Central Coast Council’s Group Leader of Customer and Community Relationships, Ms Judy Jaeger, is leaving council after almost forty years of dedicated service in local government.Ms Jaeger has led the delivery of many of Council’s most popular and important community services including libraries, sport and recreation, arts and culture and community and economic development as well as some of its critical business operations like information technology procurement, fleet and property management.Council’s CEO, Mr Rob Noble, said he has known Ms Jaeger for many years and is personally and professional sorry to see her leave the organisation.“I wish Judy nothing but the very best as she moves on to the next stage of her life,” Mr Noble said.“I thank Judy from the bottom of my heart for her tremendous commitment, passion and service to the Central Coast Council, its people and the broader community.“She has left a lasting legacy due to her commitment to delivering projects that enrich the lives of the community and have made the Central Coast a better place to live, work and play.”Judy Jaeger has led key projects for the Central Coast including the Gosford Regional Library, Woy Woy Oval upgrade, redevelopment of Ettalong Beach foreshore reserve, Lisarow Sporting Precinct and successful Gosford Smart Work Hub.Ms Jaeger was instrumental in finalising an ongoing agreement with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage for critical conservation work in Rumbalara Reserve to ensure this unique part of the Central Coast is protected for future generations.A new Disability Inclusion Action Plan is underway and will ensure people with a disability have equal access to council’s essential services, thanks to Ms Jaeger’s strong leadership in this area.“I know Judy would say that one of her proudest achievements, amongst many, at Council is facilitating the first Tiny Homes pilot project in Australia right here on the Central Coast,” Mr Noble added.“Houses specifically for the homeless will be built on land council has provided – delivering a real and lasting solution to the growing problem of homelessness on the Coast.“Many other Councils said no to the project, but not Judy, she championed the project and in the next few weeks it will be a reality.

Central Coast Council has begun upgrading Robson Avenue at Gorokan giving this busy thoroughfare a $220,000 face lift.Work on this road will include some kerb and guttering, lowering of water services, stabilising the existing road surface as well as sealing and asphalting to improve the current road conditions.Council’s Construction Manager, Mr Stuart Baverstock said, Robson Avenue connects motorists to local schools, day care centres and businesses in the area and the upgrade will make it safer for the community.“We know traffic speeding along Robson Avenue has created some safety concerns for residents and motorists in this area,” said Mr Baverstock.“Community safety is a key priority of council which is why we are investing $220,000 to upgrade this road.“Motorist will feel safer on the improved road conditions and enjoy a smoother ride.“Work is expected to take up to three weeks to complete and we ask motorists to be patient as they experience a 40 km/h speed limit during this time.“We understand this is a busy area and Council will ensure the safety of all pedestrians and road users with the use of traffic control during this time.”Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds said, council is committing more funding than ever to local roads this financial year and will continue to improve the safety of roads on the Central Coast.“This is only one of many road upgrades council has planned for the Coast and we are looking forward to delivering these essential projects which increase the safety and wellbeing of our community,” said Mr Reynolds.“Council is working hard to improve our local roads and would like to call on all of our community to slow down when driving, take care and drive to the conditions of the road.“I believe we can all make a difference with road safety and every dollar and every decision needs to count.”This financial year council will spend over $60 million in capital projects on the Central Coast road network.

Central Coast Council is encouraging residents to help enhance our natural environment by getting involved in a number of free events as part of National Landcare Week (5-11 September).Council’s Landcare Coordinator, Ms Rebecca Dugan, said the events will showcase the great work the Landcare, Bushcare, Coastcare, Dunecare, Tidy Towns and Friends of Cemeteries volunteers are doing in the community and celebrate their achievements.“Last financial year, volunteers from our groups contributed more than 28,000 hours on the ground to help enhance our local environment across the Coast,” Ms Dugan said."Our groups do an amazing job and a few of them were recently recognised at the Keep NSW Beautiful Blue Star Sustainability Awards.“We are a project partner of the Floating Landcare initiative which won the Community Environment Achievement award and also saw Mannering Park Tidy Towns receive a Highly Commended in the same category.“We were also a finalist in the Going Green Environmental Education category with Ourimbah Public School’s Rainforest Access Project.”Council will be hosting a Floating Landcare event on Wednesday 14 September and Saturday 22 October and residents are encouraged to come along and see the Coast’s waterways from a different angle.“It’s a great way to see Tuggerah Lake and the Hawkesbury from a different perspective and visit some beautiful locations only accessible by boat or kayak – and of course helping make a difference by restoring the local environment in those hard to get to places,” Ms Dugan said.“If water isn’t your thing, but you’d still like to be involved, you can book into one of our Bushcare Major Day Out events at Tumbi Creek, Wyoming and Mataram Ridge.“Volunteering for Landcare and Bushcare activities have been known to improve mental and physical health and well-being as well as being a great way to give back to the Coast’s environment that we all enjoy.”Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said these events are a great way to get a taste of what Landcare is all about.“Landcare and Bushcare are wonderful examples of the power of volunteering on the Central Coast,” Mr Reynolds said.“If you have a passion for our environment and are looking for a way to stay active, in touch with your local community and meet like-minded people, joining a local Landcare or Bushcare group could be the answer.“We support all our volunteers and encourage anyone with an interest in the natural environment to come along and find out more about our program.“Our volunteers play an important role in creating the community we have, and I would like to thank each and every one of them for their contribution to making the Coast a wonderful place to live.”There are more than 70 groups established across the Central Coast.

Spring has sprung and local residents are being reminded about the free collection service to rid their homes of unwanted chemical products.Residents are encouraged to drop off their chemical products collected from homes, garages and cars at the upcoming Household Chemical CleanOut event hosted by Central Coast Council.Due to the popularity of previous events, the EPA and Central Coast Council have organised a weekend event where households now have two days to drop off their waste.Materials such as pool chemicals, car batteries, acids and alkalis, solvents, pesticides, chemical cleaners, motor oils, herbicides, paints, hobby chemicals, gas bottles, fire extinguishers, florescent bulbs and household cleaners can be dropped off at the Gosford Showground car park on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 September, between 9am and 3.30pm.Central Coast Council Waste Officer Sanchaya Parajuli said the event is a great opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted chemicals.“The program is a convenient way for residents to get rid of problem waste and safely dispose of chemical products that may otherwise take up valuable space in their garages or be dumped illegally,” Mr Parajuli said.“Residents now have the entire weekend to drop materials off.

Households all over the Central Coast are gearing up to make the Coast the biggest Garage Sale Trail yet.The Garage Sale Trail is an annual event encouraging locals to participate in the biggest reuse, recycle and environmentally sustainable Garage Sale in Australia.

Temporary traffic controls are in place along part of Davistown Road, near the intersection of Elvys Avenue in Yattalunga, as Central Coast Council continues to undertake road reconstruction works.This section of Davistown Road has been reduced to one lane, to ensure the safety of motorists travelling through the area.

Central Coast Stadium is giving local junior football, rugby union and rugby league stars a chance to walk in the footsteps of their heroes during the upcoming finals series.The region’s top sporting venue will host three local junior finals series over two weekends, commencing on Saturday, 3 September.Spectators can experience the finals events, which will feature up to eight games each day.Manager of Central Coast Stadium Kath Casey said the fixtures will give the young players and spectators a fantastic local sporting experience.“Central Coast Stadium is very proud to host the local junior finals for three of the region’s most popular codes,” said Ms Casey.“Although Central Coast Stadium has hosted the CCJRU and CCJRL finals for many years, this is the first time we have hosted all three codes for the junior finals, with the addition of CCF in 2016.“Teams from all over the Coast will battle it out to be crowned premiers.

The new Central Coast Council has now been operating for more than 100 days - and there is a lot to celebrate!The 100-day mark is an important milestone for Council and the community, providing a great chance to reflect on the achievements so far, as well as the challenges ahead.We are committed to making sure the community is proud of its new Council, and we know the key to this is a real focus on customer service and engagement with our ratepayers, residents and visitors.Although there is a long road ahead, Council has already planned, implemented or delivered much-needed projects and initiatives that will enrich and enhance the lives of the Central Coast community.Major projects completed include:Bateau Bay – One of the biggest and most diverse skate places in Australia, Bato Yard, was opened, with hundreds packing it out every day.Narara Valley – A new $370,000 park and playground with plenty of nature play opportunities, grassed areas and modern play equipment, has also opened.Gwandalan – New multi-purpose courts worth $300,000 at Tunkuwallin Oval were unveiled.Long Jetty – The foreshore has been restored with a new sandy area and seating for community enjoyment, right next to the historic Long Jetty.Magenta and the Peninsula – Around two kilometres of shared pathways have been added to the existing network, giving residents and visitors even more opportunities to walk, jog, ride or skate their way around the picturesque Central Coast.Council adopted its first Operational Plan and budget to deliver over $540 million in essential services and $183 million on infrastructure during 2016/2017, for the region’s growing population.

Bell Shakespeare‘s nationally-touring production of Othello will play Laycock Street Community Theatre for three performances on 5 and 6 September ahead of its run at Sydney’s Opera House.Exploring issues of racism, violence and misogyny, this epic tragedy is often a challenging play to perform for contemporary audiences.Artistic Director Peter Evan’s production about the infamous Moor explores the battle between love and jealousy and demonstrates how the play reflects current situations in our own political and social climate.Central Coast Council’s Manager of Culture, Phil Cantillon said this is the third consecutive year that Laycock has brought Bell Shakespeare to the Central Coast.“As Australia's leading theatre company specialising in the works of William Shakespeare, Bell Shakespeare often gives unexpected interpretations of Shakespeare;

Householders in Bateau Bay, Shelly Beach, Killarney Vale, Berkeley Vale, The Entrance and Long Jetty have been advised to watch for discoloured water or changes in water pressure over the next two days, while a leaking trunk main is repaired.Residents are advised the water supply remains safe to drink.Operational changes are being made to the water supply system because of the leaking main, in the median strip of The Central Coast Highway (The Entrance Rd) at Bateau Bay which may lead to the discoloured water and changes to water pressure.It is expected that any discoloured water will clear quickly, but, as a precaution, residents in affected areas and surrounds should check tap water before using their washing machine and dishwasher.To clear discoloured water, run the front garden tap into a bucket for up to one minute to check if the water clears.

Central Coast Council is embracing Bluetooth technology to help monitor and protect the health of our waterways.Council’s Catchments Management Officer, Ken Brookes, said the technology allowed him to download vital water quality measurements without needing to enter the water.“Council measures a number of water quality indicators at four locations in the lower Wyong River as part of its water extraction licence,” Mr Brookes said.“We use automatic data loggers to test the water every hour and then once a week I download this information to send to our regulators.“The data loggers are now equipped with Bluetooth technology, so there is no longer a need for me to get in a boat and plug directly into the equipment to get the information we need.

Local high school students got a taste of local government representation yesterday when Central Coast Council hosted its annual Future Council.Future Council is a forum for students to role play a mock Council meeting in the Council Chambers.

Central Coast Council’s award winning Wyong Lakes Festival is returning in November bigger and better than ever.Once again, Tuggerah Lakes will take centre stage when more than 30 events make a splash from 12-20 November.The nine day program will feature a full program of sporting, family, cultural, educational and live music events on and surrounding the Tuggerah Lakes catchment area including:Memorial Park, The EntrancePicnic Point, The EntranceMcKenzie Reserve, BudgewoiCanton Beach foreshoreColongra Bay foreshoreLong Jetty foreshore.Council’s Events Officer, Ms Cobey Linsley, said this year’s program has expanded and will be focussed around the six key event hubs.“We have even more events planned for this year’s Festival as well as some of the favourites from last year returning,” Cobey said.“The opening weekend will be jam packed and include a spectacular free evening concert featuring headliner ’Thirsty Merc’ and fireworks.“The popular Triathlon and Stand Up Paddle Board competitions will also be running on the opening weekend as well as a free brunch by the lake.“The final weekend of the Wyong Lakes Festival will finish with a big splash and will see live bands, moonlight cinema, folk festival, water obstacle course and a street festival.“We’ve had more interest this year from groups wanting to be a part of the Festival and have even more free events locked in the calendar.”Some of the new additions to the 2016 Wyong Lakes Festival include Colour Ya World, Obstasplash, Lighthouse Folk Festival, Long Jetty Street Festival and Long Jetty Moonlight Cinema.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said he is excited about the opportunities the Festival will bring to the region.“No wonder our Wyong Lakes Festival is winning state-wide awards, it’s a fantastic event that takes in one of the most iconic locations on the Coast – Tuggerah Lakes," Mr Reynolds said.“The Festival is a great way for residents and visitors alike to take part in a wide range of interesting events and explore our beautiful lakes at the same time.“I can’t wait to see the Lakes come to life on and off the water.”All events are free for spectators to enjoy, with opportunities for people to participate in some events.A full program will be available online from Thursday 1 September.

Central Coast Council is developing a new Disability Inclusion Action Plan, in accordance with the NSW Disability Inclusion Act 2014, that aims to remove the barriers for people with disability.With over 1.3 million people in NSW living with disability, this Plan will outline what needs to be done over the next four years to make our own community more inclusive and accessible for all of its members.As part of this important work, council is calling for real input and direction from people with disability and those who work closely with people with disabilities, to help build a more genuinely inclusive community for all residents.Council’s Group Leader Customer & Community Relations, Judy Jaeger said the involvement of people living and working with disability is critical to the overall effectiveness of the Plan.“This Plan aims to bring about long-term, significant change and will continue to evolve in response to feedback and changes in our external environment.“The ongoing participation of people living and working with disability is crucial to the overall success and level of impact the Plan will have on people’s lives,” Ms.

Central Coast residents found it easier to drop off chemicals when Council opened up its Charmhaven Depot all weekend for the free drop off.Paints, oils and batteries were the most popular items in the 45.27 tonnes of chemicals dropped off at the regular cleanout Council runs with the support of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA).Council’s Waste Coordinator, Mr Matthew Collins, said holding the cleanout on one day in the past had resulted in long waiting times for residents and having the two day event ensured a smoother run event.“It is really heartening to see so many of our residents wanting to make sure they dispose of their chemicals in a responsible manner,” Mr Collins said.“They had an easier time of it too this time as there was opportunity to drop off the chemicals on either day of the weekend so there was less waiting time which residents appreciated.“We had a lot of positive comments about the service particularly from the huge number of residents using the service for the first time.”1017 vehicles made the trip to Charmhaven Depot to drop off unwanted chemicals with a large proportion using the service for the first time.Paint was again the most common product presented at 24.75 tonnes followed by:oil – 4.17 tonneslead acid batteries – 3.51 tonnesgas cylinders – 2.91 tonnesgeneral household chemicals –  2.5 tonneshydrocarbons and fuels – 2.12 tonnesinert solids – 2.1 tonnesThe remaining tonnage was made up of various items including household batteries, acids, alkalis, photographic chemicals, pesticides and others.

Electors who are enrolled within the new Central Coast Council area do not need to vote at the council elections on 10 September 2016.Elections for Central Coast Council and the other newly merged councils in NSW will be held on 9 September 2017.At the election in 2017, the Central Coast Local Government Area will be divided into five wards with three Councillors to be elected for each one.  Details on the wards can be found at www.strongercouncils.nsw.gov.au

Central Coast Council has congratulated the winners and all the finalists in the 2016 Central Coast Business Excellence Awards announced on Saturday evening at Mingara.“We’re proud to sponsor these awards and it is clear from the quality of Central Coast businesses recognised tonight that excellence and business go hand in hand on the Central Coast,” Council Administrator Ian Reynolds said.“Excellence in business involves focusing on results, thirsting for innovation, cultivating a positive reputation and overcoming resistance,” Mr Reynolds said.“The hard work and diligence of these business operators and owners has helped shape the Central Coast as a key New South Wales growth centre.”Mr Reynolds said the newly amalgamated Central Coast Council is now one of the largest Councils in NSW, with a strong regional voice.

Artists from around Australia are urged to enter the 2016 Gosford Art Prize and Gosford Ceramic Prize, with entries closing in just over two weeks.Now in its 17th year, the annual program offers eligible artists a chance to win over $24,000 in total prizes.Entries close Monday 12 September 2016.

With over 1.3 million people in NSW living with disability, Central Coast Council is continuing to improve accessibility so all residents and visitors can enjoy the region’s unique natural environment, services and facilities.From accessible events and amenities through to beach wheelchair access and other social or economic opportunities, Council is working hard to remove the barriers people with a disability face each and every day.We still have a long way to go, but we can all play a positive role in making it easier for people with disability to live and work on – as well as visit – the Central Coast.

New drainage to reduce recovery time for local sporting fields  Field closures due to wet weather could become a thing of the past after council upgrades the drainage at two local sporting fields.Gavenlock Oval is often closed following a rain event due to its location near Narara Creek and poor natural drainage.