Central Coast Council is helping parents and supervisors with the challenging task of teaching learner drivers, to help make the experience of learning to drive a safe, positive experience for all.Council is offering two free workshops at Erina and Tuggerah libraries in June to offer practical advice on current driving rules and requirements for L and P plate drivers, how learners benefit from supervised on-road driving, and how to encourage positive outcomes through teaching learner drivers.Council Director Infrastructure Services, Boris Bolgoff said the workshops are designed to provide hands-on support to parents and supervisors of learner drivers.“Younger drivers (aged 26 and younger) make-up almost one quarter of annual road fatalities despite representing only 15 percent of all licence holders – this is an alarming statistic that we all should be determined to work toward bringing down,” Mr Bolgoff said.“With their relative inexperience, learner drivers also face a higher risk of being involved in a crash.

Central Coast Council was named a winner in one category and highly commended in another at the NSW Local Government Excellence Awards, held late last week in Sydney. Plant and Fleet for its Fleet and Driver Management Transformation project in the Innovative Leadership category (category winner)Marketing and Tourism for its Love Central Coast project in the Special Project Initiative category (highly commended) The NSW Local Government Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding achievements across Local Government that promote innovation and improvement within the community. Council Chief Executive Officer, David Farmer has congratulated the winning staff and team on this fantastic achievement.“Council was recognised and named finalists in eight categories in this year’s awards, so I’d like to congratulate not only the winning team and staff members who were highly commended, but also those who were nominated this year,” Mr Farmer said. “We have built a new Corporate Affairs Directorate focused on improving systems and processes to deliver better services for our ratepayers and residents, whilst driving economic initiatives to enable regional growth.

Central Coast Council is pleased to confirm that VenuesLive will take over management of one of the Coast’s most iconic assets, Central Coast Stadium.

Central Coast Council has today announced changes to its executive leadership team. Director Corporate Affairs and Chief Financial Officer, Natalia Cowley will be leaving the organisation effective 16 June 2022. Council’s Chief Executive Officer, David Farmer said Ms Cowley was responsible for significant achievements at Central Coast Council which will have long-lasting positive impacts for the community.“Ms Cowley brought extensive experience with her when she joined Central Coast Council in October 2020 and used her expertise to help the organisation achieve one of the most significant financial turnarounds in Australian Local Government history,” Mr Farmer said. “I sincerely thank Ms Cowley for her service to the Central Coast community, her extensive contributions to Council’s Financial Recovery Plan and helping to secure the long-term financial future of the organisation.”Interim arrangements will be announced prior to mid-June while Council undertakes a recruitment process. “I wish Ms Cowley all the very best in her new role as General Manager at Coffs Harbour City Council,” said Mr Farmer.ENDS

Toukley will be packed with food and entertainment at the 2022 Taste of Toukley activation on Saturday 4 June!The Toukley Village Green will feature live entertainment and other family friendly activities, plus five local restaurants will provide a limited number of free tasting boxes to the community.Central Council’s Community and Culture Unit Manager, Glenn Cannard, said the Taste of Toukley’s objective is to showcase the diversity of cuisine available in Toukley, and increase awareness of what the town centre has to offer.“The Toukley town centre is a vibrant strip of businesses who are integral to the economic and social growth of the local community.  We want the community and visitors to the town, to get to know what Toukley has to offer.”Mr Cannard said activities will include a petting zoo, roving entertainment and a tasting table set up in the Village Green displaying a QR code linked to takeaway menus of local restaurants and cafes.“The tasting table is a fun way to encourage people to support the local eateries," Mr Cannard said.Five local restaurants will also be offering a limited number of free takeaway tasting boxes.

Council’s endorsement of the Central Coast Green Grid Plan:

At last night’s Ordinary Meeting, Council resolved to publicly exhibit draft documents of the Revised Community Strategic Plan, Delivery Program 2022-25, including the Operational Plan and Budget 2022/23, and the Resourcing Strategy for community feedback from Wednesday 25 May to Tuesday 21 June 2022.

Community invited to have their say on Council’s Delivery Program Council’s Draft Revised Community Strategic Plan, Draft Delivery Program 2022-25 including the Operational Plan and Budget 2022/23, and Draft Resourcing Strategy will be on public exhibition and available for community submissions from Wednesday 25 May to Tuesday 21 June 2022, following endorsement at this evening’s Council Meeting.Every year Council presents a plan of works that focuses on what the community has told us is important.

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has released its final determination on water, sewerage and stormwater drainage pricing for the Central Coast, returning rates to levels that can see Council better maintain its vast water and sewer operations.IPART announced it would stagger the rate changes from 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2026 to allow customers more time to manage the impacts on their bills, which was requested within community feedback during consultation.The pricing determination will see the combined yearly bill for a typical household increase by the following increments, plus inflation:17 percent on 1 July 2022 ($183 increase)6 percent in 2023-24 ($80 increase)8 percent in 2024-25 ($106 increase)1 percent in 2025-26 ($9 increase)Council Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said the rate changes will allow Council to provide services that match community expectations.“IPART’s determination will allow Council to invest in our water and sewer operations and increase the quality of these services for the community.

Council is pleased to confirm new dates for the Central Coast’s Chemical CleanOut event at Council's Long Jetty Depot following cancellations due to the severe weather conditions that unfolded earlier in the year.

This week we recognise and celebrate the massive contribution volunteers make to our community through National Volunteer Week!

Central Coast Council is welcoming Expressions of Interest (EOI) from prospective event management organisations, individuals and local businesses interested in delivering events and initiatives aimed at reconnecting Central Coast communities.Following the announcement of the NSW State Government Reconnecting Regional NSW Community Events Program, Council is looking to apply for $335,000 from this pool of funds to aid the delivery of community events across the region and is calling for local businesses and organisations to help support this application.Open from today until Sunday 5 June, Council’s EOI will allow local event organisers to put forward their event concepts that further enhance local events calendars and provide renewed chances for residents and visitors of the Central Coast to come together. Central Coast Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said the funding will be split between Council’s flagship events and local event organisers with big ideas for the Central Coast.“Council is thrilled at the prospect of this grant funding boost, which will help provide local businesses the opportunity to connect with the wider community,” Ms Smith said. “If our grant application is successful, we plan to apply $135,000 to Council’s flagship events such as ChromeFest, Central Coast Music Festival, Love Lanes and more, with the remaining fund of up to $200,000 made available for application through the EOI process.“Council will be honoured to offer local event organisers the opportunity to help boost the Central Coast’s calendar of events for the community, especially after the social and economic impact covid has had on communities across the country.“If we’re successful in receiving the funding, not only will we be able to help contribute to the enhancement of our region’s liveability, but we will also be giving a much-needed boost to our local tourism and economy by attracting more people to the Coast with these events.”The funding is conditional on Central Coast Council being successful in receiving this grant from NSW State Government, with funding offered for successful events or activations ranging from $50,000 to $200,000.

Central Coast Council beach season came to an official close on Monday 25 April 2022, with the 2022/2023 season recommencing on Saturday 24 September 2022.The 2021/2022 summer season saw over 2.4 million visitations at the Coast’s 15 patrolled beaches during Council lifeguard patrolling periods.

Earlier this week the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal delivered their determination supporting Central Coast Council’s current rate structure for a further seven years, a decision that was a sensible one.

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has approved Central Coast Council’s 2022 Special Variation to maintain rates at their current levels for an additional seven years, equalling ten years in total to 2031.Council’s Administrator, Rik Hart said that IPART’s determination supporting the continuation of Central Coast Council’s current rate structure for a further seven years is a sensible decision. “This outcome allows Council to continue to maintain current service levels, comply with current banking requirements and most importantly, allows us to continue without interruption our 10-year long-term financial plan that provides long-term financial stability for the organisation,” Mr Hart said. “It’s a decision that factors in the unique situation this Council was in, and the recommendation made by the Public Inquiry Commissioner ‘for the Administrator to ensure the completion of the Business Recovery Plan as adopted and amended by Central Coast Council since October 2020.’“It has taken time, but we now have two independent entities on the same page. “We’ve achieved one of the most significant financial turnarounds of any organisation in under 12 months, with the current and forecasted surpluses repaying the emergency loans over the next 10 years.“For the community – there is no increase to your rates.

The community recycling centre located at Council’s Buttonderry Waste Management Facility in Jilliby has temporarily ceased receiving paint and household oils following a chemical fire at a Sydney waste facility which receives and processes the majority of NSW Councils' paints and household oils.The facility, managed by a contractor of the NSW Environmental Protection Authority (NSW EPA), experienced severe damage to the equipment which processes these materials, and is therefore unable to receive paints and household oils from Councils until further notice.The NSW EPA is working to address the impacts of the fire and determine an alternative solution for collection of these materials.

Central Coast Council has been awarded the 2022 Fleet Safety Award at the Australasian Fleet Management Association (AfMA) Annual Networking Dinner and Fleet Awards Ceremony.The award was received on behalf of the Council by Unit Manager, Plant and Fleet, Peter Armour at the Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney.Council Administrator, Rik Hart said:

Council has removed over 191 tonnes of waste from Gross Pollutant Traps in March and April following consistent heavy rainfall, stopping litter, dirt, sediment, and other pollutants from entering the Central Coast waterways with stormwater.Once the region experiences a longer period of clear weather, the conditions will be suitable for Council to program the collection and disposal of waste from other Gross Pollutant Traps yet to be serviced. Council has 339 gross pollutant traps installed at key locations across the Coast – both below and above ground.

Earlier this week, Central Coast Council was named a finalist in eight categories of the NSW Local Government Excellence Awards.

Central Coast Council has been named a finalist in eight categories of the NSW Local Government Excellence Awards.