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Council has built a new nature inspired playspace at Pinyari Close Reserve, Kincumber for local families to play and connect with their neighbours.The new local level playspace was designed to complement the surrounding nature reserve with ropes and natural timbers creating spaces for kids to climb, balance and use their imaginations.

The first region-wide draft Land Transaction Policy in now on public exhibition by Council for the community to view and submit comments.This draft policy is a consolidation of the former Gosford City Council’s Land and Property Transactions Policy and Wyong Shire Council’s Property Transactions – Sales and Acquisitions with other policies informing its development. Council’s Executive Manager of Innovation and Futures, Ricardo Martello said this important document will provide contemporary, clear and consistent guidelines for Council’s management of land transactions across the whole region.“The consolidated policy provides a framework for Council which will inform decision and directions regarding Council’s property portfolio in a consistent manner across the Local Government Area and in accordance with relevant legislation,” Mr Martello said.“The former Wyong Shire Council and the former Gosford City Council both had similar Land and Property transaction policies.

Central Coast Council has taken out a top honour at this year’s RH Dougherty Awards for its innovative Central Coast Waterways Report Card.The annual Awards, established in 1981 by Local Government NSW, highlight best-practice council communication and liaison with the communities they serve.Central Coast Council won the ‘Reporting to Your Community’ Award for its inaugural Central Coast Waterways Report Card, which aims to educate the community about the impacts of their actions on local waterways and foster pride in these important natural assets.Council’s Director of Environment and Planning, Scott Cox said Council is thrilled to be recognised for the program, which provides an important platform for sharing the story of waterway conservation with the community.“The Central Coast Waterways Report Card tells the story of waterway health in a language that is common to all of us and provides a tool to bridge the gap between science, management and community values,” Mr Cox said.“Our vision is that the Waterways Report Card continues to be a focal point in a long conversation with our community about waterway health and will be part of the driving force behind improvements which can only truly come about if we all work together.”Mayor Lisa Matthews said that Council is honoured to be recognised for this important initiative, which is the first of its kind on the Central Coast and sets a standard for best practices in community education across the state.“The Central Coast is known for its natural beauty - maintaining our natural assets is a critical component of what we value as a community,” said Mayor Matthews.“Our Environment and Planning Team is to be commended for their involvement in this project, which plays an important role in protecting our rich environmental heritage and casts a positive spotlight on our region.”Learn more about the initiative and view the Waterways Report Card 2017-2018 at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/waterwayhealth.

Council defers consideration of purchase of Davistown wetlandsCouncil has deferred consideration of the proposed withdrawal of negotiations to purchase land known as Davistown wetlands for twelve weeks.  Council’s CEO will continue to pursue an acquisition by agreement with the current owners of the Davistown wetlands and report back to Council by no later than 26 October 2020. Council responds to repeal of the Warnervale Airport Restrictions Act with new name and approachCentral Coast Airport at Warnervale has been renamed as the Warnervale Aircraft Landing Area (ALA) in response to the repeal of the Warnervale Airport Restrictions (WAR) Act.The NSW Government has recently confirmed it will repeal the WAR Act following an independent review that generated over 900 public submissions with 75% supporting the repeal. Council reaffirmed its ownership and management of the Warnervale ALA and that the runway length would remain at 1200 metres with no further extensions.Current maintenance works at the ALA will continue, however no new works will be permitted that expand its operations.Council will actively seek to generate employment opportunities on lands adjacent to the land strip with a focus on the following sectors:

Central Coast Council’s Wyong customer service point in the Wyong Administration building will reopen to the community on Tuesday 11 August.The COVID-19 shutdown provided the opportunity for the Wyong customer service point to undergo maintenance to enhance customers’ service experience.

As the coastal remediation works continue at the North Entrance and Wamberal, it was a welcome announcement last week from the Minister for Local Government to establish a Wamberal Taskforce.

Central Coast residents are invited to have their say in Central Coast Council’s new Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), which will help shape access and inclusion in our community from 2021 to 2025.The Plan will set out actions that Council will take to enable people with disabilities to gain better access to mainstream services, facilities and information so they can fully participate in our community.Council’s Director of Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said that Council will be engaging closely with the staff, the wider community and key stakeholders to develop the new Plan.“It is very important that the new Disability Inclusion Action Plan reflects the voices of people in our community with lived experience of disability and their carers, as well as local organisations and service providers in the disability sector,” said Ms Vaughan.“We encourage the community to share their input and experiences by participating in one of our online forums or completing our online survey.”Mayor Lisa Matthews said that the DIAP 2021-2025 forms part of Council’s focus on celebrating and continuing to create opportunities for inclusion where all people feel welcome and participate in community life.“People with disabilities are an integral part of our community and contribute on a daily basis to the social, cultural and economic life of the Central Coast region,” Mayor Matthews said.“To be a truly responsive and inclusive community, our Coast needs to hear the voices of people who live with disabilities and understand the barriers they experience to full community participation.”For details on how to have your say in the Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2021-2025 visit yourvoiceourcoast.com.

Five and half thousand tonnes of rock have been placed on North Entrance and Wamberal Beaches, by Central Coast Council crews, during the recent coastal erosion emergency response.1,800 tonnes of large basalt rocks have been placed directly on Wamberal Beach with 1,720 tonnes of rock filled bags craned in from Ocean View Drive.At North Entrance – just over 2,060 tonnes of rock has been placed on the beach there between Karagi Reserve beach access and Hargraves Street beach access since the work began two weeks ago.Central Coast Council CEO, Gary Murphy, said the huge response by Council had been successful in temporarily mitigating further erosion.“The results speak for themselves and show what is possible when you have the best coastal engineers in Australia working with committed crews, the best material available and the emergency orders needed to get the job done,” Mr Murphy said.“The success of this response will hold us in good stead as we plan further recovery works and a longer-term solution at both locations.Works are expected to take a further two to three weeks at Wamberal.

Central Coast Council is making it easier for local businesses to supply it with products and services, as part of its commitment to supporting the local economy and helping the wider Coast community.Local businesses are being invited to register for the VendorPanel Marketplace, which Council uses to procure some of its goods and services.The VendorPanel Marketplace is also used by many government agencies, so once a business registers, they will be visible to these agencies as well.Council’s Acting Chief Financial Officer, Carlton Oldfield said the opportunity to register as a potential supplier is part of Council’s commitment to supporting the business community and local economy which has done it tough in the current economic climate.“Council is committed to purchasing locally whenever it can and it is feasible to do so,” Mr Oldfield said.“Our recent local spend has been about $150million per annum, helping to support local businesses and jobs.”Businesses which supply low-risk goods and services unlikely to cause harm can register directly at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/vendorpanel.

Council’s draft Central Coast Playspace Strategy is currently on public exhibition and the community are invited to submit comments to help finalise the guidelines that will be used to manage and plan future playspaces for our region. Council manage and maintain over 260 playspaces across the Central Coast which are loved by both residents and visitors to our region and will continue to invest in these valued public facilities for the community’s benefit.The strategy was developed to set consistent policies, guidelines and goals for the development and sustainable management of playspaces across the whole Central Coast region.

On behalf of Central Coast Council, it is pleasing to see an Operational Plan for the 2020/21 financial year adopted. This is an Operational Plan that has had to respond to the unprecedented times we find ourselves in.

Council’s commitment to exploring all parking options for the people of the Central Coast continues to gather momentum with an additional call for community to comment on their current parking needs to help finalise the Central Coast Parking Study and Implementation Plan.The Central Coast Parking Study and Implementation Plan has been guided by previous community consultation activities and includes short, and medium-to-long term strategies to deliver additional parking where required.  The study also looks at improved public and other transport options and has assessed the commuter parking needs for Gosford, Woy Woy, Wyong, Warnervale, Ourimbah, Tuggerah and Lisarow train stations which are identified for focused investment.The focus areas of the plan have also included Wyong CBD, Terrigal CBD, The Entrance Town Centre and various coastal hot spots.Mayor Lisa Matthews is urging the public to have their say on parking in their local area and our region as a whole.“Council understands that car parking is a significant issue of concern to the community and is actively working to ensure a plan is put in place to meet the immediate and future needs of the Central Coast and ensure the best outcome for Council’s future investment,” said Mayor Matthews.“We will continue to explore all options and work closely with all levels of government into the future to address car parking issues for our residents.”The Central Coast Parking Strategy Implementation Plan is currently on public exhibition online at yourvoiceourcoast.com until Sunday 16 August 2020 for the community to submit their comments.

Central Coast Council has today welcomed the announcement of a Wamberal Taskforce to help deliver a long-term solution to coastal erosion issues at Wamberal.Council is progressing designs and options for a seawall at Wamberal, with residents and the community and the expert Taskforce will be important for expediting approvals and the funding model needed to deliver it.Council CEO, Gary Murphy, who will be on the Taskforce, said Council cannot deliver a permanent solution alone and it was great to see experts around the table committed to finding a solution.“While we have been focussed on the emergency works responses, and staff have done an amazing job, we have never lost sight of the need for a permanent solution to coastal erosion, not just at Wamberal, but up and down our coast,” Mr Murphy said.“A permanent solution has been worked on for some time now.

Harvest Festival Central Coast has become a June long weekend tradition and after a required break this year Central Coast Council is looking for new partners to make the 2021 event the best yet.Local businesses and groups are invited to submit Expressions of Interest to be event hub partners for Harvest Festival, which attracts 32,000 locals and visitors and injects over $8million into the local economy.Council Unit Manager Community Partnerships, Glenn Cannard said the continued growth and success of the event was largely thanks to the new ideas and contributions of local businesses, companies, organisations and community groups.“Harvest Festival has become our largest and most successful event and whilst it was extremely disappointing that we couldn’t celebrate the harvest this year, we are planning to be bigger and better in 2021,” Mr Cannard said.“Our event numbers were up by 100 percent last year and we’re anticipating further growth for our next event.“Harvest Festival is such a success because of our incredible event hub partners and we are currently looking to lock in our partners for 2021.“We’re keen to continue to evolve our relationship with existing partners and invite new businesses and groups to further enhance this celebration of farm, friends, food and fun in our picturesque hinterland region.”Harvest Festival features a range of experiences, activities and fantastic local produce and food across the event trail which spans Dooralong, Jilliby, Yarramalong, Kulnura, Mangrove Mountain, Peats Ridge, Somersby and Calga.Expressions of Interest are sought across a range of offerings including but not limited to:open farm gate salesticketed farm tours/talkspick your own producetours and talksindigenous cultural experiences/bush tucker tourscinema under the starsart events/installationslive music eventsfamily fun eventscooking demonstrationsfood experiences with local produceobstacle course races/fun runs.Mayor Lisa Matthews said she encouraged both existing and new business partners to continue to enhance the Harvest Festival success story.“We’ve been starved of events in 2020 and we look forward to a fantastic program of Central Coast events in 2021 including our beloved Harvest Festival,” Mayor Matthews said.“This event is a unique celebration of our stunning hinterland region, our incredible local produce and sustainability.“Harvest Festival is made possible by the contribution of local businesses, organisations and community groups and we look forward to your continued contribution and enhancement of the event.“There is something very special about seeing both locals and tourists donning their winter woollies and heading behind the farm gate in our beautiful and fertile hinterland, which is home to wonderful communities and unique businesses.”Businesses, companies, organisations or community groups interested in being part of Harvest Festival in 2021 should complete an Expression of Interest by 11 September 2020.Find out more information and complete the Expression of Interest by visiting centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/EOI

Central Coast Council acknowledged yesterday’s release of the State Government’s independent review into the Warnervale Airport (Restrictions) Act 1996 (the Act) and would now review the recommendations in detail and respond to the impacts of this on Council’s operational management of Warnervale Airport. Mayor Lisa Matthews said that Council can only operate Warnervale Airport under the legislative environment that the State Government sets.“I want to emphasise that Council does not make the laws about the operation of this community owned asset," Mayor Matthews said.“Council must and does adhere to the State legislation that governs Warnervale Airport and this includes the current flight cap limits.“Minister Rob Stokes has publicly notified that this part of the Act is proposed to be repealed, and once that is done Council will respond to the legislation in its management of the airport."The airport management includes safety of the runway and Council has measures in place to ensure that airport users are aware of all conditions for runway use.  Council is continuing to look at long term options to reduce the vegetation hazard and is required to comply with other State legislation to do this.

Central Coast Council’s Gosford Art Prize – the region’s premier art awards – returns in 2020 with a new COVID-safe process for entrants.For the first time in the 50-year history of the prestigious Gosford Art Prize finalists will be selected from online entries to provide a COVID-safe entry system.Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said more than 500 artists from across Australia are expected to compete for the $25,000 prize pool.“The Gosford Art Prize and the exhibition of the finalists’ work is always a highlight and we are thrilled that we are able to proceed with the competition in what has been a challenging year to say the least,” Ms Vaughan said.“We have to do things a little differently this year and artists competing in the Prize will need to submit digital images of their works online.“Only selected finalists will be asked to deliver their physical work and we will proceed with the Gosford Art Prize exhibition as in previous years.“The Gosford Art Prize is a Central Coast institution and supports local artists and artists from across the country.”Mayor Lisa Matthews said the cultural and economic benefits of the Gosford Art Prize were significant.“Art brings us together, inspires us and challenges us and in 2020 the Gosford Art Prize is more important than ever,” Mayor Matthews said.“It is wonderful that we’ve been able to think outside the box to continue to offer the prize this year, which provides our region with both a cultural and economic boost.“Approximately 24,000 people will visit the Gosford Art Prize exhibition at the Gosford Regional Gallery and 40 percent of visitors will come from outside our region, which represents a great tourism boost for the Coast.”Artists who submit works for the Gosford Art Prize compete across the following categories:First Prize – $15,000Second Prize – $5,000Aboriginal Art Prize – $2,500Gosford Ceramics Prize – $2,000Highly Commended – $1,000 (two prizes)Viewer’s Choice Award – $500Entries for the Gosford Art Prize open on 1 August and close on 30 August, with finalists announced on 4 September.

The Coast’s new Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex (The Complex) is hosting training sessions for two major sporting teams that have made the Central Coast their ‘home away from home’ during COVID-19 restrictions - the New Zealand Warriors and Melbourne Rebels.Based in Tuggerah, the purpose-built venue has proven itself a fantastic sports and recreation venue since opening in 2019, having already hosted significant mass participation events such as the 2019 Koori Knockout, which attracted over 40,000 attendees to the region.This announcement of the Melbourne Rebels using The Complex at Tuggerah as their official training venue follows the earlier announcement of NZ Warriors basing themselves on the Central Coast with their primary training residence at Central Coast Stadium, and alternating training at The Complex when required.Mayor Lisa Matthews said that having two high-profile sporting teams using The Complex as a training venue, provides an exciting opportunity to showcase this fantastic facility and deliver a boost to our local economy.“We have been thrilled to welcome these two elite sporting teams to the region.

Council focuses on delivering essential services and supporting the communityCentral Coast Council tonight adopted its Operational Plan for the 2020-21 financial year.  Council has budgeted $564.3 million for the delivery of essential services and $225 million for capital works across the local government area.

Emergency remediation works continued over the weekend at Wamberal and the North Entrance in a bid to get as much done before the predicted second east coast low hits our coastline early this week. At Wamberal, all available rock filled bags have now been placed on Wamberal Beach to help secure the base of the escarpment.