Central Coast Stadium is proudly continuing a long-standing tradition of supporting local football, as local rugby league, union and soccer teams take to the field this September for their junior division grand finals.Central Coast Council Acting Director Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Boris Bolgoff said that supporting the local teams with their junior grand finals is a long-standing tradition for the grounds of the stadium.“Local rugby league and union teams have played their junior grand finals on the grounds of Central Coast Stadium – formerly Grahame Park – for decades before it was even built,” said Mr Bolgoff.“Since its construction in 2000, the stadium has been proud to honour the legacy that came with the hallowed grounds of Grahame Park, and support our local rugby and union football clubs.“In 2014 the stadium took the next natural step in supporting our local teams and welcomed soccer teams from Central Coast Football to the grounds for their soccer junior grand finals for the first time – and they have been back to the stadium every year since.”Central Coast Stadium will play host to the following grand finals:2 September:

Central Coast Council is inviting young people aged 14-24 to be part of a Youth Action Team which will make youth-led initiatives happen in our community.Applications have opened for membership of Y4Y (Youth for Youth), a team of 10-12 young people who will advocate, advise and act on youth issues.Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan, said Council hoped the team would attract a mix of members who will represent the needs of young people from across the Coast.“During its 15-month term, Y4Y will help develop the Council’s youth strategy, run a youth forum and develop other events, resources or activities for young people,” Ms Vaughan said.“We are looking for young people who are keen to develop leadership skills and want to be actively involved in enhancing the Coast as a great place to live, work and play.As part of achieving the team’s purpose to ‘make it happen’, members will meet regularly, attend a leadership camp and participate in skills development.Mayor Jane Smith said Y4Y provides a way to engage and empower young people.“Young people aged between 12 and 24 represent 15.3% of the Coast population or more than 50,000 people,” Mayor Smith said.“They are an important part of our community, both now and in the future.“We are committed to providing our young people with opportunities to develop their leadership skills and to effectively contribute to the community.”Applications close 17 October.Detailscentralcoast.nsw.gov.au/Y4YFAQsWhat will Y4Y do?Provide opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork and decision-making skills.Create youth-based initiatives and ideas for our community.Develop and deliver events such as an annual youth forum, activities and resources for young people.Recognise, celebrate and promote the efforts and achievements of young people.Who can be involved?Young people aged 14-24 who live, work or study on the Central Coast.Young people who want to make a difference and can commit for 15 months.Young people who want to grow their leadership skills.Key datesApplications close:

Central Coast Library Service is encouraging the community to rediscover their local library during National Literacy and Numeracy Week, 4-10 September.Now in its twentieth year, National Literacy and Numeracy Week celebrates learning and raises awareness of the importance of developing reading, writing and mathematical skills.Council Acting Unit Manager Libraries, Mrs Beth Burgess, said even though the week is a focus for schools, Council libraries offer a myriad of services for the whole community to inspire lifelong learning.“We are here to create dynamic learning environments that meet our community’s needs and help strengthen educational opportunities, regardless of age,” Mrs Burgess said.“With more than half of residents aged over 15 having not gone on to complete Year 12, we take on a crucial role in supporting literacy and numeracy skills, which have been shown to have a strong correlation with employment outcomes.“We try to instil a love of learning and reading in the early years and with this in mind we have specialised weekly programs for children from six months to five years.“Tomorrow we will be holding a special Literacy Skills event for pre-schoolers, where reading and dyslexia specialist, Rosemary Ruthven, will provide practical tips to help parents and carers develop childrens’ phonemic awareness.”Bookings are essential and can be made via centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/libraries or call 4304 7650.Library branches also run a number of bookclubs to encourage or continue an appreciation for reading at any age.“We run primary, teen, after hours and many daytime monthly bookclubs across our branches,” Mrs Burgess said.“I would encourage anyone interested in joining a bookclub to contact our Library Service for more information as these meet-ups are very popular and spaces are limited.“With around five per cent of residents from a non-English speaking background we also provide support to develop English skills with free access to NSW Adult Migrant English Service books, online courses and ESL Meet and Greet sessions at Gosford Library every Tuesday, 10am-12pm.“We also offer free access to Studiosity – an online service for students in years 3 to 12 as well as TAFE and first year undergraduate university students studying statistics, economics or accounting – that provides real time advice from professionals and 24 hour feedback on essays and assignments.“In fact, Maths is by far the most common subject that students seek help with, accounting for around 75 per cent of tutorials delivered so far this year.“There is also free access to the online program, 10 Monkeys, aimed at providing a fun and engaging way for primary school students to improve maths skills.“All this is just the tip of the iceberg – if you or your children need any assistance I urge you to come into one of our branches or browse our resources online.”To take advantage of the fantastic range of educational services and resources available, join online at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/jointhelibrary

Central Coast Council has put a rare collection of photographs on display depicting the history of death customs on the Central Coast, as part of History Week this week.The fascinating collection ‘In the Midst of Life’, with pieces rarely seen by the public, documents the ways in which death has been part of Central Coast life and reflects on the many ways that the deceased can be remembered.Council Local History Librarian, Geoff Potter said the unusual collection uses resources from the Library’s extensive Local History Collection and offers a unique perspective on our region’s historically significant cemeteries, lonely bush graves and funeral customs.“Death is an unusual topic for a display and can still be regarded as taboo by many people, but it is still an important part of our history and relics such as treasured family photographs, mourning cards and condolence cards may be kept as reminders.” Mr Potter said.“As funerals are rarely recorded, this collection is quite unique and reflects a side of Central Coast heritage and the funeral industry which is rarely seen.

From the North to the South, Central Coast Council’s popular School Holiday Program is back with new activities for all ages, including the older kids!Out now, the September/October program lists a combination of free and paid events, live entertainment, art and sporting activities.

Whether you are sleeping rough or struggling to purchase your first home, an innovative new strategy will address housing insecurity on the Central Coast.Central Coast Council has placed the region’s first Draft Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy (the Strategy) on public exhibition and is inviting Coast residents to have their say before the strategy is finalised.Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan, said the Strategy had been developed after extensive consultation with key stakeholders in the housing sector.“We know there are no affordable housing options for people on very low incomes.

In response to increased reports of the scavenging for containers to return under the NSW Return and Earn scheme, Central Coast Council is reminding the community the contents of household and public litter bins are not public property.The NSW container deposit scheme was introduced in NSW on 1 December 2017 with a number of collection points across the Coast where recyclable containers can earn ten cents an item.Council Acting Senior Manager Business and Economic Development, Andrew Pearce, said there were concerns about the mess being left behind and invasion of privacy by people raiding residential and public waste recycling bins.

Planning where to park in Terrigal is now easier with the launch of ParkSpot (Central Coast), a parking app providing real time information on parking availability for one of the coast’s busiest areas.

A floodplain risk management study for the Wallarah Creek catchment is currently being carried out by Central Coast Council, to identify the risk and impact of flooding during storm events.Supported by the NSW Government’s Floodplain Management program, the study forms part of a series undertaken across areas identified as a priority and will include the suburbs of Blue Haven, Wallarah and Bushells Ridge, along with sections of Doyalson, San Remo, Charmhaven and Woongarrah.Council’s Acting Director of Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Boris Bolgoff, said the local residents are invited to participate and share any relevant information that may assist with the study.“Council is asking the community to assist by collecting information on their local flood knowledge and any past flooding experiences,” Mr Bolgoff said.“Residents in identified areas included in the study will be sent a survey to complete and return by post, or submit online via www.yourvoiceourcoast.com.“We are also encouraging the community to submit any photos or videos of flooding events in the study areas.”The study survey closes on Friday 21 September 2018.

Central Coast Council’s motions seeking to be joined as a party to current proceedings in the Land and Environment Court of NSW between Verde Terra Pty and the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) have been adjourned for hearing to 9 October 2018.Those proceedings concern applications made by Verde Terra to the EPA to modify an existing environment protection licence issued for the Mangrove Mountain landfill site.Council will not make further comment about those proceedings until those motions are determined by the Court.