Constitutional Referendum postponed A Constitutional Referendum to determine the future number of Central Coast Councillors that was scheduled to be held on 4 September 2021 has been postponed to a future date to be determined.The Minister for Local Government has published an order in the Gazette under section 318C of the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act) postponing all council elections to 4 December 2021. The decision to postpone all council elections has been made in response to the escalating outbreak of the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus in Greater Sydney and the potential for further outbreaks in regional areas. Based on this advice, these risks have been considered and the Central Coast Council constitutional referendum will be postponed to a future date.

In response to feedback from the community, Central Coast Council is trialling the introduction of a dedicated small dog off-leash area at Tuggerah Dog Park. Signage has now been erected to identify an off-leash zone for small dogs weighing 10kg or less only, giving smaller breeds and puppies the opportunity to socialise in a separate off-leash area away from bigger dogs at the discretion of the owner.Council Unit Manager Environmental Compliance and Systems Sara Foster said the aim of the trial is to improve dog safety and dog owner responsibility, reducing dog incidents within the off-leash area. “The Central Coast community is made up of a high proportion of dog owners, many of whom love to enjoy our off-leash parks, reserves and beautiful beaches with their dogs,” Ms Foster said.“We’ve received feedback that owners of smaller dog breeds and puppies could benefit from a dedicated area where they can safely enjoy taking their companion off-leash – a model which has worked successfully at other neighbouring councils. “We look forward to seeing how both dog owners and their four-legged companions respond to the trial and if successful, will aim to make it a permanent fixture at Tuggerah Dog Park.“As always, we ask that any dog owners entering our dog parks and off-leash areas ensure they have effective control over their dogs, pick up after them and have checked they are up to date with vaccinations.

Whilst the Central Coast has been further impacted by additional restrictions, I would like to reassure the community that Council’s essential services will continue in line with the latest COVID-19 restrictions recently put in place.    I’d like to make the community aware that council continues to undertake work to maintain public facilities and provide essential services including water and sewer services, waste collection, road repairs and childcare services.

Families across the Coast now have access to even more exciting playspaces with Central Coast Council recently completing construction on playspace projects at Budgewoi, Umina Beach, Woy Woy, Copacabana, Gwandalan and San Remo.Over recent months Council has completed improvement works on popular playspaces at Susan Fahey Park, Copacabana and John Pete Howard Reserve, San Remo and has also opened Australia Avenue Local Playspace at Umina Beach, Halekulani Oval Playspace at Budgewoi, South Eastern Park at Gwandalan, Vernon Park at Umina Beach and Anderson Park Playspace at Woy Woy.Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Julie Vaughan said these new spaces have been guided by community feedback as part of Council’s recently adopted Central Coast Playspace Strategy.“Council operates and maintains over 260 playspaces across the Central Coast and we are thrilled to announce that a number of new playspaces are now open for the community to enjoy,” Ms Vaughan said.“This includes an innovative new district size playspace at Susan Fahey Park in Copacabana, which has been jointly funded by Central Coast Council with grant funding from the NSW Government’s Everyone Can Play Program.“The playspace has been upgraded with a range of exciting features including an outdoor ping pong table and chess table, adult fitness equipment, accessible BBQs and a picnic shelter, as well as an inclusive play unit.“All of these new areas are safe, inclusive and accessible for the whole community to enjoy.

Council will consider the community consultation findings and the next stage of its Asset Sales Program (Tranche 3) at the Ordinary Meeting on Tuesday 27 July.Community consultation on the proposed properties for sale ran from 30 April to 28 May attracting 1,333 submissions and 611 direct emails and letters from the public.Council Director Corporate Affairs and Chief Financial Officer, Natalia Cowley said the consultation was invaluable in helping to understand in a short timeframe localised issues, stakeholder interests and likely impacts should some parcels of land proceed to sale.“Thank you to everyone who has submitted feedback and contributed to this discussion.

The Central Coast’s journey to becoming a certified ECO Destination is progressing in leaps and bounds with an additional 10 local nature-based businesses receiving funding to pursue certification. Achieving ECO Destination Certification will see the Central Coast recognised as a world-class location for sustainable and nature-based tourism, which will provide a substantial and ongoing boost to the local economy. Central Coast Council Director Corporate Affairs and Chief Financial Officer, Natalia Cowley said it was exciting to see so many local operators welcomed into the program. “We are working with Ecotourism Australia and WWF-Australia to achieve ECO Destination Certification by World Environment Day in June 2022,” Ms Cowley said. “As an important part of this journey, nature-based tourism businesses on the Coast were recently invited to submit an EOI seeking support to pursue formal recognition as an ecotourism provider, joining our region’s wider certification journey. “Through a fully-funded partnership with Ecotourism Australia and WWF-Australia, these businesses will receive mentoring throughout their certification journey, as well as a $500 funding incentive to assist with the first year of the process.” The Central Coast has the largest regional cohort of certified or seeking certification businesses, with the following 10 operators now welcomed into the program: •    Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park – Calga•    Bombora Ettalong Beach SUP – Ettalong Beach•    Canton Beach Paddleshack – Canton Beach•    Elixir Journeys – Bouddi National Park•    Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures – Glenworth Valley•    Grace Springs Farm – Kulnura•    Iris Lodge Alpacas – Jilliby•    Jake Cassar Bushcraft – Brisbane Water National Park•    Rocky Trail Entertainment – Lake Munmorah•    Terrigal Ocean Tours – Terrigal & Broken BayIf successful in achieving certification, new program members will join the Central Coast’s existing cohort of ECO certified operators – AquaFun Avoca Lake, Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre, Noonaweena in the hinterland, and TreeTops Adventure Park in Ourimbah State Forest.Chief Executive at Ecotourism Australia, Rod Hillman said the Central Coast is an outstanding candidate to become a certified ECO Destination.“The Central Coast has well managed and extensive protected areas, a strong environmental ethic within the community and Council, and high quality existing ecotourism experiences,” Mr Hillman said.“Ecotourism Australia visited the Central Coast in May to launch the region’s journey to become a certified ECO Destination with regional stakeholders and announce an incentive program to create and build new ecotourism products in the region. “Working closely with Central Coast Council, regional stakeholders and the local tourism industry, the program is designed to build on the Central Coast’s reputation as a premium location for high quality ecotourism experiences and accommodation.“The incentive program has encouraged 10 existing tourism businesses in the region to build on their sustainability credentials and practices by starting their application to be ECO Certified.”Council Administrator, Rik Hart said the support of Ecotourism Australia and WWF-Australia will ensure the region fulfills its potential as an eco-destination of choice.“The Central Coast has an abundance of world-class, nature-based tourist attractions and this sees us well-placed to attract an increasing number of visitors seeking sustainable travel experiences,” Mr Hart said.“Tourism is an important pillar of the Central Coast economy and ecotourism will play an increasingly important role in ensuring the region is front of mind for a broad mix of visitors.”The ECO Destination Certification program is fully funded by WWF-Australia as part of their Australian Wildlife and Nature Recovery Fund.Businesses in the certification program are supported with online tools, resources and bootcamps delivered by Ecotourism Australia to help their business become more sustainable. For more information visit the dedicated ecotourism hub – lovecentralcoast.com/ecotourismECO Destination Certification will play an important role in helping the Coast’s tourism sector to recover following necessary COVID restrictions. The current lockdown period makes it more important than ever to support all local businesses and to make this easier Council has recently launched three new ‘Love Local’ guides – lovecentralcoast.com/lovelocal 

The extended COVID-19 lockdown currently in place for the Central Coast is the perfect time to take advantage of the latest round of Love Local online guides. The Love Local guides feature an extensive range of Central Coast businesses to make it easier for community members to buy local and support exceptional operators in our region during this challenging time. Central Coast Council Director Corporate Affairs and Chief Financial Officer, Natalia Cowley said the Love Local guides are featured on the Love Central Coast website and have continued to grow since their launch in 2020. “Our Love Local online guides highlight the quality, creativity and breadth of businesses that call the Coast home,” Ms Cowley said. “Shopping locally delivers a substantial boost to our local economy and during difficult times such as the current required lockdown this is more important than ever. “Love Local makes it so easy to connect with local providers and once you’ve made the switch to buy locally you won’t look back.” Three new Love Local guides are featured on lovecentralcoast.com:•    Shopping – boutiques, bespoke retailers and local makers and creators who offer home delivery•    Produce – local producers that offer home delivery•    Food and drink – restaurants and cafes that offer takeaway and home deliveryCouncil Administrator, Rik Hart said the development and promotion of the guides were an important channel for Council to provide support to local businesses impacted by measures to control COVID-19. “Stay at home orders can make it extremely difficult for small businesses to continue to operate and it is vital that local communities rally to support local operators,” Mr Hart said. “So many exceptional local businesses on the Coast have created ways for us to continue to access their services online and through takeaway and home delivery – so I’d encourage everyone to explore and use the local operators featured in our Love Local online guides.” Local consumer facing businesses can sign up for a free listing on the Love Central Coast website and benefit from free promotion to Central Coast locals and visitors to the region. Community members can explore the diverse range of local businesses and the ways they have shifted to safely provide their goods and services online or through takeaway or home delivery at lovecentralcoast.com/lovelocal 

Central Coast Council’s work to protect the Little Tern has seen record numbers of the endangered coastal bird at Karagi Point North Entrance, officially marking the site as crucial for the species’ ongoing conservation.Council Environmental Education Officer, Nick Carson said the Karagi Point breeding colony was considered the most important nesting site in NSW for the 2020/21 breeding season.“In December last year we knew we were on track for a record baby boom of the feathered kind, but even then our estimated numbers were still shy of the final results,” Mr Carson said.“With an estimated 72 breeding pairs, 97 nests, 236 eggs (approximately 2.4 eggs per nest) and 152 chicks being observed, these figures were greater than what was observed at any other site in NSW for the 2020-21 breeding season.“An average of 0.71 chicks successfully fledged per breeding pair, and with only 350 chicks believed to have successfully fledged throughout the same period in NSW, this means that one seventh of the population can be attributed to Karagi Point alone.“This was clearly the most successful breeding season seen at Karagi Point in over 20 years of monitoring.

Central Coast Chemical CleanOut events scheduled for the coming weekends have been postponed due to the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions currently in place for the region. The two events were to be held at Event Park, Kariong on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 July and at Council’s Charmhaven Depot on Saturday 31 July and Sunday 1 August. Council will continue to work with the NSW Environment Protection Authority to reschedule the events and the community will be advised once new dates are confirmed. For residents who need to properly dispose of the problem wastes of paints, oils, gas bottles, fluoro lights, smoke detectors and batteries, Council’s new Community Recycling Centre is open 7 days a week and accepts household quantities of these wastes for free.

Central Coast Council is assuring the community that essential services will continue in line with the additional COVID-19 restrictions recently announced by the NSW Government.The NSW Government has announced from Monday 12:01am on 19 July 2021, work at construction sites in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, is not to be carried out unless the work is urgently required.Council Chief Executive Officer, David Farmer said the community can be assured that Council is following the requirements of the latest announcement.“We have carefully reviewed the Public Health Orders and we are making sure all of our work undertaken by Staff is in accordance with those orders.

Central Coast Council has completed the first ever survey for Koalas across the region with Koalas detected in the Mangrove Creek Dam catchment and Watagan Mountains.Council Director Environment and Planning, Scott Cox said staff also looked at Ourimbah State Forest, Brisbane Water National Park and Council’s Coastal Open Space System (COSS) lands as other potential Koala habitats.“In response to an increased number of Koala sightings being reported to us, the first ever survey for Koalas across the Central Coast was completed using a combination of phone surveys, postal surveys and an ecological study using song meters,” Mr Cox said.“Phone and postal surveys were used to help record any community Koala sightings and in Spring, song meters were deployed in 58 potential Koala habitat locations to record the bellows of male Koalas during the breeding season.“Koalas were recorded at nine sites in the far west of the region.

Today the Premier announced a further two-week lockdown for the Central Coast region, now in place until 11.59pm on Friday 30 July.

Over 24,000 square metres of land has been weeded and over 80 volunteer hours have been spent prepping Porters Creek for this year’s National Tree Day.Central Coast Council Director Environment and Planning, Scott Cox said he hopes the Central Coast community will be able to come together for a special tree planting event to continue conservation works.“Council has planted approximately 2,000 native plants on the site in the last 12 months that will help create, enhance and restore natural habitat.

Central Coast Council has completed improvement works at Susan Fahey Park in Copacabana with an exciting and innovative district sized playspace now open for the community.Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Julie Vaughan said the new playspace provides an inclusive, safe and accessible space for the whole community to enjoy.“We listened closely to feedback from our community throughout the design and planning process and are thrilled to deliver a high-quality facility that reflects their wants and needs,” Ms Vaughan said.“This new community space provides a range of fantastic features for all ages and abilities to enjoy and will be an asset to both residents and the high volume of seasonal visitors to the area.“Visitors to the new district playspace can now access an outdoor ping pong table and chess table, adult fitness equipment, accessible BBQs and an inclusive play unit, including an accessible spinner and see saw, as well as a unique rope swing.“The innovative space also includes connecting pathways, a drink bottle refill station, new picnic shelter and tables as well as access to public toilets.

Central Coast Council is encouraging residents to clear out unwanted and out-of-date hazardous items from homes, garages and sheds to be correctly disposed of for free at the next bi-annual Chemical CleanOut events.Community members can safely drop off their chemicals for free at Event Park, off Kangoo Road, Kariong on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 July as well as at Council’s Charmhaven Depot on Saturday 31 July and Sunday 1 August, 9am to 3.30pm daily.These events will be hosted in line with any COVID-19 restrictions in place.

Central Coast Council is delivering essential services with a growing fleet of battery and hybrid electric vehicles, replacing full fossil-fuelled vehicles as they reach their end of service life.The focus is in line with the State Government’s direction and recent $500million budget announcement to support NSW councils’ efforts to support greater electric vehicle use.Council Director Corporate Affairs and Chief Financial Officer, Natalia Cowley said Council was keeping its promise to the community to take a hands-on role and work towards net zero emission targets.“Council is active in its commitment for a sustainable future and we pledged to be a leader in the use of more sustainable transport, which we are doing,” Mrs Cowley said.“In 2019 we introduced the first 100 percent electric vehicle into our fleet vehicles in addition to a number of hybrid passenger vehicles already in the fleet.

Artists from across Australia are invited to submit works for the Central Coast’s premier art awards – the Gosford Art Prize – with entries now open.A recorded breaking 900 artists competed for the $25,000 prize pool in 2020 and even more artists are expected to submit works this year.Central Coast Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Julie Vaughan said the Gosford Art Prize is a cultural highlight for the region.“The awards attract more and more local artists each year and it is also exciting to see increasing participation from artists across NSW and indeed interstate,” Ms Vaughan said.“Our region is a growing artistic hub and we encourage artists from near and far to submit up to two works.“The Gosford Art Prize culminates in an exhibition of finalists' works at Gosford Regional Gallery – a must see experience that attracts over 12,000 people, with 40 percent of those being visitors to the Coast.”Council Administrator, Rik Hart said the quality and breadth of works featured in the Gosford Art Prize have made the awards a Central Coast institution.“Art is more important than ever and Council is thrilled to offer an art prize and exhibition that delivers for the Coast both culturally and economically,” Mr Hart said.“Last year’s entries were truly outstanding and we can’t wait to see what our creative communities have in stall for us for 2021.”Artists who submit works can compete across the following categories:First Prize – $15,000Second Prize – $5,000Aboriginal Artist Prize – $2,500Gosford Ceramics Prize – $2,000Highly Commended – $1,000 (two prizes)Viewer’s Choice Award – $500Artworks for the Gosford Art Prize for 2021 need to be submitted online.

The Ordinary Meeting of Central Coast Council scheduled for 6.30pm on Tuesday 13 July will not proceed.

At Council’s Ordinary Meeting on Tuesday 29 June 2021 I adopted the 21/22 Operational Plan which outlines an operating budget of $659.8M and a capital works budget of $175M.

Central Coast Council’s 2021-22 Community Grants Program is now open, with $900,000 in annual funding available to support local community groups and organisations to deliver worthwhile projects, programs and events that strengthen our community.Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Julie Vaughan said local community groups and organisations have until 31 July to apply for funding under the program to help bring their big ideas to life over the next 18 months.“Council’s Community Grants Program supports local groups and organisations to develop initiatives which enhance community connection and quality of life on the Coast,” Ms Vaughan said.“While some changes have been made to the structure of the program this year, Council is thrilled to be supporting the community through this important funding platform.“Funding of up to $20,000 per project is available under the Community Development Grant Program and the Community Events and Place Activation Program, with applications closing at the end of the month.“Community groups and organisations can also apply for funding of up to $5,000 per project as part of the Community Support Program, which will remain open throughout the year.”Council Administrator, Rik Hart said Council’s Community Grants Program builds the community’s capacity to deliver innovative events, programs and projects.“With $900,000 in annual funding on offer, this is an opportunity for community groups and organisations to contribute ideas which will make a difference to our community and create a stronger Central Coast,” Mr Hart said.“Unlike in previous years, there will only be one round of grant applications over the 2021-22 financial year for the Community Development and Events and Place Activation Grants programs.