Central Coast Council confirms that no settlement payment has been made by Council in relation to former CEO Gary Murphy’s defamation claim against Council and former Interim Administrator Dick Persson AM. Mr Murphy filed a Notice of Discontinuance of this matter in the District Court of New South Wales on Thursday 24 March.

Council welcomes today’s announcement of additional funding by the State Government towards the Pacific Highway Upgrade through Wyong.Council Administrator, Rik Hart said Council has been a champion for the upgrade of this State road as a catalyst to easing congestion in a key bottleneck area on the Coast.“Our community can feel more confident now that this upgrade will happen,” Mr Hart said.“This is what can be achieved when all levels of government are working together towards meeting their obligations to deliver essential infrastructure for the growing Central Coast region.“I look forward to seeing construction begin in the coming years,” Mr Hart said.More information on the Wyong Pacific Highway upgrade is available online at www.rms.nsw.gov.auENDS

Central Coast Council’s fleet of battery and hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) are generating financial benefits and local opportunities as the cost of fuel continues to climb.Council’s long-term strategy to transition its light commercial and passenger vehicles to an EV fleet, is also in line with the NSW Government’s ‘Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Plan’ and aims to leverage benefits as outlined in a 2020 ‘Uncovering the hidden costs and benefits from Electric Vehicles’ report by EY for the Electric Vehicle Council.

Surf Life Saving Central Coast (SLSCC) plays a significant role in our community.

Audited financial reports for 2020-21 are adoptedCouncil has adopted the 2020-21 audited financial reports for Central Coast Council and the Central Coast Council Water Supply Authority.Council’s consolidated net operating result for the financial year ending 30 June 2021 is a deficit of $70.7M excluding Grants and Contributions for capital purposes.

Audited financial reports for 2020-21 are adoptedCouncil has adopted the 2020-21 audited financial reports for Central Coast Council and the Central Coast Council Water Supply Authority. Council’s consolidated net operating result for the financial year ending 30 June 2021 is a deficit of $70.7M excluding Grants and Contributions for capital purposes.

Central Coast Council is calling on creatives and event organisers to run workshops, activations, master classes or live performances and events to be part of the first ever Central Coast Music Festival program in Gosford. Central Coast Music Festival will debut from Saturday 12 to Sunday 18 September 2022 and deliver a live music festival unlike any other event in the region.

The major upgrade of Gosford CBD’s water and sewer network is approaching an important milestone with Central Coast Council to begin key works at Showground Road, Adcock Avenue, Young Street, Racecourse Road and Central Coast Highway from March 2022.This critical new water and sewer infrastructure for Gosford – proudly funded by the NSW Government through the Housing Acceleration Fund (HAF) and part of a $42.5 million funding package – will future-proof the city for forecast population growth and enable the flagship development needed to create a fitting capital for the Central Coast. Council Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said the next phase of transforming Gosford starts underground. “Gosford is a rapidly changing city – we’ve seen a number of major developments completed and a great deal more are planned and forecast – it is vital that we have the water and sewer infrastructure in place to ensure Gosford’s potential is realised,” Mr Loader said.“Through HAF funding Council is delivering a series of major projects across the Gosford CBD to upgrade and future-proof our assets and ensure the city has a reliable water and sewer service now and well into the future.“The upgrade works span 66 water and sewer projects and stretches from the Gosford waterfront, through the Gosford CBD shopping precinct, to areas in the vicinity of Gosford Hospital and Gosford Golf Course."Some key works around Gosford Hospital were completed early to meet the demands of the newly upgraded facility, this included increasing pipeline diameters and constructing a ring main around the hospital to improve surety of supply.“We are now moving forward with the remaining program of works that will be key to ensuring the revitalisation of Gosford is realised.” Sewer projects to get underway from March include:replacement of Sewer Rising Main for Pumping Stations at Showground Roadreplacement of Sewer Pump Station at Showground Road and associated Gravity Mains, Rising Main and PSS works.

As the recent severe weather event threatened the Central Coast, Council formed an Incident Management Team in advance of the impacts being realised to ensure that we were mitigating the potential impacts to our community as much as possible.Council closely monitored weather predictions, roads, lakes, waterways and beaches for potential flooding and storm impacts as heavy rainfall and unpredictable weather hit the region.

On Saturday 26 March 2022, Town Criers from across Australia will gather at Alison Homestead in Wyong as the Central Coast plays host to the 2022 National Town Crier Championships.From 12.30-3.30pm, the nation's best Town Criers will be representing their areas and competing for the title of Australian Champion of Champions.Central Coast Town Crier and current Australian Champion, Stephen Clarke is thrilled at the opportunity to showcase our wonderful region, as well as be the host for this year’s event.“We are inviting the community to come along and enjoy this fun and very colourful event,” Mr Clarke said.Council Administrator, Rik Hart said Council was delighted to be hosting the national event, which offers an unusual and entertaining experience for all ages.“This is an example of the diverse types of events and activities Council supports on the Central Coast,” Mr Hart said.“On the same weekend as the Town Crier Championships, Flavours By The Sea is also being held at Terrigal – so there’s something on the Coast for everyone to enjoy.”The Championships, which have been running for 32 years, are held under the authority of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Australian Town Criers.Town Criers compete against one another for the titles of Champion of Champions, Loudest Cry, and Most Extravagant Outfit!The competing Town Criers each perform two cries – one about their own hometown and another about the host town.

Council is inviting the community to comment on plans to consolidate informal tracks in the Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland between 17 March to 14 April, to share thoughts on the management of these areas. Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland (UCSW) is a unique group of plants and animals that co-exist together on the coastal sands of the Umina-Woy Woy Peninsula, and is listed as an endangered ecological community (EEC).The region’s natural assets are rich and diverse, and their conservation and protection is important.

I support the Minister for Local Government’s response to the Commissioner’s eight recommendations and welcome the much anticipated release of the Commissioner’s report following the Public Inquiry into Central Coast Council’s financial crisis.

Council is working with Resilience NSW to ensure residents have access to information and support services to aid recovery following the recent severe weather event.Community members that have been impacted are encouraged to visit one of the pop-up Recovery Hubs at Spencer Community Hall, Diggers at The Entrance or the Berkeley Community Centre for help and information. SPENCER COMMUNITY HALL, 4776 Wisemans Ferry Road, Spencer Wed 16 Mar (10am – 4pm)Sat 19 Mar (10am – 4pm)\Mon 21 Mar (10am – 4pm)Tues 22 Mar (10am – 4pm) DIGGERS AT THE ENTRANCE, 315 The Entrance Rd, Long Jetty Thur 17 Mar (10am - 4pm)Sun 20 Mar (10am – 2pm)Wed 23 Mar (10 - 4pm)Thur 24 Mar (10am – 4pm)BERKELEY COMMUNITY CENTRE, 3 Heather Ave, Glenning ValleyFri 18 Mar (10am - 4pm)More dates and times will be arranged according to community need and updates will be posted on Council’s website – search ‘flood recovery’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au  centralcoast.nsw.gov.auENDS

Council has named five new Y4Y (Youth for Youth) action team members, to represent young people on the Central Coast. The newly appointed team members range from 14 to 24 years and include young people who live, work or study on the Central Coast.

Central Coast Council is once again celebrating the NSW Seniors Festival, with numerous events being held across the region from 25 March to 3 April, to provide older residents an opportunity to participate in, contribute to and be included in, community life.The largest event for seniors in the southern hemisphere, NSW Seniors Festival is especially significant on the Coast, with many of the Coast’s population aged 60 years or older.Council Administrator, Rik Hart said the Festival helps to connect seniors with the range of local services, lifelong learning, and leisure activities available across the region. “With a growing ageing, but vibrant, population on the Central Coast, Council is committed to celebrating our older residents by promoting inclusion, independence and quality of life for all community members.“We have put together a diverse calendar of events which seniors can access and enjoy from 25 March to 3 April, including educational workshops, fitness programs and entertainment that will enrich their lives and support them to age positively as they grow older.“A highlight of the Festival is the Seniors Expo on 31 March, at Wyong Race Club, which will feature a variety of stallholders from services and community groups around the Coast that support older people to age in a healthy and positive way.”“Older residents are active in all facets of community life and add significant value and knowledge to our region as workers, volunteers, neighbours, friends, parents and grandparents,” Mr Hart said.“This is your time to shine as a senior on the Coast – have fun and celebrate your age, wisdom and experience in a fun and friendly environment!”Pick up a copy of the full program of events from your local library, 50+ Leisure & Learning Centres and Seniors Centres or view online by searching 'Seniors Festival' at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au.ENDS

Similar to the floods of 2021, debris and mixed bulk rubbish is being washed ashore on the beaches closest to the Hawkesbury River – including Umina, Ocean Beach, Patonga and Killcare.Now there are suitable conditions, Council crews are starting the clean-up of the debris that has washed up on beaches and asks that any collected by the community is placed away from the water’s edge.Ongoing, Council does a lot to manage the quality of the waterways, providing bins in public spaces, and the installation of gross pollutant traps at a number of key locations across the coast to stop dirt and rubbish entering the water.Council Administrator, Rik Hart said these past few weeks have shown us what ends up in the gutter, ends up in our waterways.“When people litter on the roadside, it ends up in the drainage system which leads to the major waterways and can create all sorts of environmental problems for the flora and fauna that call the Coast’s local waterways home,” Mr Hart said.“While Council actively stops some rubbish entering the waterways, we need the communities help to stop rubbish flowing into our drainage systems in the first place.”Roadside litter is one of the most unnecessary and preventable environmental problems.Littering is not only damaging to our environment, but it is also a fineable offence, and everyone can play a role in reducing the impact of litter on local beaches and waterways.The NSW EPA can issue fines from $250 for an individual and $500 for a corporation for littering from a vehicle, based on reports from members of the public.Find out how you can report a tosser littering from their vehicle by visiting the NSW EPA website www.epa.nsw.gov.au.ENDS

Central Coast Council is encouraging community members to have their say on the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal’s (IPART) draft determination on water, sewerage and stormwater drainage pricing for the Central Coast released today (15 March 2022).IPART’s draft prices would see the combined yearly bill for a typical household increase by approximately $200 on 1 July 2022 and then by around $49 per year, before inflation, until 2025-26.Council Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said Council encourages community members to provide feedback directly to IPART through their consultation process and a Public Hearing that will be held on 5 April 2022.“Council’s pricing submission to IPART was shaped by community feedback and we’re now encouraging locals to review the draft determination for our region and provide feedback directly to IPART,” Mr Loader said.“IPART will consider all community responses, which can be provided online or by attending the Public Hearing, before releasing their final determination on Central Coast water, sewerage and stormwater drainage pricing on 24 May 2022.“This pricing change is vital to ensure the maintenance and development of critical infrastructure and to meet the service levels our community expects.”Council is currently reviewing IPART’s draft determination and will provide detailed feedback as part of the consultation process.Council Administrator, Rik Hart said the Central Coast community should take advantage of this final opportunity to have their say on water, sewerage and stormwater drainage prices for the next four years.“IPART’s draft determination on water prices is out and we’re calling on the local community to once again have their say – this time directly to IPART through their current community consultation process.“The Central Coast currently has the lowest water prices in NSW and we must return to pricing levels that will ensure we can meet the needs of our community.“Local residents will also be aware that we are going through a separate IPART process to keep ordinary rates at their current level for an additional seven years in order to maintain service levels and meet the requirements of necessary emergency loans.“It is important to note that our rates submission to IPART is not connected in any way to this draft IPART determination on our water, sewerage and stormwater drainage pricing.”Community members can have their say on the draft water, sewerage and stormwater drainage pricing determination for the Central Coast by visiting IPART’s website.ENDSKey features of the draft determinationThe combined yearly bill for a typical household would increase by around $200 on 1 July 2022.

The Central Coast is starting to recover from the impacts of the recent severe weather event which saw substantial rainfall and localised flash flooding, however parts of our region are still impacted.Safety and supporting the affected community continues to remain a priority for Council.A Recovery Committee has been established and Council is working with Resilience NSW as we move forward.While water is receding there is still major flooding continuing throughout the Hawkesbury area.

Two Pop-up Recovery Hubs will open at Spencer and The Entrance from Monday 14 March to support affected communities.

Central Coast Council congratulates the winners of the 2022 Grandma Moses Art Competition.