Central Coast Council has welcomed today’s announcement by Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch confirming a $1,347,500 grant from the NSW Government Stronger Country Communities Fund for a regional inclusive play space to be built at Sun Valley Reserve, Green Point.Council will invest just over $400,000 to the $1.666million project to deliver an upgrade to the existing amenities, basketball court and carpark, and the construction of a safe, functional, inclusive regional play space consisting of play equipment, park furniture, drinking fountain, pathways, landscaping and fencing.Mayor Jane Smith said Council is committed to delivering enhanced recreational opportunities for its community and this funding would ensure a regional play space in an area of high need.“We know Coast families love their local playgrounds and this partnership with the State Government will now provide a regional play space and recreational area that this growing area of the Coast can enjoy,”“The Central Coast is home to a diverse and growing community and we are committed to ensuring we provide the services and facilities they need to thrive.“This is the community’s space and I encourage residents to have their say as this project comes to life.”Council will now move forward with the project and provide opportunities for the community to have their say through engagement activities to guide the development of this new space.This announcement also included confirmation of $55,000 funding to Council for equipment and facility improvements at Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre.

Central Coast Council is looking to the community for feedback on the implementation of phase 1 of the Norah Head Village Centre Masterplan (the Masterplan), with a drop-in information session being held 28 February and interactive online map live until 21 March 2019.The Masterplan is a long-term 10 to 15 year plan for the future of Norah Head that provides a framework to address relevant community and environmental planning issues within the Village Centre.The plan aims to retain Norah Head’s distinct character of the area through the village centre, whilst improving links to surrounding unique natural features and open space areas, and enhancing social interaction through placement and improvements to public facilities and infrastructure.As part of Phase 1 of the Masterplan, concept drawings for parking improvements and pedestrian links between the village centre and Mazlin Reserve have been completed and are now open for feedback along with the design of Mazlin Reserve upgrade.Other planned works from Phase 1 of the Masterplan, which will commence in the coming months, include a three metre shared pathway on the eastern side of Bungary Road between Victoria Street and Maitland Drive, street plantings, parking improvements and a new amenities block in Mazlin Reserve.Works are underway on the stage one project to construct a footpath on the western side of Bungary Road between Victoria Street and Maitland Drive.Norah Head Masterplan drop-in session:Thursday 28 February, from 2pm until 6pmNorah Head Community Hall.For more information, and to provide your input via the interactive online map go to yourvoiceourcoast.com/norah-head-master-plan, up until 21 March 2019.

Central Coast Council is encouraging the Coast community to get active this summer by offering a free day pass to every Central Coast resident, 18-years or older, to its six leisure centres from December 2018 through to March 2019.Anyone who uses their free pass will also go in the draw to win one of five annual memberships to a Council leisure centre of their choice, valued at up to $1,092.Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said that this great initiative is being implemented this summer to help promote healthy living.

Central Coast Council has joined the State-wide ‘Save Our Recycling’ campaign, calling on the NSW Government to reinvest 100 per cent of funds collected through the waste levy into waste minimisation, recycling and resource recovery. The ‘waste levy’ is the contribution paid to the NSW Government for each tonne of waste received at Council’s Waste Management Facilities – a requirement of The Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act). Mayor Jane Smith said Council is supporting the campaign as the funding collected by the waste levy should be reinvested in creating jobs and sustainable industries right here on the Central Coast.

Residents are running out of time to comment on a ground-breaking draft Strategy which addresses the Coast’s housing affordability crisis. Central Coast Council’s draft Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy has been on public exhibition since early September and closes for community comment on Friday, 21 December.

Council is currently consolidating its planning controls for the Central Coast to deliver significant efficiencies and simplify planning for the whole community and is calling for public input.The Central Coast is currently operating under four different planning instruments each with different planning controls.

Central Coast Council is successfully reducing its carbon footprint by generating electricity through the extraction and combustion of landfill gas at its waste management facilities.This advanced approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from escaping into the atmosphere produced enough renewable energy to power more than 4500 local homes last financial year.Council Unit Manager Waste Services and Business Development, Andrew Pearce said there were four electricity generation plants operated under contract helping turn methane emissions into renewable energy.“Landfill gas is a natural consequence of organic waste decomposing at any solid waste management site,” Mr Pearce said.“Half the gas generated is carbon dioxide with the other half methane, which is around 25 times more harmful than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.“The generators at our waste management facilities produced approximately 28,000 megawatt-hours of electricity last financial year, and prevented around 154,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (greenhouse emissions) from escaping into the atmosphere.”Mayor Jane Smith said the gas extraction was an excellent example of Council implementing real actions to reduce climate change.“I am proud to see Council’s commitment to more sustainable waste practices by turning waste to renewable energy,” Mayor Smith.“With methane a major contributing factor to global warming, this venture will continue to provide a major contribution to reducing Council’s carbon footprint.“It is important Council takes a leading role in helping to mitigate the effects of climate change and this is just the start of more innovative initiatives we will implement.”Council endorsed a Draft Climate Change Policy in August 2018, a framework of key actions to contribute to meeting the Green theme of the Community Strategic Plan and NSW State Climate Change Policy direction to achieve a net-zero emissions by 2050.“We need real actions and I am looking forward to seeing how the community respond to and engage with this Policy as we work together to find the best way to tackle the effects of climate change and make positive change here on the Coast, “ Mayor Smith said.“As part of the consultation we want to hear what concerns our community have about climate change so we can address them together.“I strongly encourage residents to complete our online survey on climate change before it closes on Friday 7 December, and register interest in our upcoming series of workshops to be held early next year.”Visit yourvoiceourcoast.com/climatechange to complete the short online survey, register for future workshops, and sign up to stay informed.

Central Coast Council Mayor Jane Smith has welcomed the State Government’s announcement of a northern high speed rail route which could reduce travel times between Sydney and the Central Coast to around 30 mins.Mayor Jane Smith said this would make a significant difference to thousands of Central Coast residents who commute to Sydney every day often spending up to four hours a day on a return train journey between the coast and their destination.“We know commuting is a major issue for our community with many Coasties having to travel off the coast every day for work or study,” Mayor Smith said.“Reducing the commute to Sydney from around 90 minutes to 30 minutes would allow the community to have an additional two hours per day or as much as ten hours per week for other activities at home or in their community, like spending time with their family, rather than sitting on a train,” Mayor Smith said.“This could also have a flow on effect of encouraging those who drive to Sydney each day to leave their cars at home and hop on a train, which would also reduce traffic on our major roads and deliver benefits to the environment.“The devil will be in the detail too in terms of where the route will go, costings and car parking for commuters.”“The State Government will need to prioritise and significantly increase investment in commuter parking stations along multiple stations on northern rail route so that commuters can have a choice of where they can park to access the fast train service.“Major investment in infrastructure, such as this proposal by the State Government, has the potential to bring jobs and drive economic development on the coast and this is something Council is committed to delivering for our community.Council is currently consulting with the community on parking on the Central Coast.

Central Coast Council will host a line-up of freestyle skate, BMX, scooter and WCMX (wheelchair) events in the first quarter of 2019, continuing its commitment to provide multi-use skate park facilities for the benefit of the community.Council are involved in a number of freestyle riding events that cover all ages and experience levels, and provide an opportunity to identify and showcase local talent and also attract premium riders from around Australia.Some of these 2019 events include:19 January - Australian Skateboarding League:

Central Coast Council is reminding residents and visitors to the Central Coast of the importance of beach safety this summer.Mayor Jane Smith said Council cannot highlight enough the importance of being aware and understanding the risks when visiting the beach.