A selection of Australia’s leading blues and jazz musicians will delight audiences with performances at nine Central Coast venues across five suburbs this July.The ninth annual Winter Blues and Jazz Festival will feature headliners Russell Morris and Emma Pask and a jam-packed program over two days – Saturday 13 July and Sunday 14 July.Council Unit Manager Community Partnerships, Glenn Cannard said the Central Coast’s most popular free music event catered to all music lovers.“We have a great and varied line-up that will make it almost impossible not to move your feet,” Mr Cannard said.“Blues and jazz fans love the event but non-fans often walk away with a new understanding and appreciation of what modern blues and jazz is all about.“Great music with our beautiful Central Coast as the backdrop is a combination that is not be missed.“The Entrance is the flagship venue for the event but locals and visitors can enjoy the music and soak up the atmosphere at venues in Bateau Bay, Tumbi Umbi, Wamberal and Avoca Beach.The Winter Blues and Jazz Festival 2019 features headliners Russell Morris and Emma Pask, along with Caiti Baker, 19-Twenty, Chase The Sun, Geoff Achinson, Muma Janes Blues Band and much more.Mayor Jane Smith said the Winter Blues and Jazz Festival was about bringing people together to celebrate music and have a great time.“Locals and visitors love this event – it’s all about fun with family and friends and experiencing some incredible free entertainment,” Mayor Smith said.“The Winter Blues and Jazz Festival attracts between 6,000 and 9,000 families, friends and visitors to our region, which provides a welcome boost to the local economy during the quieter winter months.” Event venues are:

Central Coast Council tonight adopted its Operational Plan for the 2019-20 financial year which will deliver $792.0million worth of investment in essential services and capital works.The Plan forms the second year of Council's Delivery Program 2018-21 and will deliver $556.4million in essential services and $235.6million in capital works in the priority areas of roads;

Council’s Operational Plan 2019-20 to deliver $792M for the Central Coast communityCentral Coast Council tonight adopted its Operational Plan for the 2019-20 financial year which will deliver $792.0million worth of investment in essential services and capital works.The Plan forms the second year of Council's Delivery Program 2018-21 and will deliver $556.4million in essential services and $235.6million in capital works in the priority areas of roads;

Children visiting Point Clare will have the opportunity to enjoy an inclusive, peaceful and sensory play experience thanks to a new upgrade to the Wendy Drive play space delivered by Central Coast Council.Councils improvement works at the new Dinosaur themed play space have been designed to encourage the imagination of small visitors and accommodate the needs of children on the Autism spectrum, with complete perimeter fencing combined with a low canopy of trees providing a sense of a secure space within a defined boundary.Mayor Jane Smith said the revitalisation of the Wendy Drive play space has created an inclusive recreational space that brings the community together and promotes healthy lifestyles.“This collaborative project demonstrates our commitment to providing inclusive spaces and opportunities for all people to feel welcome and participate in community life,” Mayor Smith said.“We encourage members of the community to visit this wonderful space which delivers on our Community’s vison for activated open spaces and facilities in natural settings.”The $145,000 upgrade project was jointly funded by Central Coast Council and NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership program and includes a double slide, basket swing and dinosaur fossils and footprints throughout the rubber softfall sparking the imagination of small visitors to be on the lookout for a T-Rex or Velociraptor.Visitors to the play space will also find some beautifully hand crafted timber seats to rest on as they pass through the park, with a natural branch climber linked back to the resident who owned and donated the land to Council.A new path links the Point Clare community from Camden Close through to Wendy Drive with pedestrian access gates at each end.

Central Coast community members can enjoy improved access to Forresters Beach with the construction of new pedestrian access to the northern end of the beach complete.Central Coast Council recently completed the construction of a new tiered staircase to the beach (opposite Henrys Road), whilst an upgrade to existing emergency vehicular access now provides improved accessibility to the shoreline for emergency and Council vehicles.Mayor Jane Smith said the project delivers on Council’s commitment to increase ease of access and enjoyment of the Coast’s waterways and foreshores for the community.“The new pedestrian staircase allows our community to more easily enjoy one of our most beautiful and popular beaches on the Coast, ,” Mayor Smith said.“The new and upgraded works also allow for shoreline vehicle access in the event of an emergency, with the new staircase being a welcome improvement to what was previously considered unsuitable access for pedestrians.“Our community love and value our waterways and coastline and we want to ensure they are safe and easy to access.”Acting Manager of Waterways and Coastal Protection Luke Sulkowski said the staircase materials and design were selected to increase longevity and provide vantage points for community members to enjoy the outlook over Forresters Beach.“The staircase is constructed from fibreglass-reinforced plastic, which provides increased longevity, reduced maintenance and flexibility in design,” said Sulkowski.“The tiered design and bench seat also allows for some great vantage points for community members to enjoy the view or take photographs across the beach.”Construction works on the staircase and vehicular access commenced in February 2019.

Central Coast Council is working in close partnership with local police and community members to improve graffiti management across the region.Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said graffiti is an act of vandalism that should be reported directly to police and removed as quickly as possible.“Graffiti is a complex issue that requires Council, community members and the police to work together to deliver a multifaceted solution,” Ms Vaughan said.“Council is responsible for the removal of graffiti on our facilities and we encourage community members to notify Council if they observe graffiti on any of our properties.“It is the owner’s responsibility to remove graffiti from private property but Council can help by supplying a free graffiti removal kit.“The kits provide the chemicals and equipment needed to remove graffiti from your own property or, with permission, the properties of friends and neighbours.“Removing graffiti as quickly as possible not only makes the process easier but also reduces the likelihood that offenders will recommit.“The kits are one of many initiatives which help to reduce graffiti across the Coast.”Ms Vaughan said Council is currently preparing a Draft Central Coast Graffiti Management Strategy 2019 – 2022.“Later this year we will be inviting community members to provide feedback on the first Draft Graffiti Management Strategy for our region.”Senior Constable Bethany Hawker, Tuggerah Lakes Police, Crime Prevention Officer said reporting of graffiti as soon as it is sighted significantly increased the likelihood of catching offenders.“Graffiti is a crime and we encourage community members to report via the Police Assistance Line on 131 444, if their property has been vandalised through graffiti or if they observe graffiti in their area,” said Senior Constable Hawker.“Every piece of intel helps us to catch the vandals and reduce graffiti across the Coast.”Mayor Jane Smith said the community want to see effective management of graffiti on the Central Coast“Graffiti affects neighbourhood appearance, businesses and community confidence in the safety and security of public places,” Mayor Smith said.“Council is committed to working collaboratively and developing programs that will make a difference in stamping out graffiti.”Free graffiti removal kits are available from all Central Coast libraries and Council’s Gosford and Wyong customer service centres.

From today 1 July 2019, residents and customers in the former Gosford LGA will receive their water bills quarterly instead of bi-annually, in line with the same cycle already in place in the former Wyong LGA.Central Coast Council will also move the stormwater drainage charge, which appears on the rates account for residents and customers in the former Gosford LGA, to the water account – again reflecting what is already in place in the former Wyong LGA.Council Chief Financial Officer, Craig Norman said while these changes are small and ultimately won’t impact the bottom line of the consumer, it is another example of how Council is aligning some of its essential services for the community and moving forward as ‘One Central Coast’.“Not only are we continuing to move forward as ‘One Central Coast’, but unifying our water billing across the region ensures consistency for our community,” Mr Norman said.“Water charges for residents in the former Gosford LGA will now be spread across four bills instead of two, making for a more manageable bill, helping to reduce bill shock and ease financial pressure for a number of residents and customers.“A more frequent bill can also help residents budget better as well as identify leaks more readily to ensure we are all using our water responsibly.”Mayor Jane Smith has welcomed the streamlining of services and lower water prices but is encouraging the community to continue to be water wise.“The aligning of our essential services across the Coast is something that the community have told us they want, and it is something that Council wants as well,” Mayor Smith said.“This change follows The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART)’s recent determination that will see a reduction in water bills across the Coast, depending on usage.“While we are all excited by lower water bills, we must remember that like most of NSW, the Central Coast is affected by drought and we encourage everyone to continue to use water wisely.”“So now is the time to start being water wise and think about what we can do as individuals and as a community to preserve this most precious of our resources.”IPART is responsible for reviewing and determining the maximum water, sewerage and stormwater drainage prices for major water utilities in NSW, and has been doing so for over 25 years.IPART’s recent determination will see the annual water bill for a typical household in the former Gosford LGA fall by approximately $330 in 2019-20, and a typical bill for a household in the former Wyong LGA fall by approximately $150 per year, depending on water usage.If residents or customers have any questions about their next water bill visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/mywaterbill or phone 1300 463 954.

Central Coast Council has commenced a water mains cleaning program for selected areas in the region as part of its continual water quality program.Council Acting Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said Council is utilising a new technology to ensure water is not wasted and disruption to the community is minimal.“Council undertakes regular maintenance of our water mains to ensure the continued high quality delivery of this essential service to the community,” Mr Loader said.“We are using a new technology that treats and then recycles the treated water back into the mains, ensuring minimal water is wasted during the process – something that is essential as we head closer to the introduction of Level 1 water restrictions for the region.“Work will commence every day until 16 July, typically between the hours of 8am and 5pm.

Council to design and build new play space in WadalbaA new play space at 30 and 32 Voyager Rd, Wadalba (opposite Johns Road) is proposed for construction in the 2019/20 financial year.Detailed planning and design will firstly be undertaken, with the new play space to provide a shared active space for the many young families that live in this growing region.Council’s first all-region plan for future growth and development to go on exhibition for community feedbackCentral Coast Council’s plan for growing the Central Coast in a sustainable manner that enhances the region’s character, preserves its natural attributes and improves our quality of life will soon be on exhibitionThe draft Urban Spatial Plan (draft Plan) aims to provide a spatial framework that will guide the Central Coast Region’s future growth and development over the next 20 years, prioritising the uniqueness of local areas and local communities.“This Plan is the next step in helping to achieve the long term social, environmental and economic aspirations of our community,” Mayor Smith said.“It responds to the goals and directions of the NSW State Government’s ‘Central Coast Regional Plan 2036’, and Council’s ‘One Central Coast Community Strategic Plan 2018’, to ensure the Central Coast of tomorrow will grow into a world class region that is Smart, Green and Liveable with a shared sense of belonging and responsibility.“The draft Plan proposes four planning pillars:

Central Coast Council and NSW Police are encouraging schools to attend an innovative educational program aimed at reducing the number of road incidents involving children on their bikes. Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said CARES – Community and Road Education Scheme – aims to improve the safety of children on and around Central Coast roads. “Children are vulnerable roads users and it’s important we take a range of measures to keep them as safe as possible, Ms Vaughan said. “Road trauma is a leading cause of death and injury for children in NSW and our goal is to help reduce this alarming statistic. “CARES is a joint initiative of Council and NSW Police to provide children in Years Five and Six with an experiential program – we combine classroom learning with building practical skills using a simulated roadway.” Mayor Jane Smith said that more than 2,500 Central Coast school children participated in the program last year. “CARES is a great example of a joint initiative from Council and NSW Police to help keep our kids safe,” Mayor Smith said. “After more than a decade of operation the program has become a Central Coast institution and I would encourage local primary schools to book in their classes. “We have 2,200 kilometres of roads on the Coast and we want to ensure our children have the knowledge to ride safely near those roads. “This program not only increases safety but also encourages our kids to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.” CARES offers a practical and fun learning experience and contributes to the Stage Three Personal Development, Health and Physical Education syllabus. The single-day program sees children complete obstacle courses to enhance their basic cycle skills, before using a simulated roadway to be exposed to a variety of real road situations in a controlled safe environment. The CARES program costs just $5 per child and more than 35 schools have already booked children into the program for this school year. For more information about the CARES school program, schools should call 4362 8340 or book online at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/cares.