Night roadworks will be carried out on a section of The Ridgeway at Lisarow from this Sunday 18 February - Thursday 22 February 2018, while Central Coast Council completes upgrading roadworks.Weather permitting, the works will be carried out between Macdonalds Road and Tapley Road from 7pm – 5am to minimise the impact on local traffic.During this time, all travel lanes on The Ridgeway between Macdonalds Road and Paroo Road will be closed to general traffic (except for local residents and emergency vehicles).Compulsory detours will be in place with traffic detoured around Macdonalds Road and Fagans Road.Local resident access will be available at all times from the Paroo Road end of The Ridgeway.Warning signs will be in place for the duration of the works to notify motorists of the changed conditions.Council would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their patience while these important works are carried out and apologises for any inconvenience.

Central Coast Council is encouraging the community to provide feedback on the draft concept plans for the long awaited Gosford Regional Library, now on exhibition until Sunday 11 March.Two concept plans for the state-of-the-art facility designed for the Donnison Street site at Gosford are now available to view to gauge public preference.Council’s Director Connected Communities, Ms Julie Vaughan, said this was an important project for the Central Coast community, helping to meet a range of long-term community needs.“This is a vital development for the Central Coast that will deliver employment opportunities and economic stimulus and will be a focal point for library services across the region,” Ms Vaughan said.“We have come up with two options both of which will provide an Innovation Hub for small and start-up businesses and creative endeavours as well as help support commuters and entrepreneurs by encouraging enterprise development and embracing innovation."What we want to know from the community is whether they would prefer to see a three storey building plus mezzanine or ten storey building that has the capacity to house additional commercial space for lease.“We are committed to the revitalisation of the Gosford CBD and growing it as the region’s capital and this project is one part of how we are accomplishing that.”Mayor Jane Smith said the community has significant investment and interest in progressing this project and it was important to get the balance right and deliver an innovative and sustainable learning space for the community.“This is a catalyst project for the revitalisation for the Gosford CBD and one that Council can and must get right for the community,” Mayor Jane Smith said.“Libraries are at the heart of creating liveable, connected and sustainable cities and that is definitely what we want to see for the Gosford CBD.“The Regional Library will deliver an engaging space and enhanced library experience for the Central Coast community where people can learn, create and connect.“It will become a central meeting point for locals and visitors alike and is proposed to be a true innovation centre and drawcard to the CBD.“This project has been in the pipeline for a long time and we want to assure our community it is happening."Each of the two options requires a different level of investment from Council and so it is important that the community provides input.”“At this point in time we are seeking input on the preferred option for a way forward for this catalyst project for the CBD and will be holding information sessions for the community to see the plans for themselves and ask any questions they have.”Information sessions will be held at the Smart Work Hub located in the Imperial Centre Gosford on Thursday 1 March at 1pm and Tuesday 6 March at 6.30pm.Federal Member for Robertson, Mrs Lucy Wicks said this is a great opportunity for the community to have their say on the Regional Library project, and it is good to see Central Coast Council kicking off consultation this month.“The Coalition is determined to deliver on our commitment to this initiative, which for many years has been a community-led vision that will help deliver jobs, connectivity and opportunity for our city,” Mrs Wicks said."This project is shaping up as being another important part of Gosford’s rejuvenation.”Details about the concepts plans, frequently asked questions, information sessions and how to make a submission can be found at yourvoiceourcoast.comThe project will be financed through $8.1 million raised by the former Gosford City Council Special Rate Variation with an additional $7 million Federal funding through the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development’s Community Grants Program.

In conjunction with the current solo exhibition Ian PROVEST:

The Central Coast Series skate, scooter and BMX competition is back for another year – bigger and better than before with new venues and a total prize pool of $5000!Central Coast Council will host three heats across three different venues where young riders can enter in one or all competitions for a chance to claim the Central Coast Series Champion title.Council’s Unit Manager Community Partnerships, Glenn Cannard, said the competition has grown to a regional comp spread across the entire Central Coast.“Originally, the Series was held during Youth Week to activate our skate parks and now it’s being spread across the Coast giving more opportunities to our young riders,” Glenn said.“This year we have a new venue at Wadalba and we are starting the competition earlier providing more opportunities for our young riders to compete as well as having the final series the highlight event in Youth Week.“Bato Yard is the premier riding facility on the Coast, so it’s only fitting we host the final series there too.“As the competition grows, so does the prize money and the number of competitors.”The event is aimed at beginner, intermediate and sponsored riders to provide an opportunity for young people to participate and compete.This year the Central Coast Series will be held at:Drop in at DalbsHeat 1 – Wadalba Skate Park, Saturday 3 MarchUminafiedHeat 2 – Umina Skate Park, Saturday 10 March Beast of the BowlHeat 3 – Bato Yard, Saturday 14 April Central Coast Series FinalBato Yard, Saturday 14 April Entry is open to all riders aged 5-24 years in skate, scooter and BMX as well as WCMX Wheelchair (Bato only).

Council calls for urgent report on best site for the Regional Performing Arts and Conference Centre for the Coast  Council tonight reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a Regional Performing Arts and Conference Centre (RPACC) for the Central Coast with a call for an urgent report on all possible sites for the Centre to come before the next Council meeting.The Leagues Club Field on the Gosford Waterfront was resolved as the preferred site by Council, under Administration, in February 2017.  Tonight, Council asked the Acting CEO to report on other potential sites including those owned by Council and on Crown Land that could house the RPACC.Mayor Jane Smith said it was important that the question of the site be resolved once and for all and that Council was open to other sites as long as it meets the operational needs of Council and the requirements of the significant Federal and State Government funding.“Council is conscious and grateful for the funding commitments of the State and Federal Governments for the Centre so we are very keen to get it moving,” Mayor Jane Smith said.“We want to create a world-class, financially viable facility that the Central Coast can be proud of.”Council is in the design stage of the project and is currently conducting stakeholder workshops with representatives in the arts, cultural and conference sectors as well as State and Federal Members on what they want to see the RPACC deliver.“The RPACC is a priority project for Council and one that we want to deliver for our community,” Mayor Jane Smith said.“Getting the venue specification and business model right is important for the RPACC’s longevity and overall success – ensuring the community can see the full value of this cultural facility for generations to come.”Council approves amendment that brings consistency to tree management on the Central Coast Following community consultation, Council has adopted an amended Chapter in the Wyong Development Control Plan 2013 (WDCP) that is consistent with the Tree and Vegetation Management Chapter of the Gosford Development Control Plan  2013 (GDCP).The approved amended chapter re-worded Chapter 3.6 of the WDCP to be consistent with Chapter 6.6 of the GDCP.  One impact of the amendment was to remove the previous control introduced by the former Wyong Shire Council which allowed a landowner to remove any tree or vegetation on a residential property (less than 1500 square metres) without an application.The amendments were exhibited in December 2017, with 119 submissions received with 84% of those submissions in favour of the proposed change.Mayor Jane Smith said that it was an important step for the Central Coast to have a consistent approach to tree management controls that demonstrated best practice in sustainability and that enhanced and protected the local environment.“Trees and the greenery of the Coast is one of the reasons people love living here and we need to ensure it is protected and enhanced,” Mayor Jane Smith said.“We have undertaken initial consultation with the community on this issue, heard their comments and concerns and have a clear mandate to continue down this path of policy alignment.”“It is imperative that Council establish clear and consistent policies for our residents that align with community sentiment and deliver for the coast.The Acting Chief Executive Officer will organise a workshop for Councillors on implications of the new policy with a further report to come to Council.A report will also come to Council in relation to developing an Urban Forest Policy to protect and enhance the environmental amenity, ecological value and scenic character of the area.Council’s development approvals streets ahead of Regional Plan targetsCouncil’s quarterly report into the activities of the Development Assessment and Environment and Certification Units reveal 6,181 additional dwellings have received approval since the commencement of the Central Coast Regional Plan, more than 2031 ahead of the target of 4150.894 development applications were determined in the final quarter of 2017 alone including 155 additional lots and 599 dwellings including secondary dwellings, detached dwellings, dual-occupancies, multi dwelling housing and units within residential flat buildings.Mayor Jane Smith said as the Central Coast community grows, Council is committed to facilitating development that provides a variety of housing to suit the needs and lifestyles of the community, support local jobs and services while protecting and enhancing the local environment.“We know from the Central Coast Regional Plan, the Coast is expected to grow by approximately 75,000 people by 2036 taking our population to over 415,000,” Mayor Jane Smith said.“To meet these needs, the region will require 41,500 new homes by 2036, an average of 2075 new homes per year over the 20 years life span of the plan.“We can meet this need, whilst still maintaining the Coastal lifestyle we enjoy and value, through a shared and collaborative process between the development sector, the State Government, Council and the community.”The report also detailed the significant reduction in outstanding development applications from over 800 at the time of the Council amalgamation to 496 in January 2018.  An average long term target is 450 applications, which, when met, will mean the Central Coast will deliver one of the most efficient assessment systems in NSW.Council updated on Operational Plan progressCouncil tonight received its quarterly report detailing Council’s performance against the 2017-18 Operational Plan.At the end of Q2 (31 December 2017) Council’s overall progress has tracked well, with 67 projects on target and 7 behind.

Central Coast Council is calling on local residents to roll up their sleeves and help protect our natural environment by getting involved in Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday 4 March.Across the Coast 125 sites have been registered (60 community sites, 17 youth sites and 44 schools) and all need volunteers to help with the clean-up.Council’s Director, Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan, said Clean Up Australia Day is the perfect way for the community to come together and help clean up the Coast.“It’s great to see so many people taking pride in their local community and working together to clean up and protect our natural environment,” Ms Vaughan said.Volunteers are needed to assist with sites all across the Coast from public bushland and parks to foreshore and coastal areas.Council’s Mayor, Jane Smith, who will be volunteering on the day, said this weekend is a great chance to get involved and support your local community.“Clean Up Australia Day started as a simple idea and has now become an annual reminder to think about how we can all work together to reduce litter and to look at how our daily actions can impact on the environment,” Mayor Jane Smith said.“Last year more than nine tonnes was collected on the Central Coast alone, showing there is a real need for this national day of action.“We are lucky to live in such a beautiful and diverse area, from beaches to waterways, and bushland to national parks.Our native plants and animals deserve a clean and rubbish free environment in which to flourish, just like we do and I encourage everyone who can to get involved.”In 2017 an estimated 566,000 volunteers removed 14,139 tonnes of rubbish at over 6,200 sites across the country.For more information or to find a site or register as a volunteer go to cleanupaustraliaday.org.auor contact Council on 4350 5555/4325 8222.

Community members are now being called on to submit Expressions of Interest for six key Advisory Groups across the Central Coast.The six Advisory Groups will be responsible for providing advice and feedback to Council and will be made up of community representatives, Councillors and Council staff from relevant areas.Mayor Jane Smith said Advisory Groups have been established in the key strategic areas Council is focussed on progressing and are a chance for community members to be actively involved in finding solutions.“This is a real opportunity for those with a real passion, interest and expertise in our environment, waterways, economic development and heritage to bring that to the table and directly feed into Council decision-making.“We are a large Council area, representing over 330,000 residents and we want to provide as many avenues as possible for community voice and representation and these Groups are one part of that.” Mayor Jane Smith said.The six Advisory Groups are:Catchments and Coast Committee Brisbane Water and Gosford Lagoons - responsible for promoting linkages and co-operation between the community, Council, State and Federal Governments, and other key stakeholders in the development and the implementation of coastal, estuarine, catchment and floodplain management plans;Catchments and Coast Committee Tuggerah Lakes - responsible for promoting linkages and co-operation between the community, Council, State and Federal Governments, and other key stakeholders in the development and the implementation of coastal, estuarine, catchment and floodplain management plans;COSS (Coastal Open Space System) Committee – responsible for providing advice and feedback on championing biodiversity conservation outcomes with the broader community of the Central Coast, providing advice and feedback to Council on the development and implementation of the COSS Strategy for the Central Coast including the expanding COSS;Employment and Economic Development Committee - responsible for providing advice and feedback on ensuring employment and sustainable economic development initiatives of Council align with the Central Coast Community Strategic Plan.Gosford CBD and Waterfront Advisory Committee - responsible for providing advice and feedback on initiatives to promote and appropriately develop and activate the Gosford CBD and waterfront;

Avoca Beach will become the backdrop for some of the world’s best surfers when it hosts the VISSLA Central Coast Pro, presented by Slimes, from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 March.

Central Coast Council will formally recognise the new Central Coast Status of Women Advisory Group at a special function tonight, Monday 5 March.Members of the Group will provide advice, advocate and raise awareness of issues that affect women on the Central Coast as well as promoting local networks and events that celebrate women in the community.Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan, said Council was overwhelmed by the response from the community to be part of a group to empower and support women across the Coast.“We received a large number of applications from women wanting to step up and represent women on the Central Coast,” Ms Vaughan said.“The 10 successful applicants bring with them a vast range of skills and experience, and represent a diverse range of backgrounds, age groups and areas of the Central Coast.“The Group will identify strategies to develop social, economic and personal leadership opportunities for women.”Councillor Lisa Matthews will chair the Central Coast Status of Women Advisory Group and will be joined by fellow Councillors and Julie Vaughan as well as the successful 10 members of the community, including:Councillor Chris HolsteinCouncillor Jillian HoganCouncillor Jilly PilonCouncillor Kyle MacGregorCouncillor Doug VincentChristine Arnaldi, Hamlyn TerraceSharon Walsh, SaratogaMiranda Cashin, Avoca BeachDanielle Habib, Chittaway PointBelinda Kimpton, WyomingSally Jope, Umina BeachSharryn Brownlee, WoongarrahMargot Castles, Shelly BeachDanielle Hobday, Mangrove MountainCourtney Jones, ToukleyMayor Jane Smith said with International Women’s Day on Thursday 8 March, this is the perfect time to announce the new Advisory Group for women on the Coast.“The Status of Women Advisory Group will work to foster participation from women to establish networks, create and participate in organised women’s events and promote a regional focus,” Mayor Smith said.“We want to see the Status of Women Advisory Group develop connections and networks across the Coast as well as promote women in leadership positions – and I think the Group we have selected will do just that.”Find out more on the Central Coast Status of Women Advisory Group by visiting centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/SOWAG 

Central Coast Council is continuing to implement innovative methods to reduce the amount of waste directed to landfill with the recent purchase of a specialised materials handling excavator.Sorting through household kerbside collection waste at Buttonderry Waste Management Facility, the excavator is recovering scrap metal, mattresses and other recyclable products that would otherwise be directed to landfill.Council Waste Services Unit Manager, Andrew Pearce said that since it started operating in September last year a number of environmental, social and economic benefits had been realised.“In the first five months of operation, the excavator has successfully recovered more than 1,000 tonnes of scrap metal and 1,400 mattresses,” Mr Pearce said.“The mattresses are shredded to both recover the metal and to achieve improved compaction in the landfill until such time as we can find a market for this material.“From this we are able to gain additional economic benefits from the sale of scrap metal, saving of valuable landfill space, as well as refund of the Environment Protection Authority’s (EPA) waste levy.”The purchase of the excavator was made possible thanks to a $200,000 grant awarded through the EPA’s Resource Recovery Facility Expansion and Enhancement Grants Program.Mr Pearce added he was hopeful that Council would be successful in obtaining further grants under the EPA’s Waste Less Recycle More program.“We have since conducted further trials on construction, demolition, commercial and industrial waste at our Buttonderry Waste Management Facility,” Mr Pearce said.“These trials have recovered approximately 50 tonnes of cardboard, soft plastic, untreated timber and hard plastic.“We are currently analysing the results from the latest trial to inform future business decisions and identify new markets for recoverable products.”Each household receives six free kerbside collections of general household or green waste every twelve months from 1 February that can be booked via 1coast.com.auENDSPhotos of excavator available on request.