Central Coast Council has recently installed an additional 21 CCTV cameras at community facilities in Umina, Woy Woy, San Remo and Terrigal to enhance community safety within neighbourhoods, public spaces and places.This project has seen 11 CCTV cameras installed at various sites within the Peninsula Recreation Precinct in Umina, including the amenities building (consisting of public toilets and a commercial space that accommodates Jasmine Green’s Park Kiosk), BBQ area, skate park, BMX track, Col Gooley Field sports field and Umina Rugby League sports amenities building.An additional four cameras have been installed at McEvoy Oval in Umina, two cameras at Banjo’s Skate Park in Terrigal and four cameras at San Remo BMX Facility.Council received $47,000 from the Federal Government under the Safer Communities Fund towards this project.Mayor Jane Smith said the project was part of an overall strategy to improve the amenity of public spaces.
Central Coast Council has welcomed today’s announcement by Federal Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks for $35million for commuter car parking at Gosford and Woy Woy Stations.
Central Coast Council’s Draft Operational Plan 2019-20 which will deliver $791 million worth of investment in essential services and capital works will be placed on exhibition for public comment from 1 April, 2019.The Draft Plan, which forms the second year of Council's Delivery Program 2018-21, will deliver $567.8million in essential services and $223.2million in capital works in the priority areas of roads;
Council takes extra time to finalise housing affordability optionsCentral Coast Council last night deferred consideration of the draft Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy to allow more time for councillors to further discuss the strategy prior to finalising an approach to affordable housing on the Coast.Mayor Jane Smith said this was an important strategy to address more housing choice for households earning less than $100,000 per year.The draft Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy will return for consideration to the 29 April Council meeting. Council leading the way on reduction of single use plastic wasteCouncil has further strengthened its leadership position in the elimination of waste following the endorsement of the draft Single Use Plastic Policy which will be placed on public exhibition.Council Mayor Jane Smith said this was a positive step forward to help minimise waste and strengthen education opportunities for the community, key objectives of the Community Strategic Plan.“This policy complements our interim Sustainable Event Management Policy and reinforces the importance of the education programs on offer to involve the community on ways forward to seek alternatives of single use plastics,” Mayor Smith said.“It also further strengthens Council’s commitment to lead by example through purchasing practices and identifying opportunities to incorporate reusable products made of recycled materials.“On behalf of our community we will continue to lobby all levels of government to drive policy change that look to help reduce production and use of single use plastics.” Majority of Council’s projects on trackA 2018-19 Capital Works Project Status report has identified that 85 percent of Council’s projects are on track and the majority are on schedule for completion as forecast before the end of the financial year.As at 28 February 2019 Council had delivered over 330 projects and commenced over 270 projects.Mayor Jane Smith said it was pleasing to see Council’s capital works program tracking well.“Our capital works program together with all the services are at the heart of what we deliver for our community,” Mayor Smith said. Nine community projects to receive almost $30,000 in grant fundingCouncil last night granted nine projects almost $30,000 in funding through its Community Support Grant Program.The Community Support Grant provides support for community groups to deliver activities which require less than $5,000 of funding and/or in-kind support.Mayor Jane Smith said the funding can go a long way for a wide range of services that benefit the community.“Our Community Support Grants program recognises that community organisations often need only a small injection of funds to produce events and activities that have a big impact on local communities,” Mayor Smith said.Council will allocate $29,433.50 to the following successful recipients for February:Central Coast Cycling Club – Cyclocross NSW State Series Round 5 - $4,717Copacabana Surf Life Saving Club – auditorium upgrade - $4,997Lions Club of Green Point Avoca– awning over BBQ at Lions Park Avoca Beach - $3,407Rotary Club of Gosford City – 2019 Central Coast MUNA event - $800Summerland Point Progress Association – purchase of tools - $2,924.50Alison Homestead – community support and education in conjunction with Alison Homestead, Wyong and Central Coast Harvest Festival - $3,770Toukley and Districts Art Society– Toukley Arts and Craft Fair by the Lake - $1,980Volunteer Marine Rescue NSW – Digital Projector System - $2,018We Care Connect Limited – Charity Promotion Change Strategy - $4,820Council’s Community Support Grant Program is open throughout the year.For information, visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/funding. Council approves modifications to Avoca Beach Theatre for mixed use developmentCouncil has granted approval for modifications to the mixed use development at 69-71 Avoca Drive, Avoca Beach.The modification application comprises both internal and external changes to Avoca Beach Theatre.
Central Coast Council are hosting a weekend of celebratory sporting events 29 to 31 March to test out the sportsgrounds of the new Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex and provide some great sports entertainment!A number of local and NSW sporting organisations will be holding matches, gala days and showcases throughout the free-to-watch opening weekend, with the diverse and exciting line-up providing something for everyone!The program includes a display of football, AFL, rugby league, rugby union, t-ball, and Oztag for spectators but it’s not only ball sports on offer.
Community members can now provide feedback on two separate draft studies and plans on floodplain risk management – one for Wyong River catchment and the other for Ourimbah Creek catchment.Now on public exhibition, these draft studies and plans have been prepared by Central Coast Council with the assistance of funding from the NSW Government (though the NSW Floodplain Management Program) to evaluate the management options available to reduce the impacts of flooding in these catchment areas.Both studies and plans aim to build community resilience to flooding and include flood mitigation works, emergency management plans, flood warning processes, land use planning, and suitable design of infrastructure and buildings.Drop-in information sessions for the community to discuss the studies and plans with staff will be held on 27 March, 5.30 – 8.30pm and 2 April, 5.30 – 8.30pm at Council’s Wyong office, 2 Hely Street, Wyong.The draft studies and plans will remain on exhibition until 26 April, and can be viewed either in person at Council’s Wyong or Gosford officers or online at yourvoiceourcoast.com/Currently-on-Exhibition.Submissions close at 5pm on 26 April 2019.
Council’s Draft Operational Plan 2019-20 to deliver $791M for the Central Coast communityCentral Coast Council’s Draft Operational Plan 2019-20 which will deliver $791 million worth of investment in essential services and capital works will be placed on exhibition for public comment from 1 April, 2019.The Draft Plan, which forms the second year of Council's Delivery Program 2018-21, will deliver $567.8million in essential services and $223.2million in capital works in the priority areas of roads;
Central Coast Council is encouraging the community to provide feedback on the draft determination for water, sewerage and stormwater drainage prices for the Central Coast from the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).Council Director Water and Sewer, Bileen Nel said Council and community members can provide feedback directly to IPART from 2 April to 24 April 2019. “We are entering the next important phase of IPART’s process for the Central Coast – a review of the draft determination,” Ms Nel said.“Council will provide IPART with detailed feedback on the draft determination for our region and we encourage community members to do the same.“IPART will deliver its final determination for the Central Coast in May, so this is the last opportunity for Council and the community to have a say.”Ms Nel said Council would use the next three weeks to review IPART’s draft determination and to prepare a detailed response. “We will look carefully at all elements of the draft determination to assess any implications for Council and our region.“The Central Coast community continues to have an important role in this process and now have the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft determination directly to IPART.”Council engaged in a community consultation process from April to September 2018 to develop a detailed submission to IPART outlining its recommendation for the Central Coast’s water, sewerage and stormwater drainage prices. Community members were given an opportunity to provide feedback to IPART on Council’s submission in writing and by attending a Public Hearing held on 27 November 2018. IPART reviews and determines the maximum water, sewerage and stormwater drainage prices for major water utilities across NSW.
Central Coast Council is looking to replicate the success of last year’s reusable produce bag initiative and is once again looking to partner with local fruit and vegetable suppliers to help ‘Keep the Coast Clean’.Council Unit Manager Learning and Education, Beth Burgess said the initiative received an incredibly positive response from suppliers and customers alike.“In Australia, 150 million plastic bags end up as litter each year, half of which were used just once,” Mrs Burgess said.“This campaign highlights our commitment to help reduce single use litter by providing an item of value that can be reused over and over again, rather than something that is disposable.“Many suppliers provided incredible feedback that the bags were all distributed within 48 hours and have since had customers use them time and time again, which is fantastic!”“Each time you remember your reusable produce bags when shopping you are becoming part of the solution to protect our environment from litter and plastic pollution and keep the coast clean.“I would strongly encourage any local fruit and vegetable businesses that want to become part of the solution to prevent plastic pollution to get on board.”Council Mayor Jane Smith said the popularity of the produce bags showed the community is keen to embrace sustainable initiatives.“Choosing reusable produce bags, being careful with our recycling, selecting sustainable products – these are all actions we can take to keep the Coast beautiful and clean,” Mayor Smith said.“Council is right behind our community’s efforts to reduce waste going to landfill and plastics into our oceans and will do everything we can to support it.”The initiative forms part of Council’s commitment to the Don’t be a Tosser!