Central Coast Mayor Lisa Matthews said commemorating Anzac Day in 2020 will be quite different but how we remember our fallen and pay our respects holds the same value. “We as a community are functioning quite differently at present, whilst how we remember and pay respect to our fallen soldiers has been impacted, our want to acknowledge and commemorate our heroes remains the same,” Mayor Matthews said.“The Australian way is to band together and support one another through a crisis, the significance of Anzac Day and the sacrifices made allows for a time of reflection and puts things into perspective. Formal services across the nation were cancelled on 15 March as a result of gathering restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. “There are many ways Australians, our local community, can commemorate Anzac Day.
Central Coast Council has announced that it is likely the closure of some major facilities will stay in place until 30 June as Council continues to respond to Federal and State Government restrictions about the spread of Coronavirus.Chief Executive Officer, Gary Murphy said Council’s priority is the health of staff and the Central Coast community and continuing to deliver essential services.“Our job right now is ensuring we play our part in managing as best we can the spread of COVID-19, and to protect the health and wellbeing of our staff and community.“I want to assure the community that all our essential services are not interrupted, and this includes water and sewer;
Residents of the Central Coast are being urged to carry out their recreation within government guidelines, particularly on the region’s beaches, as changes are introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Activities on all Central Coast beaches will now be restricted to exercise only including walking, running and surfing.Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said changes to daily life were necessary.“Last week the surf lifesaving season came to an abrupt end as a necessary way to stop COVID-19 from spreading, and today we are announcing that it is necessary for beach activities to be limited to exercise only,” Mr Crouch said.“We all must play a part in slowing the spread of COVID-19 by following these new restrictions and social distancing rules.“Everyone on the Central Coast needs to be aware that NSW Police will be enforcing these restrictions with on-the-spot fines, particularly during the school holidays.”Central Coast Council Mayor Lisa Matthews said it was important the community adhere to all social restrictions in place.“We all want to stay healthy.
Council has launched a series of Love Local online guides available at the Visit Central Coast website.Council’s Director Connected Communities Julie Vaughan said the guides were part of Council’s initiatives to actively support Central Coast businesses through this difficult time.“The Love Local guides highlight the creativity of Central Coast businesses to adapt to this changed retail and service industry environment due to the impacts of Coronavirus.
Central Coast Council has signed-up to the options provided by the new Local Government (COVID-19) Splinter Award 2020. This means Council can access other options, including the Job Retention Allowance provided by the Award, to maintain employment for permanent staff whose usual jobs have been impacted by closure of Council facilities, or temporary interruption to some services due to Council responding to government restrictions around managing the spread of Coronavirus.
Central Coast Council is urging holidaymakers to rethink their travel plans and hold off from visiting the Central Coast during the COVID-19 pandemic.Mayor Lisa Matthews said that everyone is urged to follow government guidelines about non-essential travel and stay home.“In response to current restrictions and government guidelines, anyone considering travelling to our beautiful region is asked to please put your plans on hold for the moment,” Mayor Matthews said.“Now is not the time to visit the Central Coast.
Central Coast Council has undertaken maintenance activities in The Entrance Channel today to reduce the risk to public and infrastructure safety.Council used sand from the shoals within the channel to repair the embankment along Marine Parade as part of its ongoing management of the channel and foreshores at The Entrance.Central Coast Mayor, Lisa Matthews said the work will improve the safety of the beach area for the broader public and protect nearby infrastructure such as Council’s lifeguard tower.“During the February flood event, a large amount of erosion occurred on the southern banks of The Entrance Channel,” said Cr Matthews.“Since then our staff have been working with expert coastal engineers and NSW Government authorities to ensure Council repair for this important work.“Today, Council staff have moved sand from the shoals within the channel with earth moving equipment, to help mitigate risk to the public and redirect tidal flows away from the eroded areas.“These works were the first ‘on ground’ activities of the 2020 dredging program partly funded by the NSW State Government under the ‘Rescuing Our Waterways’ funding package.”Council’s Unit Manager Environmental Management Luke Sulkowski said the work would help preserve the current exchange of water between the estuary and the ocean.“Since the February 2020 flood event, Council staff have observed significant changes in the movement of sand at The Entrance with the sandspit that separates the ocean from the estuary again beginning to grow in size,” said Mr Sulkowski.“The Entrance Channel is a dynamic coastal environment and while the widening and narrowing of the channel is a natural process, these works are in part designed to try and sustain the current flow of water through the northern channel for a longer period of time.”The works undertaken today were completed under guidance and supervision of external expert coastal engineers and form part of a greater program of initiatives that Council is progressing for The Entrance channel in 2020.
Central Coast Council has expressed concern at the worrying trend of social media comments inciting violent behaviour towards Councillors and staff ahead of Monday night’s Council Meeting.Council CEO Gary Murphy said that whilst the community can disagree with recent Council decisions, any behaviour threatening harm would not be tolerated.
Following Central Coast Council’s adoption of a Climate Change Policy last year, the community is encouraged to become actively involved in the program’s next phase with a series of place-based community workshops kicking off.Throughout 2020, Council staff will be conducting 17 community workshops and running online consultation to build a whole-of-community approach to climate action.