Enabling growth on the Central Coast

It’s an honour to have been elected Mayor at such an exciting time in the Central Coast’s history. With the transformation we’re experiencing right now, I believe we have unlimited potential. 

As Mayor, I’ve made it my mission to do all I can to enable our region’s growth and prosperity. 

My priority from day one has been to ensure this Council remains financially stable and I’m proud that we’ve achieved our first budget surplus following administration. 

We’ve worked hard to build solid plans that will guide our progress and enable growth, including our 10-year Community Strategic Plan, Long Term Financial Plan, 10-year Road Renewal Program, Employment Lands Strategy, and more. 

We’re investing in our community by delivering major projects including the new Gosford Regional Library, the Tuggerawong shared pathway, and the Charmhaven Sewage Treatment Plant upgrade. The $144M Charmhaven plant upgrade is critical to ensuring we continue to provide high quality water and sewer services for residents and businesses as we grow.

And we’ve developed a list of key enabling projects that, if funded, will support growth across our entire region. These reflect community priorities around housing growth, jobs, transport, recreation and the environment. It takes a team to deliver these major projects so we’re seeking partnerships with government, industry bodies and private enterprise.

I believe partnerships are critical for enabling growth and preparing the Central Coast for a prosperous future. 

I brought together development industry professionals and Council to take a hard look at the issues holding our region back and how we can work in partnership to enable growth. We got clear feedback that Council’s development assessment process had to be improved, and from this, we’ve prioritised our development assessment improvement project. 

The results to date have been outstanding. Over the past 18 months, the number of development applications in the system has halved. Assessment of complex applications has improved significantly, and timeframes are trending downward. 

So far, in the 2025-26 financial year, Council has determined applications with a combined capital value exceeding $1.8 billion. This demonstrates the scale of development in our region and why our improvement project is so important.

I’m proud of our strategic partnership with Lake Macquarie City Council that will boost regional growth and strengthen advocacy. We’re committed to supporting their motion to the National General Assembly in June to fast-track the Newcastle to Sydney high-speed rail. This will be a gamer changer for our combined regions, reducing travel times, boosting jobs, growing housing and economic activity and improving access to education and health services. 

Collaborating with the University of Newcastle at Gosford Regional Library is enhancing opportunities for education, innovation and creativity. And locating the library next to TAFE services and near the University of Newcastle’s Gosford Central Campus, is at the heart of our vision for enabling a vibrant education and learning cluster. 

As our population continues to grow, Gosford is emerging as a key destination to live, work and socialise. We held a series of ‘Let’s Talk Gosford’ consultations and people told us they were keen for Council to ‘get on with the job’ of improving our CBD.

It’s no secret that the newly built residential, accommodation, retail and entertainment precinct, The Archibald in Donnsion Street, has set a new standard for Gosford. I’m supportive of similar projects, like Amalfi on Mann Street and Gosford Alive on the site of the former Market Town, that will revitalise our CBD with new lifestyle experiences, jobs and entertainment. 

Right now, we’re engaging with our community on important strategies that will guide the future of Gosford including investigating the establishment of a Special Entertainment Precinct to support a safer, more vibrant night-time economy.

Tourism is so important for the prosperity of our region. Our industry consistently wins awards for excellence and we’re proud to be recognised globally as a certified ECO destination. 

Three important plans are being developed in consultation with our community that outline our long‑term vision to position the Central Coast as a great place to live, work and visit. 

These are the Draft Destination Management Plan 2026-2029, Draft Events Strategy 2026-2030 and Draft Economic Development Strategy 2026-2030 and they describe how we will support a strong local economy, attract investment and grow tourism.

Hosting the Matildas at polytech stadium was an enormous win for locals and for tourism. This sold-out match filled not only the stadium, it packed restaurants, hotels and accommodation, and put the Central Coast firmly on the map. It’s my goal to encourage more major events like this, which is why we’re bidding to host the South African Springboks Rugby team for their 2027 World Cup preparation camp and friendlies match. 

A real joy for me during my time as Mayor has been connecting with people who embody the spirit of the Central Coast. This is why I launched my Community Champions initiative to acknowledge locals who, without seeking recognition or thanks, are making a real difference through their selfless actions. 

So far, we’ve acknowledged more than 20 champions, who have contributed to supporting homeless people, helping women and children in need, volunteering for sporting groups and much more. 

Council will elect a new Mayor in October 2026 and until then, I’m looking forward to continuing to work hard to ensure we have what we need to grow and thrive. We’re well on track to creating a prosperous Central Coast that offers an exceptional quality of life. 

Mayor Lawrie McKinna