Central Coast residents are being urged to step up and speak out against domestic violence as Council joins a 16-day global campaign to help end domestic violence in our community.The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.Council is running a series of educational campaigns and events throughout the 16 Days of Activism (and beyond) to make it clear that violence against women is never acceptable.Council Director Connected Communities Julie Vaughan said domestic violence is a real and serious issue impacting the Central Coast.“Statistics show that the Central Coast had the second-highest number of domestic violence Apprehended Violence Orders in New South Wales for the 12 months prior to June 2020*,” said Ms Vaughan.“We need powerful statements and actions if we are going to change the Coast’s statistics and make our communities safe for women to lead the lives they and their children deserve.“Council has been working with key partners and respected experts to help educate our community and raise awareness of this issue.”Campaigns and events being run and supported by Council throughout the 16 Days of Activism include:Lightboxes illuminate an important story:

At the time of writing I am half way through week 2.

Central Coast Council has authorised the acceptance of a $50M loan from a top tier financial institution as part of its Business Recovery Plan.

Central Coast residents are being asked to help plan the region’s long-term water security and how water prices are charged.Over the next few months, Central Coast Council will continue to progress two important projects:the Integrated Water Resource Plan, which will select the best options to secure the Coast’s water supply for future generations.our submission to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) which, determines how much Council can charge customers for water.By registering their interest, residents will have the opportunity to contribute to both projects by participating in public forums, online surveys and phone interviews.Council’s Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said the two projects encompass the spectrum of delivering water and sewer services now and into the future.“The Integrated Water Resource Plan is about securing our ongoing water supply for a growing population, regardless of whether we might be experiencing periods of intense rainfall or prolonged drought,” Mr Loader said.“There have been significant changes in environmental factors, water infrastructure, the operating environment and knowledge since we last planned for our region’s long-term water security, 13 years ago.

Central Coast Council is marking NAIDOC Week with a series of public art installations throughout Toukley Town Centre.The artworks will showcase an adaptation of the story of Tiddalick the Frog, written by resident Reegan Peterson who was in primary school when he first heard the story of Tiddalick.

Central Coast Council is committed to community consultation and engagement with a number of projects opening for discussion this week.Council’s Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said consultation with the community is continuing to ensure projects keep moving to meet grant funding milestones or to ensure they are ready for funding applications or implementation in the new year.“In the last financial year more than 6,000 pieces of feedback from our community helped shape 50 projects, plans and strategies,” Ms Vaughan said.“Our ‘Your Voice – Our Coast’ online portal demonstrates Council’s ongoing commitment to engage effectively with all members of community, offering a seamless user experience and enabling the community to easily search for projects by category or by location.“While Council is currently focussed on delivering essential services, we also have a number of projects we need to seek our community's input on to ensure they meet our funding milestones or are ready for implementation or funding bids in the new year.“I would encourage our community to jump online to have their say on the projects that interest them.”Council is currently seeking input on the following projects and plans including:Gwandalan, Tunkuwallin Oval district playspaceGwandalan, South Eastern Park local playspaceIntegrated Water Resource PlanSan Remo, John Pete Howard Reserve district playspaceTerrigal Haven, ex-HMAS Adelaide II mast monumentTerrigal Lagoon trail concept designTuggerah Lakes foreshore restoration worksWamberal Beach terminal protection and sand nourishmentWarnervale District Contributions PlanWinney Bay Clifftop walk concept designsVisit our newspage for information on each.Council’s administrator, Dick Persson AM said community participation in planning matters is important in creating a shared sense of purpose, direction and understanding.“Council has the important responsibility of ensuring decisions we make for and behalf of the community ensure appropriate community input is considered in the process,” Mr Persson said.“While I am focusing on understanding Council’s financial situation, it’s important that Council continues to engage the community on key operational issues.“I encourage everyone to be active in their community and sign up to Council’s weekly Coast Connect e-newsletter so you can stay informed on opportunities to have your say.”Visit yourvoiceourcoast.com for further information and to have your say.

Council to host open forums for the first time and additional meetings confirmed Central Coast Council will host an open forum followed by the traditional public forum before every ordinary Council meeting from Monday 23 November 2020.

Central Coast Council has welcomed 13 new members to its Access and Inclusion Reference Group (AIRG) who will support Council to further improve accessibility and inclusion on the Coast.The AIRG will guide Council in implementing the final year of its current Disability Inclusion Action Plan and will play an important role in the development of a new four-year Disability Inclusion Action Plan for 2021-2025.These plans set out actions that Council will deliver to enable people with disabilities to better access mainstream services, facilities, information and support to be fully and equally included in the community.Council’s Director of Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said that the AIRG plays an integral role in helping Council to create an inclusive and accessible Central Coast for all residents with a disability.“The 2020-2021 Access and Inclusion Reference Group includes community members with a lived experience of disability, as well as those who work within the disability and community sectors.“The group reflects the many dimensions and diversity of disability.

This is my first column as Administrator and I am delighted to use it to promote Council’s support for NAIDOC Week.

Central Coast Council interim administrator, Mr Dick Persson AM has confirmed Mr Rik Hart as Acting Chief Executive Officer at an extraordinary council meeting held in Wyong today. The temporary appointment is until the current CEO, Mr Gary Murphy, returns to the role or 12 months from today, whichever occurs first.

An Extraordinary Meeting of Central Coast Council will be held on Tuesday 3 November at 2pm.It will be the first meeting presided over by interim Administrator, Dick Persson AM. The meeting will be held in the Wyong Chambers as well as livestreamed and webcast via Council's website.Members of the public will be permitted to attend Chambers, however the attendance will be limited to meet requirements of the Public Health order. 

Central Coast Council has welcomed the release of the NSW State of the Beaches report, with 100% of ocean beaches and baths receiving a good or very good quality rating for 2019-2020.The annual report uses the Beachwatch results to rate designated ocean and estuarine swimming sites across the state.Mayor Lisa Matthews said the report shows Central Coast beaches to be in good condition overall.“It’s great to see all of our ocean beaches and baths receive a Good or Very Good rating for swimming water quality this year,” Mayor Matthews said.“Terrigal Beach, which has been a particular focus for our community, retained a good rating for the second reporting year, while Toowoon Bay and Cabbage Tree Bay Rockpool have returned to good from poor last year.“While we have some work to do on the estuarine beaches, baths and lagoon sites, improvements were seen at Summerland Point baths which was also rated good and no sites declined in rating this year.“Council has a number of significant projects underway, some in partnership with the NSW Government, to address many of these concerns.“We remain committed to pinpointing potential pollution sources and continue to improve the water quality in the area.”Sites that have shown improvement in the 2019-20 year include:Cabbage Tree Bay rockpoolSoldiers BeachSummerland Point bathsToowoon BayUmina Beach.Council’s Director Environment and Planning, Scott Cox said there were a number of processes underway to help Council address some of the issues in the report.“In addition to the audits underway, Council will consider ways to improve the estuarine, lake and lagoon sites as part of the Coastal Management Program processes currently underway and we look forward to the recommendations of the Tuggerah Lakes Expert Panel to assist with this.“In the meantime, Council advises residents to check the Beachwatch website for the latest results before choosing to swim in these locations.”Across NSW, it is recommended that swimming be avoided during and for up to one day after rainfall at ocean beaches and three days at estuaries, lakes and lagoons.For daily forecasts of water quality visit:

Central Coast Council has for the first time found Giant Devil’s Fig (Solanum chrysotrichum) in Umina Beach and is asking residents to be on the look out for this invasive weed.Council’s Biosecurity Officer, Paul Marynissen said weeds are a major threat to our unique natural environment, threatening the survival of hundreds of native plants and animals. “Giant Devil’s Fig is an uncommon weed on the Central Coast, however given that the trunk, branches and even the leaves are covered in very large, sharp prickles, we’d rather it be gone!” Mr Marynissen said.“We now have three known pockets of this weed on the Coast – with the previous two in the Wamberal/Terrigal and Lisarow/Holgate area.“While we know about these areas, the weed can be spread by bats and birds and could easily grow anywhere on the Central Coast, so please keep an eye out and let us know if you think you have seen it.”Council remains proactive in managing risks from animal and plant pests and diseases, weeds and contaminants.Young Giant Devil’s Fig can be easily recognised.

Central Coast Council’s dredging program has wrapped up for 2020 with approximately 25,000 cubic metres of sand removed from the channel.In a first for Council, two dredges were used simultaneously to ensure the dredge program was completed in the compressed timeframes.Council’s Environment and Planning Director, Scott Cox, said the use of two dredges allowed sand from two areas of the channel at the same time.“Once the dredging program was underway, staff identified an opportunity to use a second dredge for areas west of The Entrance Bridge,” said Mr Cox.“This meant that the dredging program could be successfully completed in a short timeframe, and the area reinstated before the busy tourist season and to also reduce potential impacts on the nesting of the Little Terns.“The dredging program already looked very different to previous years, with the new EPA requirements requiring the dewatering area to be established inside the channel before sand was transferred to nourish North Entrance beach.“I am pleased to report that all EPA requirements were met during the program this year, and we have met our primary targets of recovering sand from the channel for use on the eroded beach at The Entrance North as well as removing sand from key identified areas within the channel to help enhance water exchange and navigation.”Council has been monitoring the annual arrival of the Little Terns to ensure the dredging program has had no impact on them.Central Coast Mayor, Lisa Matthews said she was pleased to see staff innovation has ensured the program was completed in all the targeted areas.“We know our community had some key areas within the channel they wanted to see dredged,” said Mayor Matthews.“It’s great to see that the staff have been able to find a way to do this quickly and efficiently, ensuring all target areas were completed in time.”The Karagi Reserve carpark staging area will continue to be decommissioned over the coming weeks which will also include some stabilisation of the foreshore in front of the reserve using rocks recovered during the July coastal erosion event.The dredging program is funded by both Central Coast Council and the NSW Government through the Rescuing Our Waterways fund.

Holidaymakers and the Central Coast go hand-in-hand and this summer tourism season is set to be one of the region’s busiest on record. Visitor numbers for the Coast have boomed this Spring and throughout the traditionally quieter winter months, providing a welcome boost to local businesses hit hard by the impacts of bushfires and COVID-19. Central Coast Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said visitors from Sydney and across Australia are heading to the Coast. “Over this year’s October long weekend some of our key attractions saw numbers up by as much as 300 percent and most accommodation was fully booked,” Ms Vaughan said. “This follows on from consistently strong tourism numbers for the Coast since April – year-on-year growth of 20 percent or higher across key indicators like restaurant and retail spend as well as AirBnB occupancy rates*. “Every indicator suggests this summer on the Coast will be abuzz and Council has taken steps to prepare for the influx of visitors to our beautiful region. “If you head to any of our 15 patrolled beaches you will hear safety announcements, including reminders to be COVID-safe, and we’re rolling out heightened management of bins and public amenities.”Mayor Lisa Matthews said the diverse appeal of the Central Coast is hard to beat. “Our stunning beaches, breathtaking bushland and picturesque hinterland region are at the heart of what makes the Coast so magnetic, but we’re also blessed with so many hidden gems that we’re encouraging visitors and locals to explore,” Mayor Matthews said. “The Coast has become a foodies paradise – we have great local produce and a vibrant dining scene across the region – and we’re also hard to beat for boutique shopping and adventure activities. “With international travel off the cards for the time being, we’re taking the time to discover and rediscover our own backyard and it’s no surprise that our spectacular region is at the top of the list. “It is important that we are all patient and kind this summer, keeping ourselves and others safe is what is most important.” A new destination brand for the Central Coast was launched in 2020 to promote the region as a vibrant, magnetically attractive place to live, work and play. For a full list of where to eat, stay and play on the Central Coast, head to lovecentralcoast.com   

Mangrove Creek Dam picnic area and Dubbo Gully have reopened to visitors after a bushfire tore through the drinking water catchment last year. The area has been closed to allow for the demolition of burnt structures at the picnic area, removal of hazardous trees and natural bush regeneration. The picnic area is open 9am-5pm each day except Christmas Day.

Mayor Lisa Matthews said the Councillors’ submission has now been formally provided to the Minister for Local Government for consideration.

Nominations for the Australia Day 2021 Awards are now open, providing an opportunity to recognise Central Coast individuals and groups who make an outstanding contribution to the region.Central Coast Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said the awards are more important than ever after a year of unprecedented challenges.“An Australia Day nomination is a wonderful way to honour the local leaders who go the extra mile for our community,” Ms Vaughan said.“There is no denying that 2020 has been a year of unprecedented challenges and in the midst of it all we’ve seen individuals and groups step up and make a difference in our community.“Our Australia Day nominees and winners are often unsung heroes who work quietly behind the scenes to make the Coast a better place to live, work and play.”Mayor Lisa Matthews said the Australia Day Awards celebrate the Central Coast’s diversity, values, national achievements and hopes for the future.“We’ve demonstrated tremendous resilience as a community in 2020 and there are so many individuals and groups who deserve recognition,” Mayor Matthews said.“The breadth of the Australia Day Award categories mean that a diverse range of contributions will be recognised and I encourage our community to nominate the local heroes they believe should be acknowledged.”The 2021 Award categories are:Arts, Culture and Entertainment - Awarded to an individual who has demonstrated excellence in their chosen art form and made a significant contribution to arts, culture and entertainment on the Coast.Business Connecting Communities - Awarded to a local business or enterprise with less than eight fulltime employees that has established a genuine involvement and long-term value to the life of their community.Community Service and Activity - Awarded to an individual or group responsible for creating community activities or services that benefit the Coast.Environmental - Awarded to an individual who is leading the way in sustainability and making the Central Coast a place where people and nature can thrive.Sportsperson of the Year - Awarded to an individual who has shown acts of sportsmanship and team building, been an outstanding sportsperson or made significant contributions as organisers or promoters of sports on the Coast.Volunteer of the Year - Awarded to an individual (26 years and over) who has made a significant long-term commitment to volunteer work and demonstrated outstanding service and dedication to our local community.Youth of the Year - Awarded to an individual (25 years or under) who has succeeded in his or her chosen field, acts as an inspiration to his or her peers and has made a significant contribution to the Coast community.Each winner from the above categories will go into the running to be named Central Coast Citizen of the Year.Nominations are now open and close Friday 27 November at 2pm.For further information, eligibility criteria and to make a nomination search 'Australia Day' at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Last night at Council’s Ordinary Meeting held, Councillors adopted Council's submission in response to the Minister for Local Government’s Notice of Intention to issue a suspension order to Central Coast Council.This submission outlines a chronological timeline of when and how Councillors were advised of the financial crisis, including the actions to date being taken by Council to resolve the issue.

Mayor Lisa Matthews said Central Coast Council last night adopted Council’s submission in response to the Minister for Local Government’s Notice of Intention to Issue a Suspension Order.