Central Coast Council in consultation with Umina Community Group and the Geographic Names Board have officially approved a name change of Woy Woy’s Trafalgar Avenue Park to The Runway. Community advocacy for the name change was led by Umina Community Group and the new name has been adopted to recognise the historic significance of this location for the local community.

Central Coast Councils’ installation of a new stormwater gross pollutant trap (GPT) at Trafalgar Ave, Umina Beach has been delayed after the discovery of asbestos containing material at the site.Council has commenced asbestos remediation works and engaged licensed asbestos removal contractors to ensure public safety is maintained whilst contaminated soil is removed to a licenced facility, with work expected to be completed by Friday, 9 August.Council Unit Manager of Natural and Environmental Assets, Luke Sulkowski, said the works would allow safe removal of the asbestos and for the gross pollutant trap to be installed safely.“Work on the GPT installation was stopped immediately after bonded pieces of asbestos were discovered during excavation,” said Mr Sulkowski.“Expert advice was sought to test the soil to determine the amount of contamination and if any small fibres were present.“Our licenced contractors are now removing the contaminated soil, as per legislative requirements, and have been conducting on-going air monitoring throughout the removal process.“The first two days of air quality monitoring reported that concentrations were consistent with normal background levels and normal construction processes will resume once the asbestos contaminated material is removed from site.”The installation of the new GPT will reduce litter entering the beach and waterway downstream and will then be cleaned by a large suction truck on a recurrent schedule.Sulkowski reminded community members that they too can play a role in reducing the impact of litter on local beaches and waterways.“It’s up to all of us to ensure less litter makes it to the stormwater in the first place, putting rubbish in the bin or taking it with you is the best way to keep our waterways clear.“Remember If it’s on the ground it’s in our waterways.”

Central Coast Council is celebrating Local Government Week with a special look at how it is part of the everyday lives of Coasties.This week, Council has been highlighting key community programs including responsible pet ownership and its new, first coast-wide Youth Strategy, as well as its water and childcare services, arts and cultural programs and some of the many open space and recreational activities available in the region.Council Chief Executive Officer, Gary Murphy said Council is very much a part of people’s everyday life and more than what people may think.“Central Coast Council delivers on services and programs that expand beyond roads, rates and rubbish, the breadth and diversity of what we do is surprising to many,” Mr Murphy said.“A lot of people don’t know that Council is a leader in ‘green’ policy change, with our innovative ‘Greener Places’ and ‘Climate Change’ policies, and our ‘Reconophalt’ road construction product made from recycled soft plastic, glass and toner cartridges, which will save thousands of tonnes of waste from ending up in landfill.“A lot of people also don’t know that Council offers child immunisations, study support programs like ‘Studiosity’, has a mobile library service that goes out into the community and that we nurture local talent through events, competitions and performing arts.“Council is staffed and run by local people, for local people and it is because of this that the services and projects we deliver, the sustainability of our environment and the growth of our region are just as important to us as they are to our community.”Mayor Jane Smith said local government and its many functions are a big part of people’s lives and Council is creating a smart, green and liveable region with a shared sense of belonging and responsibility.“Council is part of the everyday lives of our community, from our events, childcare centres, libraries, sports fields, beaches, environment, parks and cemeteries, to our galleries, building and development assessment and pet registrations,” Mayor Smith said.“We promote a healthy local economy and create local jobs, we work to make our community accessible for everyone to enjoy and we strive to make the Central Coast a great place to live and visit.“We will continue to look for opportunities to enhance the day-to-day lives of the Central Coast community through effective decision-making, planning and service delivery across all aspects of what we do.”“We hold Councillor Listening Posts throughout the year where you can come along and talk directly to Councillors about issues that affect you.

NSW Touch Football and Central Coast Council are pleased to announce a new venue for the 2019 Country Championships, with Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreational Complex awarded hosting rights for the annual event.Central Coast Council Mayor Jane Smith said the announcement was a great follow-up to the recent announcement of the venue’s hosting of the 2020 and 2022 NSW Junior Regional Championship.“Touch football is a growing sport in our region and to be able to showcase the best the sport has to offer in NSW is a real coup for the Coast,” Mayor Smith said.“It is great to see the Sporting Complex is living up to the promise of delivering major sporting events to our region.“This event will deliver both a significant boost to our local economy along with an opportunity for our community to see some of the state’s best touch footballing talent in action.“We thank NSW Touch Football for their support of the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreational Complex and look forward to these events taking place.”NSWTA General Manager Dean Russell said it was a significant undertaking to bring the event to the region.“This particular area, and indeed those surrounding, have always been big supporters of the NSW Touch Association Country Championships,” said Russell.“For many years now, local participants have travelled across the state to participate in this competition and now they have an opportunity to compete in their own back yard.“To be able to bring a prestigious and important event like the Country Championships to the Central Coast is rewarding for those participants who have long supported this event”The 2019 Country Championships will be held on October 19-20 and sees the best regional touch footballing talent competing to be crowned NSW Country’s best and serves as an important pathway for athletes looking to secure positions in the 2020 NSW Touch Football State of Origin team or attain higher representative honours.The Central Coast Region has a fantastic touch football participation rate and it is hoped that many will try their hand at this event in preparation the 2019 State Cup, with the venue being both easily accessible for participants across the state and being perfectly set up to host the Country Championships.Russell estimates that with 1300 participants and officials, joined by significant family and friends travelling in support to the destination, the event will deliver an expected economic impact of $1.3 million into the local community.“The ability for the event itself to deliver an economic impact into communities is really pleasing and is one of the attractions to why Council’s such as Central Coast Council are interested in securing our events.” Russell said.A media opportunity will be held closer to the event where NSWTA General Manager Dean Russell and Central Coast Council leadership will formally launch the 2019 Country Championships.

The Peninsula sporting community is seeing their vision of new sporting facilities come to life with the completion of a $1.9million redevelopment for the area, including a new sportsground amenities building at Woy Woy’s Austin Butler Oval, a refurbishment of the Woy Woy Tennis Clubhouse and an upgrade to the car park that services both facilities.

To celebrate Community Garden Week, several Central Coast Community Gardens are opening their gates and inviting everyone to come along to the events running 7 to 15 September 2019.The open day events provide a great opportunity for the whole family to come along to see what’s over the back fence and explore their local Community Garden.  The program also includes workshops and demonstrations, plant sales, morning teas so you can ‘have-a-cuppa’ with your local Community Garden Group members and find out how to get involved.Mayor Jane Smith says Council proudly support community gardens and provide 14 parcels of land on the Coast to enable these valued spaces that promote active and connected lifestyles for our community.“Community gardens provide inclusive and welcoming places for residents of all ages and abilities – they are places to socialise and meet new people, be active in the fresh air whilst learning new skills and growing your own organic produce.

Central Coast Council is offering community groups and not-for profit organisations up to $30,000 in funding for community projects in the suburbs of Summerland Point, Gwandalan, Chain Valley Bay and Mannering Park.Council Unit Manager Community Partnerships, Glenn Cannard said the funding is available through a joint initiative between Council and Delta Coal Pty Ltd.“Since 2013, the Chain Valley Colliery Community Funding Program has provided funding to a range of local residents and organisations to improve and enhance the local community,” Mr Cannard said.  “Past projects to receive funding include Gwandalan Lions Carols by the Lake, a Boat Ramp Landing Deck at Chain Valley Bay, bench seats on pathways and foreshore at Chain Valley Bay, roof covers over picnic tables and seats at Chain Valley Bay, a box trailer for Manno Men’s Shed and community fire education.

Central Coast Council is inviting residents who have lost their fathers, grandfathers and father figures, to a special memorial service on Father’s Day eve, at Noraville Cemetery and Memorial Gardens, to remember dads that have passed on.

To help celebrate National History Month this August, Central Coast Council’s Library Service are inviting the community to become super sleuths of family history.Council Unit Manager Libraries, Learning and Education, Beth Burgess said there were events for all levels and interests to help uncover hidden family gems.“Family history is like detective work – it requires hard work, patience and often has surprising discoveries along the way,” Mrs Burgess said.“Our events will help you become a regular Sherlock Holmes when it comes to Family history research helping you navigate the many records and collections available.“These popular events book out so don’t delay – make sure you secure your seat online today.”Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/libraryevents for all events and bookings.“Family history is one of the most popular hobbies around the world, with more than 250,000 Australians members of family history related organisations,” Mrs Burgess added.“To support this lifelong learning opportunity, we provide a wide variety of different resources at Gosford and Tuggerah Libraries, our local history hubs.“These include NSW State Archives Kits, index books, microfilms, electoral rolls, immigration documents, magazines and much more.“These locations also offer free online access to the family history database Ancestry.com and all our branches provide access to ‘Find My Past’ – these platforms are very popular I would encourage community members to book ahead.”Mayor Jane Smith said the strong interest in family history was also tied to the history of the Coast itself with Council’s libraries offering all the resources needed to understand more about how the region and community have developed over time. “Council’s online Library resources, Central Coast Memories and Gostalgia, contain an incredible array of photos, postcards, documents and memorabilia, showcasing our incredible region,” Mayor Smith said.“These fabulous resources help provide insight of how families helped develop this fantastic place we call home.“This is one of the ways our libraries are creating a stronger sense of community identity and what it means to live on the Coast.“If you haven’t already, I encourage you to rediscover your local library and the great range of services they have on offer.” Any history queries can be directed to Council’s passionate library staff via history@centralcoast.nsw.gov.auENDSThroughout August Council’s Library Service will be hosting the following events:Family History Online at Tuggerah Library, Tuesday 13 August, 10.30am-12pm or at Bateau Bay Library, Thursday 22 August, 1.30-3pmTrove for Family History at Toukley Library, Friday 16 August, 10.30am-12pm or Tuggerah Library, Tuesday 20 August, 10.30am-12pmLand Records in Family History Research at Tuggerah Library, Wednesday 21 August, 10.30am-12.30pmDiscover Rookwood Cemetery at Tuggerah Library, Friday 23 August, 10.30am-12pm or Umina Library, Friday 30 August, 2-3.30pmOrganising and Preserving your Family History at Tuggerah Library, Tuesday 27 August, 10.30am-12pmTrove for Family History Research at Gosford Library, Wednesday 28 August, 10.30am-12pmFinding your Military Ancestors at Bateau Bay Library, Thursday 29 August, 1.30-3pm

Tuggerawong, Rocky Point and Tacoma are set to benefit from a further extension of the shared pathway around Tuggerah Lake foreshore following the official opening of Stage 1 of the project.Council Director Roads, Transport, Drainage and Waste, Boris Bolgoff said the project is delivering a ‘missing link’ and had received overwhelmingly positive community feedback.“More than 60 community members came out on Saturday 3 August to celebrate the official opening of the first stage of the project in Tuggerawong that connects Friday Street through to Tuesday Street around the beautiful Tuggerah Lake foreshore,” Mr Bolgoff said.“We are now going back to the community to consult on plans for the remaining four stages of the project, which will extend the shared pathway for a further three kilometres to connect Tuesday Street, Tuggerawong through to Don Small Oval, Tacoma.“This project forms part of a missing link, it loops around a scenic waterway, it serves as an active transport route and improves access to transport links.“It also provides an additional connection to schools, parks and services, and is accessible for parents and carers with prams and community members using wheelchairs or other mobility aids.”Community members are being invited to provide feedback on Stages 2 to 5 of the project.Mayor Jane Smith said the new section of shared pathway at Tuggerawong was already being well used by locals and visitors and the remaining stages of the project would further enhance the amenity.“It was wonderful to see so many happy community members at the opening for the first stage of this important shared pathway project,” Mayor Smith said.“The three-metre wide design, which will continue with the remaining stages, means that all community members and visitors can use this great resource as a transport route, to get active or simply to take in the beauty of Tuggerah Lake.“Extending the ‘Tuggerah Lake loop’ enhances the liveability and sustainability of our region and will provide a boost to the local economy through attracting visitors.”This financial year Council will invest $705,000 to complete Stage 2 of the project, which will connect Tuesday Street to February Street in Tuggerawong.Construction of Stage 2 is planned to commence in March 2020 and will take approximately four months to complete, weather permitting.Future stages of the project are subject to adoption of yearly budgets and Council will also seek grant funding opportunities.