Central Coast Council is bringing the popular outdoor ice skating rink back to Gosford and turning Kibble Park into a wintery wonderland for the Coast to enjoy.From 11-18 July, families can head down to ‘Winter in the Park’ and join in the many free activities including snow play, live shows and entertainment.Council Unit Manager Community Partnerships, Glenn Cannard, said families are invited to come along and make the most of this free event with the family.“This is a fun, free event run by Council which brings families together during the colder months.” Mr Cannard said.“We receive a lot of positive feedback on running these types of events which help keep the family entertained, create memories, build a stronger community and support local businesses.“There will be free activities, live entertainment, food stalls as well as the popular outdoor ice skating rink and we invite families on the Coast to save the date, come down to Kibble Park and join in the fun.”DJ Jazzy and some of the Coast’s local dancers will be performing the exciting ‘Whacky Winter Wonderland Show’ and for the aspiring young DJ’s on the Coast, there will be the opportunity to test your DJ skills on the latest equipment.Papa Smurf and Smurfette will be making an appearance with a special stage performance, the GBID Mad Hatter's Tea Party will be back, the Fun Engine Fire Education Truck will open its doors to those who are keen to learn more about fire safety, and on 11 and 13 July, Star 104.5 will run some free arts and craft activities and set up ‘The Star Chalet’ with marquees, lounges, props and music.To view the full program or for more information visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/eventsThe outdoor ice skating rink will be open daily from 10am-8pm with 45 minute sessions starting on the hour.

Music lovers are set for some great entertainment this weekend and early August as two of the Coast’s biggest free music festivals return with more locals and visitors expected to attend.Central Coast Council’s popular Winter Blues and Jazz Festival will be back on 13-15 July with its equally popular Country Music Festival to be held on 10-12 August.Council Unit Manager Community Partnerships, Glenn Cannard, said even more locals and visitors were expected to visit the Coast to enjoy the outstanding line-up of modern musicians who will challenge preconceived ideas about Blues, Jazz and Country music.“The Winter Blues and Jazz Festival and the Country Music Festival are popular free events run by Council which bring people together to celebrate music.” Mr Cannard said.“The Festivals both run for three days with many local venues featuring live entertainment in their establishments on the Friday, buskers and The Entrance Markets operating on the Saturday, and the main events taking to the stage on the Sunday.“Memorial Park will also come alive with food stalls, rides and activities this year, and Country Music Festival will give the community a sneak-peak of our talented artists who will be involved in Council’s free four-day pavement art event – ‘Chalk the Walk’ – to be held on 4-7 October 2018.“There will be a lot for families, music and art lovers on the Coast over the next few months so keep an eye out on our webpage and Facebook for event updates.”The Winter Blues and Jazz Festival is held annually in July and is a celebration of Blues and Jazz music on the Coast.

Central Coast Council has committed a further $1.75million to the final stage of works in the overall road upgrade project for Tumbi Creek Road at a total cost of $3.9million. The final stage of the project is focused on the 600 metre section of Tumbi Creek Road from the Wyong Road intersection through to the Gregory Street roundabout and will provide traffic calming and improved access for motorists and pedestrians. Council Acting Director Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Boris Bolgoff said the multifaceted project includes a drainage upgrade, kerb and guttering, a roundabout, two raised intersections, new road pavement, and a new footpath and shared path. “This project will not only calm traffic but make it much easier for motorists to get into and out of businesses and homes on Tumbi Creek Road,” Mr Bolgoff said. “The new 600 metre footpath on the western side of Tumbi Creek Road and the shared path on the eastern side will make the area safer and more appealing for pedestrians and cyclists.” Mayor Jane Smith said the project would deliver significant benefits to motorists and pedestrians who use this busy Central Coast road. “This major upgrade will make this section of Tumbi Creek Road safer and much easier to navigate,” Mayor Smith said. “The new footpath and shared path will be most welcome to residents and visitors to the area. “Our community want to see better roads, footpaths, bike paths and shared paths and we are committed to delivering this important infrastructure, which includes a vibrant active transport network.” The project will be completed by late 2018, weather permitting.

Central Coast Council has installed a new swing at Shaun Brinklow Park in Copacabana following the theft of an all abilities swing used by the local community.Mayor Jane Smith said she was pleased Council had moved quickly to restore the swing following the theft three weeks ago.“The theft of this swing was devastating to the local community and Council has moved quickly to replace it so the community can use it once again,” Mayor Smith said.“We are committed to providing modern and accessible play spaces for our growing community and investment in these facilities is a key priority of our Operational Plan now rolling out across the Coast.“We have modified our capital works budget to deliver a $250,000 upgrade to Shaun Brinklow Park so the community can expect an even better playground in the near future.“I am pleased this project will now move forward, and that community consultation on the design of the new park will soon be undertaken.”

Thanks to a new coordinated approach to metal recovery, Central Coast Council collected a record amount of scrap metal from across its operations last financial year.Council’s Acting Senior Manager Business and Economic Development, Andrew Pearce, said around 6,000 tonnes of scrap metal was recovered for recycling.“We achieved this milestone as a result of staff coordinating new initiatives, improved practices across our operations and the implementation of new contract arrangements,” Mr Pearce said.“The majority of the metal has come from our waste management facilities where there has been a concerted effort to sort through and recover scrap metal.“This has included encouraging customers to sort metal at the facility, using specialist equipment to recover metals at the tipping face, and shredding items to recover metals where feasible.“Last financial year we shredded an estimated 12,000 mattresses at our waste management facilities and recovered the metal springs for recycling.“We are also recovering the lead from lead acid car batteries and brass from water meters.”Council’s focus on resource recovery has helped reduce the amount of waste diverted to landfill and also provided an additional $1 million in revenue to help deliver community assets and services.Council Mayor Jane Smith said this was positive outcome for Council and an excellent example of improved efficiencies.“I would like to congratulate staff for their innovative thinking to create income to help provide essential services to our community,” Mayor Smith said.“This is an excellent initiative we can all get behind to reduce our environmental footprint by ensuring scrap metal is recycled.“Residents can also play their part by dropping off scrap metal free of charge at any one of our waste management facilities.”Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au for more information on where you can drop off scrap metal and other recycling options.

Central Coast Council’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gary Murphy officially started in his new role today, taking over the reins from Brian Glendenning.Mr Murphy said he is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities of leading one of the largest councils in the state.“I believe in collaboration.

Central Coast Council Library Service launched its museum-quality Spike Milligan Exhibition at Woy Woy Library last week at a special event.Council has created this new Exhibition paying tribute to the beloved entertainer, his family and the Woy Woy region as well as changes to the amenity and functionality of the Library.Council Local History Librarian, Geoff Potter, said the Exhibition holds a culturally significant collection of family photographs, recordings and memorabilia, with something for everyone.“This unique Exhibition offers a visually engaging, informative and interactive experience to be enjoyed by locals and visitors alike,” Mr Potter said.“A feature of the Exhibition space is a small theatrette where a brand new short film ‘The Milligans of Woy Woy’, which has been created especially for this project, will be shown.“This important collection pays tribute to the legacy of the world-famous comedian Terence ‘Spike’ Milligan and the lives of his parents Flo and Leo and brother Desmond, shedding light on the development of the wonderful Milligan world view.“Spike and his family had a very special connection to Woy Woy and the surrounding suburbs.“His parents emigrated to Australia in 1950 and even though it took almost a decade for Spike to visit his parents, when he finally did it is no surprise he fell in love with the area.“Even though he was born in India and grew up in England, Spike considered the Central Coast his home and he loved nothing more than to visit family, write and relax here.“Spike was supportive of many local organisations including the Woy Woy Little Theatre, Woy Woy Rotary Club and the Gosford City Orchestra as well as a major activist in the 1970s campaign to preserve Riley’s Island near Davistown from real estate development.“Many remember his role in helping to preserve the former St.

Straight from the horse's mouth – Central Coast Council is proud to support the third annual Horses Birthday Festival on the Central Coast.The 2018 Horses Birthday Festival is on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 July at Glenworth Valley and celebrates the standardised birthday for every horse in the southern hemisphere (1 August).Council Director, Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said the Festival is an innovative, popular event that is unique in New South Wales.“Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures is one of the Central Coast’s leading tourist attractions and the Horses Birthday Festival is a fun, unique event that helps position our region as a year-round holiday destination.” Ms Vaughan said.“Council is proud to support these types of events that bring our community together and attract visitors to the Coast during the off-peak season to drive economic and tourism objectives for the region.

As of 1 July 2018, parents are now able to redeem their Active Kids Rebate for Central Coast Council’s learn to swim and sporting programs at five leisure centres.The $100 voucher – which can be used on fees for after-school, weekend sport and structured physical activity programs – will be redeemable at Gosford Olympic Pool, Peninsula Leisure Centre, Toukley Aquatic Centre, Lake Haven Recreation Centre and Wyong Olympic Pool.Council Connected Communities Director, Julie Vaughan said that having the Active Kids Rebate redeemable at these five leisure centres is one way Council is able to help encourage and enhance the physical activity of children and young people on the Central Coast.“Now, every family on the Central Coast with a child enrolled in school from Kindergarten to year 12 will be able to access the Active Kids Rebate at our leisure centres,” Ms Vaughan said.“The cost of swimming lessons can sometimes be prohibitive for parents but by using this voucher you can help teach your child the invaluable skill of being able to swim and stay safe in our pools and beaches.”Mayor Jane Smith said it is welcoming news that Council is now able to support this initiative through its leisure centres.“Council aims to provide outstanding leisure opportunities and programs in swimming, fitness and sports for all of the Central Coast community, in a healthy, fun filled and family friendly environment,” said Mayor Smith.“Being able to redeem this $100 voucher at five of our leisure centres means that Council is able to help kids on the Coast get more active!”A NSW Government initiative, the Active Kids Rebate is a voucher system provided to parents/guardians of school enrolled children.One Active Kids voucher is available for every child in the family annually over the next four years.Parents are able to apply for and download their vouchers from the Service NSW website.

Central Coast Council has started construction of Stage 1 of a $2.2million project to ease traffic congestion in the Terrigal CBD, which continues to grow as a tourism, residential and commercial hub for the region.The project has been made possible by the NSW Government’s Stronger Communities Fund and focuses on Church Street, Campbell Crescent, Kurrawyba Avenue and the Terrigal Esplanade.Council Acting Director Assets Infrastructure and Business, Boris Bolgoff said this important project would be delivered in a way that will minimise the impact on residents, tourists and local businesses.“We understand how important it is for our community and tourists to be able to access Terrigal and the many businesses that operate in the area,” Mr Bolgoff said.“Traffic control will be on site to keep traffic flowing, there will be minimal impact on parking, and we will wrap up this stage of the project by October and the start of the busy summer period.”Mayor Jane Smith said the project would help ensure Terrigal’s position as a destination of choice for the Central Coast community and tourists.“Terrigal is a much loved and often visited location on the Central Coast and this project will deliver significant traffic flow improvements,” Mayor Smith said.“Council has spent a lot of time consulting with the community to design a project which will keep Terrigal well and truly open for business during these important works.”Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the traffic flow improvements would improve beachfront access for locals and visitors alike.“As one of the most visited tourist destinations on the Central Coast it is vital that Terrigal be easily accessible to all, and I am pleased that Council widely consulted on these traffic changes and adapted the plans accordingly,” Mr Crouch said.“I strongly encourage local residents and business owners to continue providing feedback to Council to ensure the delivery of this project aligns with our community’s expectations.The project focuses on a 500 metre stretch of road from Campbell Crescent around Church Street to Kurrawyba Avenue and includes a new roundabout, new pedestrian traffic lights, modified kerb and guttering and a new road pavement.Traffic looping is currently a major cause of congestion in Terrigal and this will be addressed by preventing traffic from turning right onto Terrigal Esplanade from Campbell Crescent.Measures to minimise the impact of construction on the area will include a small daily construction footprint, maintaining traffic flow and pedestrian access and conducting critical works at night on the quieter trading evenings in Terrigal.If for any reason the works are delayed, the construction area will be minimised and work will recommence after Easter 2019 to avoid the busy holiday periods.