Council prepares for $70M Federal Government funding injection for Coast’s roadsCouncil has approved 29 road projects across the Central Coast that will be delivered with $70million in Federal Government funding committed in the lead up to the 2019 Federal Election.Projects selected will be delivered as part of the ‘Central Coast Roads Package’ and will focus on busting congestion and increasing safety.The significant scale of the funding package means that projects will be delivered over consecutive years starting in 2019-20 and continuing through to 2024-25.Mayor Lisa Matthews said she was pleased to see the Federal Government deliver on its promise to fund local road upgrades on the Coast.“This $70million funding injection from the Federal Government will allow Council to deliver projects the community have identified as priorities on the Coast,” Mayor Matthews said.“Roads are a key priority for Council too with more than $240million in projects delivered over the past three years.“Maintaining and developing our region’s extensive road network – spanning 2,200 kilometres – requires all levels of government to work together.“The ‘Central Coast Roads Package’ is an example of a funding commitment that will make a real difference for our region.”Community to have its say on amalgamation experienceCentral Coast Council has recommended that additional questions be included in the annual Customer Experience survey for residents to provide their views on the amalgamation of the former Wyong and Gosford Councils, their experience and their satisfaction of the LGA. Council also advised that in early 2020, it will report on the estimated costs involved in amalgamating the two former Councils.The report will also outline the progress on various aspects of the amalgamation and the associated expenditures.Council supports community with over $695,900 in grantsCouncil has allocated $695,984 in funding to successful applications for community grants.Council has allocated $631,022 of funding across four programs for Round 1 of the Community Grants Program 2019-20.
With a hot dry summer ahead, Central Coast Council is urging residents and businesses to continue the water saving efforts that have helped delay the introduction of water restrictions.Since Council launched the “Live to 150L” campaign in September, thousands of people have visited the online water use calculator and other tools for tips on saving water.Live to 150L encourages everyone to use no more than 150 litres of water per person per day.
Central Coast Council is extremely disappointed in the alleged behaviour of a group of individuals that disturbed the Little Tern nesting site at Karagi Reserve, The Entrance North on Sunday 1 December 2019.
Today Mayor Lisa Matthews marked an exciting moment for current and future users of Garnet Adcock Memorial Park at West Gosford as the first sod was turned to signal commencement of construction on the first stage of the $26.2 million redevelopment of the site.Central Coast Council Director of Environment and Planning, Scott Cox said “Over the next 12 months the community will see the construction of a state-of-the art multi-purpose sportsground amenities building that will accommodate five of the seven sporting codes that utilise this regional facility.
Residents across the region can learn more about their waterways and make a contribution to scientific knowledge with a series of innovative workshops to be delivered by Central Coast Council throughout summer.Citizen Science programs are an opportunity for the broader community to help scientists understand the local environment by providing valuable data and insights.
Central Coast Council is continuing to improve online services with the launch of the new Library Service app that provides easier access to resources, collections, events and news.Rather than having to navigate to multiple web pages, the app collates the Library’s digital information and platforms in one mobile friendly location delivering services in the format the community have come to expect. Council’s Section Manager Library Strategy and Connection, Ben Hartley, is excited to launch the app and improve resident’s digital connection to their local library.“This new app keeps pace with technological advances, delivering the online presence our customers have asked for,” Mr Hartley said.“With the tap of the screen customers will be able to reserve items, scan book barcodes to search, view events as well as easy access to eBooks, eMags, music streaming and much, much more.“In what is sure to be a bonus for families, you can link to multiple accounts allowing carers to store their own and children’s barcodes on one device which can be scanned in-branch.”Mayor Lisa Matthews said the app creates an ease of engaging with the libraries, providing access to those who live, work or study on the Coast anywhere, anytime.“This app delivers services in the format residents want, providing our community more choice to connect, learn and relax in a way that works for them, anywhere, anytime,” Mayor Matthews said.“Whether you’re after new reading material or music for your commute, online study help, children’s educational resources or want to learn a language there’s something for every age and interest.“With holidays right around the corner there’s really no better time to uncover what your modern library has to offer.”The new app is available now.
Central Coast Council will be absorbing the costs of green waste disposal for properties west of the freeway at its Buttonderry and Woy Woy Waste Management Facilities until 31 January 2020.The decision has been made to allow for properties that do not pay for or have access to domestic green waste collection services, to dispose of up to four tonnes of green waste for free.Mayor Lisa Matthews said she was pleased that Council was providing tangible support for residents impacted by this unprecedented fire threat on the Central Coast.“Residents have been asked to prepare their properties, by the Rural Fire Service, in the face of these fires and in doing so have generated a lot of green waste which they have found challenging to get rid of,” Mayor Matthews said.“They have enough to deal with at the moment and at least we have taken this concern out of their hands.”To be eligible, residents or their contractors must show evidence from where the green waste was generated.
Level 1 water restrictions will come into effect when storage in Mangrove Creek Dam reaches 50 percent, likely to be in early February. The dam is currently at 52.59 percent, and Water Wise Rules apply. Earlier this year, Central Coast Council considered future water needs and the long-term weather forecast and lifted the restriction trigger from the previous trigger of 40 percent. Last night Council met to again review the water supply and restriction levels and agreed to retain the 50 percent trigger for Level 1 restrictions. Council’s Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said Council’s ongoing investment in water infrastructure and residents’ own water conservation has put the region in a strong position to face a prolonged drought. “Our dam levels are holding steady, with our total water storage falling by less than two percent in the past three months,” Mr Loader said. “Storage-wise, we have more water than at the beginning of the 10-year Millennium Drought in 2002.” “While our population has grown since then, we’ve also seen the introduction of water efficient appliances and building practices.
The newly upgraded amenities building at Heazlett Park, Avoca has opened its doors.The amenities building includes an accessible public toilet, male and female change rooms to service the sporting user groups and an equipment storage area for the Avoca Beach Kayak Club.Council’s Mayor Lisa Matthews said this new public infrastructure was a result of multiple levels of Government and local community groups working together.“This project is a great example of the Australian Government, NSW Government and Council working in consultation with local recreation user groups, including the Avoca Kayak Club who supported the project with in-kind contributions,” said Mayor Matthews.“Council is proud to deliver these new facilities that will benefit both local and visiting users of this popular sportsground and foreshore reserve.“This upgraded facility is a key objective of Council’s Community Strategic Plan which reflects our community’s vision for a liveable coast by ensuring sporting, leisure and open space areas are well maintained and activated.The project has been jointly funded by the Australian Government, NSW Government and Central Coast Council.Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the NSW Government was proud to provide $300,000 for this upgraded facility.“Avoca is the training ground for successful Olympians Lachlan Tame and Riley Fitzsimmons and many Junior Kayak Representatives in the Australian squad,” Mr Crouch said.“The Avoca Kayak Club has previously been operating off the back of a trailer and I’m so proud that this new facility provides a permanent home for the Club.Sport Australia CEO Kate Palmer said the Australian Government and Sport Australia are helping to get Australians more active in their own communities by investing more than $100 million in local sport infrastructure projects, as part of the Move It AUS Community Sport Infrastructure Grant program.“Australians love their sport.