14Mar08
Councillor Craig Doyle is backing Gosford Council moves to allow demolition of unslightly rundown buildings.
DERELICT buildings will be demolished at the owners expense if Gosford Council gets its way.
It wants a return to tough old-style powers in a bid to clean up the city.
The council stung by criticism of the rundown state of the CBD this week voted unanimously to lobby the State Government to increase fines for owners who allowed their buildings to fall into disrepair.
It also wants Local Government Minister Paul Lynch to reinstate legislation under the Local Government Act which would allow it to tear down decrepit buildings at the owner's expense.
The moves come after a decade of inaction and stalled development during which parts of Gosford's CBD have slid into squalor.
Councillor Craig Doyle (pictured right) said it would be better to see a vacant block of grass than some of the dozen or so buildings left vacant and crumbling in the heart of Gosford.
"I think it's a disgrace to own property in such a beautiful area and let it go to ruin," he said.
Cr Doyle said the council would also refer the matter to the next local government conference and garner support for tougher penalties from other councils across the state.
Describing the present laws as reducing the council to a "toothless tiger", Cr Doyle said the ability to issue demolition orders would give it the power to deal with the public safety issues caused by vacant buildings which were in disrepair, vandalised or infested by vermin or used by squatters.
"These buildings are a visual scar that goes to the heart of a healthy and living city".
"We're not asking for new legislation," he said. "Councils used to have this power."
Chamber applauds CBD clean-up
Friday 14 March, 2008 12:00am
GOSFORD Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the push to give Gosford Council more powers to demolish derelict buildings and impose heftier fines on owners.
At its monthly lunch on Wednesday, the chamber applauded the council's notice of motion to lobby the State Government.
Chamber treasurer David Bowler said it was "the first step" in cleaning up Gosford's image and stimulating investment in the CBD.
"In terms of the chamber we are supportive of the idea and the process,' he said.
"Potentially it would certainly assist in Gosford moving forward.
"If a premises is maintained and if things like graffiti are washed off quickly it rarely develops into a bigger problem and that helps everyone."
Chamber vice-president Deborah Warwick said the initiative would certainly improve the appearance of Gosford.
She said making the CBD more attractive had a "flow-on effect" providing shoppers with a more pleasant experience and, in turn, enticing investors into the city.
This could be really interesting - on the old forum we had some really interesting discussion about the State Government's new planning powers and the Department of Planning's new strategy for the next 25 years in Gosford. This is one thing that could kick the thing along.
As I read it, owners of sites will most of all be required to keep their property looking OK to prevent their neglect creating an eyesore and in turn hurting the interests of their neighbours. This can extend as far as requiring them to demolish derelict structures. It's not compulsory acquisition - they'll still own the land and in the case of Froggys there, that's prime real estate and would be worth a lot in sale value or otherwise be an attractive prospect for the current to develop.
This could be the thing that kicks people on to do the work to maximise the value of hitherto crumbling sites. Once some work is done to kick the CBD along, other work will follow so that it won't just be derelict buildings but eventually other sites will attract interest from potential investors and developers and the whole strip will rise in value.
What do other peeps reckon?
