Locals, visitors, families and lovers of Country music are making their way to the Central Coast for the annual, three-day Central Coast Council Country Music Festival which kicks off tomorrow evening and runs over the weekend.9,000 people attended the popular free Country Music Festival last year with even more Country music fans expected to gather and enjoy the 2018 event.Council Section Manager Place Activation, Ashlee Abbott, said a new movement of Country music performers inspired by today’s pop, rock and alternative genres have been brought together for the community to enjoy.“The Country Music Festival is a popular free event run by Council which brings people together to celebrate contemporary Country music.” Ms Abbott said.“A massive line-up of quality Country Australian performers will take to the main stage on Sunday, 12 August including Adam Eckersley, Homegrown, Peter Denahy, Gretta Ziller, Andrew Swift and Brad Cox – 2018 Toyota Star Maker winner.“New this year, Festival goers will also get a sneak-peak of the talented artists who will be involved in Council’s free four-day pavement art event – ‘Chalk the Walk’ – to be held on 4-7 October 2018.“We believe events like this are important in bringing our community together and in supporting local people and local businesses and I invite the community to join us for this great family weekend of free entertainment.”On Friday, 10 August and Saturday, 11 August local venues will feature live entertainment in their establishments including a mix of known and up-and-coming performers such as Chelsea Berman, Whiskey River, Red Dirt Band, Roadhouse, Keep It Country Trio, Peter Stefanson, Neilly Rich and Redneck Gentlemen.Also on Saturday, talented buskers will bring the streets to life with Country music as Festival goers check out The Entrance Markets, food stalls, rides and activities.Don't miss a great family weekend of free entertainment!

Central Coast Council will be holding a special memorial service on the eve of Father’s Day at Noraville Cemetery and Memorial Gardens to honour dads who have passed on.Father's Day is a day to recognise and thank our fathers and grandfathers for the innumerable contributions they have made to our lives – the advice, dad jokes, stories, encouragement and love.Mayor Jane Smith, who will be attending the memorial service, said that for those whose fathers have passed away, Father’s Day can be a day of mixed emotions.“All over the Central Coast, families will come together to celebrate Father’s Day, and pay tribute to the men in their lives.

Central Coast Council was alerted to a burst water main at The Round Drive, Avoca Beach at approximately 6.20am on Wednesday 8 August.A Council team was sent to site immediately to repair the main, which was caused by the root system of an approximately 20 metre high gum tree directly above the main.Council Acting Director Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Boris Bolgoff said Council has a solution to minimise the risk of future water main breaks at Avoca Beach.“We have a plan in place for Avoca Beach and we will action this plan as soon as possible in light of recent breaks and associated property damage in the area,” said Mr Bolgoff.“Our plan for maintaining and improving the Central Coast’s water and sewer system includes a region-wide water mains renewal program that began in July this year and has been prioritised based areas that have experienced higher numbers of water main breaks in recent times.”Council has already completed replacement of 575 metres of pipeline along The Round Drive and had identified plans to replace a further 1600 metres of pipework which is currently planned to commence in October this year.The new pipework will be constructed in the roadway, which will preserve trees and minimise water supply disruptions to customers during construction.

Central Coast Council was alerted to a burst water main at The Round Drive, Avoca Beach at approximately 6.20am on Wednesday 8 August.As this was a large main, a sudden release of water impacted three properties on The Round Drive.There has been some water damage across the three properties including to the ground floor of property one, the garage of property two and the garden of property three.

This August, Central Coast Council is celebrating their fifth year of hosting birthday parties at Niagara Park Stadium, and are marking the occasion with a $100,000 upgrade.Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said that these upgrades are the perfect way to celebrate this half-decade milestone at Niagara Park Stadium, as they will enhance the party experience for everyone.“In addition to installing air-conditioning and a modern kitchen in the party rooms, other recent upgrades have included installing $54,000 worth of fans into the sports hall, allowing for cooler temperatures for birthday parties during the summer months,” said Ms Vaughan.“However, the birthday present sure to excite the kids the most will arrive at the stadium in September – two new inflatable jumping castles, one complete with a slide.”Mayor Jane Smith said that this August also marks the fifth anniversary of Council managing Niagara Park Stadium.“Since 2013, as managers of Niagara Park Stadium, Council has delivered over $500,000 worth of upgrades to this facility including new sports equipment, a signage upgrade and the installation of wireless scoreboards,” said Mayor Smith.“Council aims to provide as many opportunities in fitness and sports for our community, in a healthy, fun-filled and family-friendly environment.“These ongoing upgrades at Niagara Park Stadium show Council’s commitment to deliver more recreational and leisure opportunities on the Coast.”Parties at Niagara Park Stadium are suitable for groups of no less than 10 and up to 15 children (required for team sports), and are available for children aged six-years and over.

Central Coast Council is conducting daily beach inspections at Terrigal and Wamberal to identify and safely remove building waste – some of these waste items have been identified as asbestos containing materials.Following recent storm events and increased swells, there have been increased sightings at the intertidal line of the waste material washed in from offshore.Though materials identified so far have been labelled by experts as low-risk, trained Council staff will continue to undertake daily physical inspections on an ongoing basis.Council is working constructively with the Department of Industry & Lands, given Council and that Department manage different parts of the beaches.While the source of the material is being investigated, additional precautionary measures, including external air-quality assessments conducted by an occupational hygienist, will shortly be undertaken.

Central Coast Council Library Service are inviting the community to jump on board one of the most popular hobbies in the world and discover their family history this August.To celebrate there will be a number of events to help the community become super sleuths when it comes to discovering their family history.Council Acting Unit Manager Libraries, Beth Burgess, encourages anyone looking to get started or delving further into their family history research to book into one of the many sessions on offer.“Researching family history can provide a greater understanding of where you come from and helps create a stronger sense of self and identity,” Mrs Burgess said.“Family history is like detective work – it requires hard work, patience and often has surprising discoveries along the way.“Our events provide a great opportunity to help navigate your way through the many records and collections, which can otherwise be an overwhelming and time-consuming process.“The first event on how to use asylum, hospital and care records in your research booked out so don’t delay – make sure you secure your seat online today.”Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/libraryevents for all events and bookings.Council Section Manager Library Futures and Planning, Benjamin Hartley, said the libraries’ passionate staff thrived on providing community members with the tools to help uncover their hidden family gems.“Gosford and Tuggerah Libraries are our history hubs with an array of print and digital resources, which even includes Convict Tickets of Leave,” Mr Hartley said.“NSW State Archives Kit, index books, microfilms, electoral rolls, immigration documents, magazines and free online access to ancestry are also available at these two locations.“All our branches also provide in branch access to Find My Past – as these platforms are very popular I would encourage community members to book ahead.“To help meet the needs of our community, we boast an amazing collection of online family history guides, databases and photographs from our Central Coast Memories collection that can be accessed anywhere, anytime via our website.“This includes free access to numerous family and general history online magazines, including the very popular ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ publication through RBdigital.”To access RBdigital simply go to centralcoast.rbdigitalglobal.com on your PC or tablet to register with your library membership details, then download the app through Google Play or the App Store.Those who have any history queries can email history@centralcoast.nsw.gov.auDuring August Central Coast Library Service will be hosting the following events:Family History for Beginners – Wednesday 8 August, 10.30am-12pm at Tuggerah Library or Tuesday 14 August, 10.30am-12pm at Kincumber LibraryFamily History Online – Tuesday 21 August, 10.30am-12pm at Kincumber LibraryUsing Trove (digitised newspapers) for Family History Research – Wednesday 22 August, 10.30am-12pm at Tuggerah Library or Thursday 23 August, 1.30-3pm at Toukley LibraryENDSImages from Central Coast Memories available on request.

Last financial year, Central Coast Council invested over $1.7million into upgrading its six leisure centres across the region, and is set to deliver another $2.08million worth of upgrades in the coming year.Connected Communities Director, Julie Vaughan said that Council’s aim is to ensure the sport, leisure, recreation and aquatic facilities are high-quality, open spaces that are well maintained and activated.“Last financial year saw us completing a myriad of projects, ranging from installing air-conditioning, replacing fencing and purchasing inflatable devices, through to upgrading CCTV systems,” said Ms Vaughan.“We also upgraded the gym equipment at Peninsula Leisure Centre, retiled Toukley Aquatic Centre and Wyong Olympic Pool and upgraded the toilet facilities at Gosford Olympic Pool.“Upcoming project highlights for the next year include a $1.29million upgrade to the Lake Haven Recreation Centre building as well as new gym equipment for its fitness centre, installation of solar pool heating at the Peninsula Leisure Centre and Toukley Aquatic Centre, and an upgrade to the outdoor seating and grandstand area at Wyong Olympic Pool.”Mayor Jane Smith said that Council is committed to continually investing in upgrades to the leisure centres.“With the goal to continually improve the physical and social wellbeing of the Central Coast community, Council is committed to providing high quality and outstanding leisure facilities,” Mayor Smith said.“Investing $3.78million across our six leisure centres will further provide residents and visitors of the Coast with terrific facilities and classes.”

After the popularity of last year’s inaugural event, SportsFest is back again in September, and will showcase a variety of Central Coast sports and recreational opportunities.This family-friendly event will be held over the weekend of 22-23 September, from 10am-5pm, at Bateau Bay’s EDSACC sporting precinct on the Central Coast Highway.Central Coast Council Acting Director Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Boris Bolgoff said that this is a not-to-be-missed event.“SportsFest’s festivities will include interactive sporting activities, professional demonstrations, live entertainment, market and food stalls and a dedicated KidZone,” said Mr Bolgoff.“Over 40 sporting codes and numerous related organisations have already secured their place as exhibitors so there’s sure to be something for everyone’s taste – from the water to the court, from traditional to the more obscure and everything in between.”Mayor Jane Smith says that Council is proud to be running SportsFest again this year and looks forward to promoting a fun and free community event that promotes healthy living.“SportsFest encourages residents of all ages and ability to get connected and active in our sports community, through active participation, volunteering or spectator support,” Mayor Smith said.“We are pleased to invest in an event that not only will appeal to all ages, but also supports local businesses, groups and organisations that encourage active lifestyles.”SportsFest’s proud partnerships include NSW Office of Sport, Sport NSW, Central Coast Academy of Sport and official media partners, Star 104.5 FM.For more information visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/SportsFest or facebook.com/SportsFestCentralCoast

Work is starting on the installation of 450 ‘smart parking’ sensors that will help ensure Central Coast residents and visitors spend less time stuck in traffic.Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher said the project would see the installation of 250 parking sensors in the Terrigal CBD and 200 sensors in the Gosford CBD, allowing drivers to link to available parking information via apps.“This project is designed to solve the perennial problem of finding a parking spot – it’s a great example of how the Turnbull Government’s $50 million Smart Cities and Suburbs Program is helping to make our cities and regional areas more liveable,” Mr Fletcher said.“The Smart Cities and Suburbs Program supports exactly this type of clever solution to local problems, with the ultimate goal of spreading good ideas to other cities, suburbs and regions.“This particular initiative is big news for the local area as it will help reduce heavy traffic congestion in the heart of Terrigal and Gosford.”Federal Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks said up to 30 per cent of traffic congestion in the business centres of the Central Coast was due to people looking for free parking spaces – a problem the smart parking initiative would soon address.“Central Coast residents park around train stations before commuting to Sydney or Newcastle in their thousands every day, making finding a parking space at Gosford and other centres problematic, but we are now partnering with Council to help resolve these long-standing issues,” Mrs Wicks said.“I have heard from the community about the struggle for car parking in Gosford and Terrigal and that’s why I am delighted to see work starting for locals across the Central Coast as it will help reduce heavy traffic congestion in the heart of our business centres.“As well as reducing congestion, this project will help reduce air pollution, improve road safety and boost ease of access to local businesses for potential customers.”Central Coast Mayor Jane Smith said adequate and available parking was key to activating town centres.“We believe these innovative parking sensors will go a long way to alleviating the frustration of finding a parking spot,” Cr Smith said.“Earlier this year, we talked to the Terrigal community about the benefits of these sensors as part of Let’s talk Terrigal and we will shortly be engaging in a similar way with consumers of parking in Gosford as part of developing the Gosford short term parking strategy.“Similar sensors are already working well at The Entrance and thanks to this funding, visitors to Gosford and Terrigal will benefit too by getting real-time information about the availability of parking via an app which will identify available parking spots.“We welcome the Australian Government’s investment in this initiative, which will help us make a real difference to the lives of local residents in terms of saving time, reducing frustration and minimising town-centre congestion.”The project is one of 49 under Round 1 of the Australian Government’s Smart Cities and Suburbs Program - forty per cent of successful Round 1 projects are located in regional areas like the Central Coast.More information is available at https://cities.infrastructure.gov.au/smart-cities-program.The Turnbull Government has committed $104,735 to the project while the Central Coast Council and Reino International Pty Ltd will together contribute $150,812.

Several major road upgrades on the NSW Central Coast are now complete, including works on Ryans Road in Umina Beach, Davis Street in Booker Bay and the intersection of Langford Drive and Woy Woy Road in Kariong.Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher said completion of these key local road projects showed the Turnbull Government’s commitment to supporting jobs and investment opportunities on the Central Coast.“These upgrades will ensure Central Coast residents and visitors can now get around more safely and efficiently – whether it’s a parent trying to get their kids to school on time, or a tradie able to get to four jobs in a day rather than three,” Mr Fletcher said.“The Turnbull Government is committed to improving infrastructure on the Central Coast, from our $196 million investment in upgrades to the M1, to our co-funding of a business case into whether we can get faster rail from Newcastle to Sydney.”Federal Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks said the intersection upgrade in Kariong was a fantastic outcome for the 3,000 residents who signed our petition to address this intersection, which is close to a community centre, a childcare centre, a school, homes and businesses.“Works included the construction of a roundabout and the realignment of nearby Dandaloo Street to create a more cohesive access point for all incoming traffic.

Central Coast Council has excavated and removed timber material that has been largely buried underneath the sand on Terrigal Beach for almost 80 years.

Central Coast Council has partnered with 38 tourism related businesses to co-fund a new visitor campaign for the Central Coast – Have a Little Adventure.Council Connected Communities Director, Julie Vaughan said that Have a Little Adventure will be the largest, most extensively researched campaign that has been launched for the Central Coast in over twenty years.“The intent of the campaign Have a Little Adventure is to show how visiting the Central Coast is something you can do many times a year – it’s so easy to have so many great experiences here on the Coast, and to have your own kind of little adventure,” said Ms Vaughan.“This campaign will feature on TV, online videos, online banner ads and social media targeted to potential visitors living beyond the Central Coast. According to our research, Have a Little Adventure will particularly appeal to Sydney travel intenders, who are a lucrative and year round visitor market that could deliver many more visitors for the Coast.

Central Coast Council is calling on the State Government to pause works and consult with residents over amended plans for the Rail Maintenance Facility at Kangy Angy which has resulted in significant removal of trees.

The two new additional change rooms constructed at Central Coast Stadium, built to accommodate multiple team use, were officially opened by Mayor Jane Smith this morning.Mayor Smith said that with the ever-growing popularity in women’s sport across Australia, these additional change rooms will help attract women’s sporting events to the stadium.“Being able to provide equal access to our change rooms for women and girls, both on and off the field, is a great step forward for the Central Coast,” said Mayor Smith.“We would like to see more world-class sporting events at the stadium, and having the capacity to facilitate more sporting codes, particularly for women, is a key driver for that.”Central Coast Stadium Events Manager, Kath Casey, said that the construction of these change rooms forms part of Central Coast Council’s long term strategy to provide ongoing improvements to the stadium.“With continual improvement being key to the longevity of the stadium, the delivery of these change rooms is one more way Council has been able to improve this iconic Central Coast asset,” Ms Casey said.“In addition to providing hirers with more facilities for use, these additional change rooms have now enhanced both the appeal and functionality of the stadium to a wider section of the community, which will, in turn, increase our reputation as a leading sporting, entertainment and recreational venue.”

Children at Central Coast Council’s Education and Care Centre’s located at Umina and Niagara Park are now able to enjoy upgraded playground facilities thanks to $122,500 of Stronger Communities Funding and $15,000 provided through the Community Building Partnership (CBP) Program.Ageing equipment and surfaces were replaced at both facilities creating a more colourful and engaging outdoor area to inspire curiosity and creative play, helping children thrive.Council Mayor Jane Smith said the new features have transformed the weathered and worn areas in to a more stimulating environment helping to make learning fun.“We are committed to providing the highest quality services possible for our community,” Mayor Smith said.“These changes will have enormous benefits for the children at the Umina and Niagara Park Centres enabling them to learn and explore in a renewed, age appropriate and creative play space.“We are incredibly thankful for these funds which allowed us to improve these facilities to help children and their families participate in safe creative play spaces.“Play is crucial to the healthy growth and development of children, and by providing these more appealing and motivating spaces, children will be driven to safely test their developing skills and challenge their physical, cognitive, language and social skill sets.”Upgrades to the facilities included resurfacing softfall areas, decking repairs to improve safety and beautify the areas, replacement of shade structures, new turf and native plants.Stronger Communities Fund was provided by the NSW Government to Council following the successful amalgamation in 2016 in order to deliver projects that improve infrastructure and services, as voted on and prioritised by the community.Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Scot MacDonald MLC said the play space funding was part of $10 million provided to Central Coast Council under the Stronger Communities Funding to help deliver key projects and infrastructure for the rapidly growing region.“The exciting thing about these grants for me is seeing wonderful community projects like this one, come to fruition,’’ Mr MacDonald said.“Upgraded play spaces like these are the perfect example of that money put to good use.“These funds are enabling us to invest in projects that the communities themselves have identified and have ownership of.’’The CBP Program funding went towards works at Niagara Park Children's Centre Playground to address safety and WHS requirements enabling a safe play space for children.“Before school education and care is really important and I’m delighted to be able to support Council’s fantastic not-for-profit child care centres,” David Mehan MP Member for The Entrance said.Council own and operate eight not-for-profit child care centres across the Coast, with all fees directed straight back into the centre’s resources.Limited spaces are now available at Niagara Park and Umina Centres.

The works of nine Central Coast Students from seven local schools have been selected for inclusion in this year’s prestigious ARTEXPRESS exhibition, which is being held for the first time at Gosford Regional Gallery.ARTEXPRESS is an annual series of exhibitions run in partnership with the NSW Department of Education and the NSW Education Standards Authority.

Central Coast Council is again encouraging the community to locate any unwanted or out of date chemicals lurking around the home so they can be correctly disposed of at the next Chemical CleanOut.Residents will be able to drop off household chemicals over two consecutive weekends between 9am and 3.30pm at Gosford Showground on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 August and Council’s Charmhaven Depot on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 August.Council Mayor Jane Smith said the community’s consistent response to chemical collections showed residents are truly committed to disposing of waste responsibly.“These events allow residents to not only get hazardous materials out of harm’s way, but also do their bit for the environment,” Mayor Smith said.“Putting chemicals in your garbage bin or even pouring small amounts over the ground or down drains can cause serious environmental effects by contaminating our waterways and landfill sites.“Keeping old chemicals in the garage, shed or under the sink can also increase the risk of poisoning at home.“I would urge everyone to use this opportunity to have a good search around their property to ensure safe disposal of any potentially hazardous chemicals.“Make sure you also bring any unknown or unidentified chemicals as they will be accepted for identification and correct disposal.”Materials such as pool chemicals, car batteries, acids and alkalis, solvents, pesticides, chemical cleaners, motor oils, herbicides, paints, hobby chemicals, gas bottles, fire extinguishers and household cleaners can all be dropped off.Council Acting Director Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Boris Bolgoff, said this was one of the many recycling initiatives offered to residents for items not suitable for disposal through Council’s kerbside collection service.“For recycling options for other materials residents are encourage to check our website or call our customer service team,” Mr Bolgoff said.Only household quantities are accepted.

Local high school students will get a taste of what it’s like to be a Councillor when Central Coast Council hosts its annual Future Council program.Students in Years 9 and 10 will participate in mock Council meetings in Wyong on Friday 3 August and Gosford on Friday 10 August.

Central Coast Council and Federal Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, will celebrate the official opening of Banjo’s Skate Park, along with the Pilon family - by hosting a free, fun-filled community event at Terrigal Lagoon Reserve on Sunday 5 August from 11am to 3pm.The new skate park pays tribute to the late Banjo Pilon, who – at only 10-years of age – tragically lost his life while skateboarding in his local street.