Mr CHRIS HARTCHER (Terrigal) [1.33 p.m.]: I rise today to bring attention to an issue that has been ongoing for some time and that urgently requires attention. I have been approached by many individuals, businesses and community groups who have voiced their concerns about the importance of dredging Brisbane Water and the implications if it does not happen.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER (Terrigal) [12.36 p.m.]: Currently there are 11 regional academies of sport in New South Wales, one of them being located in my area on the Central Coast.

I was contacted by the Central Coast Academy of Sport after it was notified by the Iemma Government that enhancement funding in the 2008-09 budget would be cut by $500,000, effectively reducing each of the 11 regional academies' budgets by 33 per cent.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER (Terrigal) [3.45 p.m.]: I move:

That the motion be amended by deleting all words after "That" and substituting the following words:

That this House:
1. Calls upon the Iemma Government to honour its promises and fund necessary infrastructure on the Central Coast and in the Hunter Valley, including roads, police stations, hospitals and schools.
2. Urges the Iemma Government to increase funding for job creation on the Central Coast and in the Hunter.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER (Terrigal) [6.17 p.m.]: Today I speak about a traumatic experience suffered at Gosford Hospital by some of the elderly people in my electorate. I note that none of the elderly people who contacted me have any complaints about hospital staff, doctors or nurses. If anything, they praised the hospital staff, doctors and nurses for their dedication to a difficult and somewhat thankless job. We all know the harsh conditions under which medical staff in this State work. They are often understaffed, underfunded, overworked and stretched to the limits. I, together with many other members, congratulate them and thank them for their efforts. However, a policy at Gosford Hospital that was brought to my attention recently has caused me grave concern.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER (Terrigal) [1.50 p.m.]: I bring to the attention of the House the plight of several businesses in my electorate along The Entrance Road at Wamberal. Roadworks along The Entrance Road between Ocean View Drive and Tumbi Road began in 2006. I commend the Roads and Traffic Authority and the divisional engineer, Jim Peachman, for doing an excellent job in keeping the road open—it is a major road on the Central Coast—despite the extensive nature of the road widening, which will widen the road from two lanes to four lanes. Nonetheless, the road widening, which has been going on for some two years, has had a considerable impact on businesses along The Entrance Road. Two of these businesses are Jo Jo's Hair and Wigs, located at 708 The Entrance Road Wamberal, and Monsieurdame Beauty. Jo Jo's is owned and operated by Mr Joe Messina, and Michelle Sandri operates Monsieurdame Beauty.

Mr CHRIS HARTCHER (Terrigal) [10.31 a.m.]: On many occasions throughout Australian and New South Wales history several significant landmarks have been renamed or had their names amended by the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Such was the case with Australia's largest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko. It was named in 1840 by the Polish explorer Count Paul Edmund Strzelecki after the Polish national hero, General Kosciuszko. Previously, the mountain was spelt without the "z" but the correct version was officially adopted and recognised by the Geographical Names Board in 1997 by inserting the "z" into "Kosciusko".