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 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

A diverse mix of young people have been appointed as members of Y4Y (Youth for Youth), the Coast’s first regional youth action team.

Central Coast Council has announced the winners of their Library Service’s first Poetry Writing Competition.The competition is one of the many ways Council is delivering on the Community Strategic Plan by celebrating and continuing to create opportunities for inclusion where all people feel welcome and participate in community life.Council Acting Unit Manager Libraries, Beth Burgess said she was pleased with the positive response from the community and it was fantastic to see all ages getting involved.“I would like to thank everyone who was brave enough to submit an entry and tell their tale in verse,” Mrs Burgess said.“I hope the competition acts as a springboard for our local talent to go on and gain recognition at a national and possibly internationally levels.“Thank you also to our judges, Meg Gatland-Veness, Cherry Beckett and Marilyn Campbell, who have volunteered their time towards this worthwhile cause, helping to strengthen the sense of belonging in the community.“I am incredibly proud of the role we play in nurturing and inspiring our amazing local talent, while helping to create a sense of connection within the community.“This is just one of the many ways our libraries help meet education, learning and recreation needs, while encouraging development of literacy and reading skills.“I would encourage everyone to rediscover their local library and take advantage of the amazing free resources and services available.”Winner of the open category, Shelley Stocken from the Peninsula, who discovered her love of poetry while at school, was thrilled when she received the call saying she had received first place.“Even though I studied poetry at university I have never considered myself a poet,” Ms Stocken said.“I have entered a few competitions in the past, but this is the first time I have ever placed, let alone won – I’m surprised, but also incredibly proud of this achievement.“My poem was a self-reflection of sorts, contemplating the theme of ‘Peace’ on an individual level rather than a collective or worldwide concept.“I really enjoyed the process of writing my piece ‘Vessel’, contemplating peace of mind and being comfortable within myself and of my own choices and I hope others can relate.“We have such home grown talent right here on the Coast and we are great at celebrating ourselves – it is fantastic to see Council taking an active role supporting our creative community.”To support writers in their poetry, Council will gift prizes of $200, $100 and $50 gift cards to first, second and third places respectively for every category, as well as a writing gift pack, which will also be awarded to Highly Commended entries at a formal celebratory afternoon tea will be held on Wednesday 20 March 2019.An additional $600 worth of prizes was donated thanks to the 2018 sponsors of the Poetry Competition, Book Bazaar, Book Face, Musicians Making a Difference, QBD Tuggerah and Writing NSW.Winning entries will also be on display in the Central Coast community on World Poetry Day 21 March, 2019.To view the winning poems and find out more about the free resources and services on offer visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/librariesThe winners of the Library Service Poetry Writing Competition for 2018 are:Junior:First place - Finlay Smith for ‘Lady Ocean’Second place - Ellen Leahy for ‘Matcham “Peace’Third place - Cooper Jamieson for ‘Peace’Highly commended - May Russell for ‘The Peace of Winter’Youth:First place - Caitlyn Dixon for ‘How I wish’Second place - Willow Robinson for ‘Music to my Ears’Third place - Indiana Ginglo for ‘Indiana’s Peace Poem’Highly commended - Isabel Wann for ‘Evening’Adult:First place - Shelley Stocken for ‘Vessel’Second place - Catherine Dunk for ‘Rainbow Buddha’Third place - Gail Beard for ‘Nightwatch’Highly commended - Brian Purcell for ‘Full Moon over Avoca Beach’

Central Coast Council has been awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award recognising how both Council and the local community embraced the nationwide reuse program Garage Sale Trail this year.Central Coast Council was one of only 14 councils to receive an award for their involvement in the annual campaign held over the weekend of 20 and 21 October 2018.“This award is the result of a committed and passionate approach to the project by the Council staff involved," commented Co-Founder of Garage Sale Trail, Darryl Nichols.“Through its involvement and promotion of the program, Central Coast Council demonstrated great leadership in sustainability and reuse and ultimately helped make this year's Garage Sale Trail such a success, both locally and nationally.”With 301 sales and stalls registered, Central Coast placed in the top 10 of the 150 Councils that took part across Australia.Mayor Jane Smith said it was great to see Council support this worthwhile national event, which supports Council’s Community Strategic Plan by improving environmental behaviours and increasing community connections.“Our community are certainly committed to, and embrace reusing and recycling and I want to thank and congratulate them for making this year’s event such a huge success,” Mayor Smith said.“The recently issued results have recorded more than 17,000 items sold across our region, with the average sale netting almost $300.“$10,000 of this went directly to local charities, which will have more positive flow on effects to our community which is great to see.“This year’s report has shown there were over 10,000 interactions as a result of the Garage Sale Trail, helping residents get to know their neighbours and feel more connected to their community.“Importantly every garage sale on the Trail saw 516kgs of items reused and saved from landfill which is real benefit for our local environment.“With 35 per cent of the event sellers admitting that without this event the items sold would have otherwise been thrown out, it has also helped us work towards our target of 45 per cent of domestic waste being diverted from our landfill sites.“The average Australian creates over two tonnes of waste every year so it is great to know 88 per cent of local sellers are now more conscious about waste and understand their role in reducing it.“We can all play a role in helping to minimise our waste and this amazing sustainable event brings attention to the positive impact reusing unwanted items has on our environment - a welcome reminder with Christmas only a week away.”Visit garagesaletrail.com.au for more information on the best ways make money selling pre-loved stuff online and how to responsibly donate clothes to charity. ENDS

As part of its aim to deliver $2.08million worth of upgrades to Central Coast Council’s leisure centres this financial year, $476k worth of upgrades are now complete.These works include $110,000 worth of solar pool heating installed at Peninsula Leisure Centre and Toukley Aquatic Centre, and $66,000 worth of ventilation improvements at Peninsula Leisure Centre and Lake Haven Recreation Centre – where large fans have been installed in the sports halls.Additionally, $200,000 worth of brand new, cardio gym equipment has been delivered and installed at Lake Haven Recreation Centre, with an additional $100,000 spent on upgrading the surrounding infrastructure to support this new equipment – including flooring, power and internet to allow the users to live stream entertainment on the cardio equipment while they exercise.Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said that Council is committed to providing outstanding leisure facilities.“Our aim is to ensure sport, leisure, recreation and aquatic facilities are high-quality open spaces that are well maintained and activated,” Ms Vaughan said.“With the goal to continually improve the physical and social wellbeing of the Central Coast community, investing $2.08million over the next year across our six leisure centres will further provide residents and visitors of the Coast with terrific facilities and classes.”Work still to commence this financial year includes an upgrade to the outdoor seating and grandstand area at Wyong Olympic Pool and a $1.29million upgrade to the Lake Haven Recreation Centre building.