Central Coast Council has distributed 2,500 reusable litter bags to local businesses in the vicinity of roadside litter hotspots in an effort to remind motorists to dispose of waste responsibly.This is one approach Council has taken as part of a multi-pronged litter prevention project, to help protect and enhance the local environment.Council Unit Manager Learning and Education, Beth Burgess, is encouraging motorists to utilise the bags that are available around the three roadside litter hotspots at Blue Haven Link Road, Somersby Industrial Park and Kariong M1 on ramp.“Littering of single use containers and bottles has become and major issue in these locations as identified in the Central Coast Roadside Litter Project,” Mrs Burgess said.“These bags provide motorists and their passengers a cleaner alternative to keeping containers, coffee cups and drink bottles without the worry about any leftover food or drinks spilling in their vehicles.“Once motorists reach their destination, the bags can be easily picked up in one go for rubbish to be disposed of responsibly – the bags can then be rinsed and reused.”The bags were purchased as part of a $36,000 NSW Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Litter Grant to help tackle the growing issue of roadside litter on the Central Coast.Grant funding has also gone towards the installation of roadside signs at each target site reminding motorists how to report littering from vehicles as well as 19 new dash cams in Ranger vehicles, increasing motorists chances of being caught littering.Mrs Burgess emphasised the issue of litter is not one Council can tackle alone and urged all residents and visitors to make sure they are doing their part to help protect our waterways and valleys from plastics and pollution.“Council are leading by example, monitoring and cleaning up target areas, providing free reusable coffee cups and increasing Ranger patrols,” Mrs Burgess said.“We need the whole community to get behind this project to help stop littering and help preserve our local environment.”Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/littering to find out where reusable litter bags are available, information on helping to prevent litter and how to report littering from a vehicle.This project is a NSW EPA Waste Less, Recycle More initiative funded from the waste levy, an extension of the current Mountain District Roadside Litter Project and supports Council’s promotion of the EPA’s Don’t be a Tosser campaign.

Central Coast Council is reminding residents of the risks associated with not disposing of asbestos waste responsibly after an amount of asbestos waste was found in a green waste bin earlier this week.The contaminated green waste bin was collected by Council’s waste contractor, Cleanaway, and as a result of incorrect disposal, this has contaminated the materials in the truck, as well as exposed asbestos to staff compromising their health and safety.Council Acting Senior Manager Business and Economic Development, Andrew Pearce, reminded residents to follow the proper protocol when disposing of asbestos.“Asbestos can be disposed of at Council’s Buttonderry and Woy Woy Waste Management Facilities by residents for a cost providing strict guidelines are followed and it is less than 10 metres square,” Mr Pearce said.“This includes notification being provided 24 hours in advance and asbestos must be wrapped in manageable bundles with two layers of plastic with a thickness of at least 0.2mm (builder's plastic) and sealed using adhesive packaging tape.Transportation of  more than 10m2/100kg of asbestos waste (friable and/or bonded) is required by law to be tracked via the WasteLocate app and can only be undertaken by a licenced asbestos removalist, unless in an emergency situation.Council Director Environment and Planning, Scott Cox, reminded residents that asbestos may be present in one out of every three Australian homes.

Council calls on State Government to urgently dredge Ettalong ChannelCouncil agreed to apply for State Government funding to contribute to the cost of dredging the Ettalong Channel and called for the State Government to provide emergency funding in the short term.Mayor Jane Smith said the decision on dredging Ettalong Channel provides a clear path forward but requires the State Government to take action now.“We have agreed to apply to the State Government for Rescue Our Waterways funding,” said Mayor Smith.“It is clear that this funding will not be available for several months and that it will not cover even 50 percent of the cost of dredging Ettalong Channel.“In light of this, we are calling on the State Government to provide emergency funding in the short term to ensure Ettalong Channel remains open.“The State Government has dredged Ettalong Channel twice in the past, they have the equipment and funding to take immediate action and we calling on them to do this.“Today’s decision provides a way clear way forward for the Ettalong community, Council and the State Government.“To develop a long-term solution, we will create a working party of stakeholders to look at maintenance dredging, technical issues, environmental implications, community impacts and funding.”Council has agreed that any dredged sand be used to replenish works on adjacent beaches.Council’s community focused budget delivers $761M for the Central CoastThe 2018-19 Draft Delivery Program, Operational Plan including the budget (Plan) and draft Resourcing Strategy are among a suite of documents Central Coast Council has placed on exhibition for public comment.Read separate media release in full hereProposed Wamberal Child Care Centre refused by CouncilCouncil has refused to approve a development application for a proposed child care centre at 612 The Entrance Road, Wamberal.The development application was initially considered at a Council meeting on 18 December 2017, when Council resolved to seek additional information on a number of issues including previous traffic calming measures for Old Gosford Road and control plans relating to entry and exit driveways.

Central Coast Council has begun building a $1.05M boardwalk in Springfield that will provide an essential link between the residential neighbourhood and the local community school.‘Chertsey Boardwalk’ will traverse Springfield Road Reserve with a three metre-wide, 80 metre-long raised walkway over the wetland, connecting Balfour Close with Willow Road.The project is jointly funded by a $679K contribution from Council and $375K from the Federal Government through its Improving Your Local Park and Environment program.The boardwalk is positioned within an identified reserve area which is prone to flooding during storm events.Council Director, Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Mike Dowling said that Council has invested in an engineered design with considered materials.“Our priority is to build sustainable infrastructure to increase the quality of life for local communities now and into the future”, Mr Dowling said.“The walkway will be constructed of a strong and durable composite fibre, ensuring that this is a long-term structure that will continue to allow safer passage for many years to come.

Expressions of Interests are now open for interested community members to sit on the Pedestrian Access and Mobility Advisory Committee (PAMAC);

With the aim to drive more visitors to the region, AFFINITY, in partnership with the tourism industry and Central Coast Council, have officially launched the new-look website for the Central Coast destination – visitcentralcoast.com.au.As tourism is a key economic and employment generator for the Central Coast, Council has increased its investment in tourism to ensure more visitors know about the sundrenched coastline, spectacular forests, internationally acclaimed food and wines and the amazing range of services and resorts the Central Coast has to offer.Council Director Connected Communities, Ms Julie Vaughan, said Council wants to drive more visitors to the Central Coast and visitcentralcoast.com.au is a great digital asset to help deliver that.“With 88% of all Australians owning a smart phone*, a mobile ready destination website can effectively become a more practical and digital alternative to a traditional visitor guide,” Ms Vaughan said.“Visitcentralcoast.com.au does this by offering more information in a highly engaging, dynamic and usable form, ensuring visitors to the Central Coast have the ability to easily access destination based information which will encourage their dispersal throughout the region.”Mayor Jane Smith said that the vision for the Central Coast is to be the natural choice for leisure, business and special events in regional NSW.“We’re making sure everyone knows that the Central Coast is the ideal destination – be it a long weekend trip, a relaxing holiday or even a picturesque sea change,” says Mayor Smith.“This great new platform showcases all the adventures that the Central Coast has to offer including our beautiful beaches, exciting activities, natural environment and gourmet delights.”In order to ensure potential visitors to the Central Coast have a positive perception of the destination, visitcentralcoast.com.au provides local tourism businesses with the opportunity to list their offerings on this centralised destination website.

Central Coast Council has welcomed the State Government’s commitment today to urgently dredge the Ettalong Channel.Council called for this commitment at its last Council meeting and agreed to apply for funding under the ‘Rescuing Our Waterways’ program.  Mayor Jane Smith said she was pleased the State Government accepted responsibility to keep the Channel open and the announcement of emergency dredging was welcome news for the community.“The State Government has always had the means and the funding to be able to keep the Channel open and it is pleasing to see the Government now fulfil its responsibilities,” Mayor Smith said.

Central Coast Council Libraries are calling on parents and carers of young children to ‘Find yourself in a library’, which is the theme for this year’s Library and Information Week 2018.To coincide with this national event, Libraries and Council’s Childcare Centres will be launching Parker the Platypus’ eagerly awaited second book, ‘Parker visits the Library’, as part of the Paint the Central Coast REaD initiative.Acting Unit Manager Libraries, Beth Burgess, explained the program was aimed at educating parents, carers, and the community about the importance of reading, singing and rhyming with children every day from birth.“Literacy is a key success in life and research has shown that more than 20 per cent of Australian children arrive at school without the skills necessary to make the most of their early education,” Mrs Burgess said.“Through this program we aim to overcome this by creating a sense of excitement and enthusiasm around literacy and reading, which is exactly what Parker creates for children and families.“In this next instalment from Parker we follow him as he discovers all the fantastic services there are to enjoy through your local library.“‘Parker visits the Library’ is not only a fun and engaging story for children, it also promotes the great resources and programs available to help encourage literacy development and make reading fun.“Over the next few weeks Parker will be visiting Council childcare centres and select Storytime sessions at our libraries to personally hand out copies of his new book.“If you cannot make it don’t fear - free copies of his book will be given to children at all Babytime, Toddlertime and Storytime sessions this week.”Details on Parker’s appearances and more information on this initiative can be found at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/paintthecoastreadAnother key event Council Libraries are partaking in this week is the 18th annual National Simultaneous Storytime, which aims to promote the value of reading and literacy from a young age.This year the Australian children’s book ‘Hickory Dickory Dash’ written by Tony Wilson and illustrated by Laura Wood has been selected to be read across the country tomorrow, Wednesday 23 May.Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan, said event is a valuable opportunity for parents, grandparents, teachers and carers to become actively involved in their children’s learning.“Reading to children from a young age is incredibly important as it helps build the foundation to prepare them for a lifetime of learning,” Ms Vaughan said.“There are clear benefits when young children are read to frequently – children read to six or seven days a week start Kindergarten almost a year ahead of children who are not read to as often.“It also helps develop numeracy and communication skills, rational thinking and enhances concentration and discipline, all of which helps children excel at school and later in life.“If you cannot make it along on Wednesday 23 May, ‘Hickory Dickory Dash’ will be read at all of our libraries regular Storytime sessions, which include songs and crafts to motivate involvement and help children see reading as a fun pastime to be enjoyed.”Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/libraries for details on National Simultaneous Storytime and regular Storytime sessions.

Central Coast photographers will have many opportunities to enhance their technical and creative skills as part of the 2018 Exposure Photographic Program.

Memorial Park at the Entrance is undergoing some upgrade works to ensure higher utilisation and sheltered seating spaces for the community – so everyone can enjoy the great Aussie recreational pastime that is the sausage sizzle.With works having commenced on Monday 21 May, the project will include the demolition of the current awnings and barbeques, replacing them with modern awning structures, barbeques and accessible dining settings.