Central Coast Council will support a Hunter Water initiative to help drought-affected farmers by donating a water tanker and driver to transport much needed drinking water.Central Coast, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie City Councils are each donating a truck and driver to transport water from Branxton and Scone across the Hunter and Upper Hunter.The water will help properties which are not connected to a town supply and need to top up their domestic rainwater tanks.Council Director Water and Sewer, Bileen Nel said Council was thrilled to contribute to the initiative and would start with an initial delivery of 20,000 litres of drinking water collected from Hunter Water’s Branxton and Scone supplies.“Farmers from towns including Murrurundi, Merriwa and Cassilis are receiving this support and their feedback is very positive,” Ms Nel said.“We could not be happier to contribute to an initiative that is making a real difference, with our first deliveries taking place on the 12 and 13 November.”Mayor Jane Smith said Council had been looking for the best way to provide direct support to farmers in need.“The Central Coast has been giving so generously to farmers doing it very tough,” Mayor Smith said.“Across the Coast I hear stories of individuals and groups acting to support our farmers and I want to thank our community for all they have done and will continue to do.“I am also pleased that Council is helping our farmers in such a tangible and practical way.”More than 1.4 million litres of water has been donated to 100 properties in need since the initiative began on August 24.Farmers in the Hunter and Upper Hunter experiencing a shortfall in their domestic water supply are invited to contact Hunter Water’s Drought Support Team – droughtsupport@hunterwater.com.au or 1300 657 657.

Central Coast Council will kick start comprehensive engagement with the community on a draft Climate Change Policy with an online survey which opens today.Council endorsed a draft Climate Change Policy in August 2018 for public exhibition.

It’s National Recycling Week, and Central Coast Council is encouraging residents to celebrate by discovering how they can recycle beyond the yellow bin at a number of free Green Living events.The workshops will assist residents to refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle around the home to help live a more sustainable life and divert waste from landfill.Mayor Jane Smith said Council was committed to helping the community find ways to reuse items and reduce an increasing reliance on single use items.“Through Community Strategic Plan (CSP) consultation, our community have told us they want ongoing education opportunities to help minimise waste,” Mayor Smith said.“During National Recycling Week we will be running a number of events to help our community create a more vibrant and sustainable Central Coast.“There will be workshops to reduce food waste, an op shop event to pick up clothing bargains and a free movie screening of ‘Closing the Loop’ for those interested in how to eliminate waste going to landfill.”Bookings are essential for all events.

Central Coast Council has recently conducted an audit of the community’s waste to help shape the first Waste Management Strategy for the region.The results will tailor education programs and resource recovery efforts, working towards more than 45 per cent of domestic waste being diverted from our landfill sites each year, a key deliverable of the Community Strategic Plan (CSP).Council Unit Manager Waste Services and Business Development, Andrew Pearce said the audit has provided some real insight into waste disposal habits of residents.“The good news is we are generating less waste in all three of our household bins when compared to all previous audits from the past decade, however contamination has increased,” Mr Pearce said.“Residents have a great understanding of their garden organics bin, with only a 2.5 per cent contamination rate, which was dominated by treated timber.“There is room for improvement with household recycling, with 13 per cent of unacceptable items placed in yellow-lidded bins – in total one per cent of items placed in the recycling bins were in plastic bags making these items completely unrecoverable.“What was concerning, was that even though household recycling was relatively good, public place recycling bins contained a massive 46 per cent of unacceptable items, with contaminated paper and single use coffee cups the main culprits.“Another concerning factor was the number of hazardous items, mainly electrical items and batteries, found in household bins and bulk kerbside collections.“We have free drop off points for household batteries, mobile phones and light globes at our Wyong and Gosford administration building and library branches.“We also accept e-waste items free of charge at each of our Waste Management Facilities at Buttonderry (Jilliby), Woy Woy and Kincumber and work with the NSW EPA to host free chemical collections twice a year.”The next Chemical CleanOut events will be held next year on Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 February at Gosford Showground and Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 March at Council’s Long Jetty Depot, 1 Morris Place, corner of The Entrance and Wyong Roads, Bateau Bay.Residents are encouraged to visit 1coast.com.au to find out what items can be placed in their household bins and bulk kerbside collections, and discover other disposal and recycling options.The audit further revealed the average household creates a total of 19.8 kilograms of waste each week, 50 per cent of which is diverted from landfill when items are correctly placed in recycling and garden organic household bins.“We found, on average, each household puts one kilogram of acceptable recyclable materials in the general waste bin each week,” Mr Pearce added.“If all recyclables were correctly placed in our yellow lidded bins we could work together to increase landfill diversion rates by five per cent, helping us to exceed our target of 45 per cent.“As part of the Waste Management Strategy we will be investigating innovative mechanisms to achieve further diversion of waste from landfill.”It is anticipated the draft Waste Management Strategy will be placed on public exhibition for community feedback by April 2019.

Independent financial audit and performance review into all matters relating to Central Coast airportThrough an endorsed Mayoral Minute, Council will request that the NSW Auditor General conduct an independent financial audit and performance review into all matters relating to Central Coast airport.Council will request that the review consider all relevant information related to the development of a Regional Airport including proposals for Kiar Ridge and for the development of an Aviation Hub at Central Coast Airport.Mayor Jane Smith said the future of Central Coast airport needed to be resolved.“This report will ensure transparency and openness and will equip Council with all the necessary information to move forward with decisions related to the airport,” Mayor Smith said.Council will request that relevant proposals, financial records, development applications and potential conflicts of interest be considered.It will also be requested that any review will invite and consider public submissions, including confidential submissions if necessary.Council will request that the Auditor General provide specific advice on:Processes and decision-making relating to the Airport and Wyong Employment Zone including anomalies in the process and proposals and any areas that may not meet community expectations.Any improvements needed in Council processes.Any declared or undeclared conflicts of interest.Any matters requiring referral to external agencies for further investigations.The CEO will provide Council with a quarterly report on the progress of the review and the Auditor-General will be requested to provide an interim report by the end of June 2019.Multiple measures to manage weeds in Springfield and HolgateTo manage the infestation of a weed known as Salvinia molesta in Springfield and Holgate, Central Coast Council will utilise bio-controls sourced from the Department of Primary Industries.Council will undertake the mechanical removal of some weed in the first instance to allow for the best results from the bio-controls.Mayor Jane Smith said Salvinia molesta was known to exist at numerous sites across the Central Coast, but was hopeful the biological controls could help reduce the infestation at the Springfield and Holgate sites.“Introducing a weevil that naturally feeds on the Salvinia weed will be Council’s primary line of defence in combating this infestation,” Mayor Smith said.“Our staff will monitor and report back to Council on the success of the weevils in the coming months.

Central Coast Council has extended the public exhibition period for the revised Draft Development Control Plan Chapter relating to Tree and Vegetation Management to 28 January 2019.This extension, based on community feedback, will provide residents with additional time to lodge a submission on the important harmonisation of tree and vegetation management works policies across the Central Coast.If adopted following exhibition, the existing Wyong and Gosford Development Control Plans (DCP) would be amended to include the revised Chapter providing the community with a consistent policy until such time as Council adopts a Consolidated DCP next year.Council’s revised policy relates to urban and environmental zoned lands and requires a land owner to obtain a permit before the pruning or removal of any tree or any vegetation located greater than three metres from their house or other approved building, where the proposed pruning or tree removal is not covered by a set of nominated Exemptions.

Central Coast Council has just been announced as one of the first investors in the world’s first Green Tailored Deposit to be certified by the internationally recognised Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI).The Green Tailored Deposit, launched by Westpac on 26 November, is a medium to long term investment product (1-5 years) designed for investors who want or need investments that genuinely contribute to delivering a low carbon and climate resilient economy.All deposits are associated with a defined pool of eligible assets or projects which meet the strict CBI criteria, which can include renewable energy, low carbon transport, low carbon buildings and water infrastructure.Mayor Smith said investing in green bonds will allow Council to provide finance to projects that generate positive social impacts and help create a vibrant and sustainable Central Coast.“By investing in Green Bonds, Council is directly contributing to funding sustainable initiatives like renewable energy projects and innovations in waste management providing real and lasting benefit to the community,” Mayor Smith said.“Council is committed to leading the way in addressing the impacts of climate change and green investments are an innovative and tangible way we are delivering on that promise to our community.”Green bonds were created to fund projects that have a positive environment social and/or climate benefit including but not limited to renewable energy (solar, wind and hydro), carbon reduction, commercial property energy efficiency improvements, asset finance for low emission passenger and commercial vehicles and community housing.

Dredging will continue within Ettalong Channel as Council and the NSW Government begin longer-term dredging and beach nourishment activities.Earlier this year Council welcomed $1.225million in matching funding from the NSW Government for the long-term dredging of the Ettalong Channel under the Rescuing Our Waterways program.Central Coast Mayor Jane Smith said that through a cooperative relationship, the dredging will continue beyond the initial emergency dredging.“The NSW Government will continue the dredging operations currently underway as part of the emergency works using Rescuing Our Waterways funding,” Mayor Smith said.“Of the grant funding announced in September, it is proposed to spend up to $1M this financial year, so we can get on with the longer-term dredging program as that is what the community want to see.“This will ensure the program continues beyond the emergency works and avoid additional mobilisation costs for Council.

Central Coast Council is running community consultation to guide a concept design for the redevelopment of Umina Skate Park and adjacent recreational zones to assist in securing funding to deliver a revitalised Peninsula Recreation Precinct.

Central Coast Council has released their latest Annual Report, which provides a comprehensive account of Council’s performance from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.