Central Coast Council has kicked off the new financial year with a median Development Application (DA) turn-around time of 38 days and a significant reduction in the number of DAs under assessment.At the time of amalgamation, the number of DAs under assessment was 810 - it now sits at 496.Council Group Leader of Environment and Planning, Mr Scott Cox, said with new DAs being lodged all the time, new initiatives were put in place to improve assessment times and has resulted in this significant improvement in turn-around times.“We want to give the community and the development industry assurance that DAs will be determined as quickly and consistently as possible and we have achieved that,” Mr Cox said.“Council have also just adopted a single housing Development Control Plan (DCP) for the entire Central Coast which will further assist to expedite processing times and simplify the DA experience for our residents.“The Premier has set a benchmark of 40 days for determination of housing DAs and we are ahead of the game at 38 days.“This is a credit to our staff who have used their new delegations to turn DAs around faster, significantly reducing our backlog without compromising on quality, and in consideration of appropriate community feedback.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the Central Coast was a growing region and with a predicted increase in the population of over 70,000 in the coming 20 years.“Promoting sustainable and quality housing development is the key.

Central Coast Council has welcomed the NSW Government’s wide-ranging fire safety package as a positive step towards addressing the concerns of high-rise building residents.Council Group Leader, Environment and Planning, Mr Scott Cox said senior Council staff had attended the briefing last week with the Department of Finance, Services and Innovation to hear first-hand the progress of the Taskforce on External Cladding and the next steps for local authorities.“The ten point plan outlined by the Minister is certainly comprehensive, tackling the issue from the aspect of product safety as well as compliance and education for building owners,” said Mr Cox.“Currently, fire safety requirements are set out in the National Construction Code of Australia which addresses minimum requirements for design, construction and performance of buildings throughout Australia.“All buildings on the Central Coast are certified in accordance with this Code.

Central Coast Council is seeking feedback on a proposal to waiver storage fees associated with community halls and centres.The storage fee was adopted in the 2017-18 Fees and Charges, in Council’s Operational Plan.  Following community feedback, Council proposes to permanently waive those storage fees for the 2017-18 year, and has given public notice of that proposal as required by the Local Government Act.The community has an opportunity to review and provide feedback, before the Council considers whether or not to approve that permanent waiver.The proposed introduction of the fee was to ensure all regular user-groups had access to some storage on site.  However with a number of groups having recently rationalised their storage, this fee is no longer considered necessary.Information on the proposed permanent waiver of the storage fee and how to comment can be found at yourvoiceourcoast.com

A section of Wells Street, Springfield – between Coburg Street and Tangerine Avenue – will be closed on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 August as Central Coast Council undertakes important drainage upgrade works.All travel lanes will be closed to general traffic and compulsory detours will be in place to allow the project to be completed efficiently and effectivelyEast bound traffic will be redirected to a detour via Coburg Street, Lynnette Crescent, Emma James Street and Tangerine Avenue.West bound traffic will be redirected to a detour via Spring Avenue, Maitland Road, Althorp Street and Brougham Street.Works will be undertaken between 8am – 4pm and crews will manage the project schedule to ensure there is minimal impact on local traffic and nearby residents.Wells Street will re-open following the completion of works on Saturday, before the project recommences on Sunday morning.Warning signs and traffic controllers will be in place for the duration of the closure to notify motorists of the changed conditions;

Central Coast Council will be presenting some of the greats of the country music scene at The Entrance in August.Now in its 17th year, the Central Coast Country Music Festival will take place over a number of local venues on the Coast, with the free main event at Memorial Park, The Entrance on Sunday 13 August.Council’s Connected Communities Group Leader, Ms Julie Vaughan, said the Festival continues to impress visitors each and every year.“It’s great to see the Country Music Festival embraced by the whole region with local venues getting on board with the theme and hosting country artists,” Ms Vaughan said.“This is one event Council is excited to be hosting and is sure to be a weekend of great music and entertainment.“This year we have a great line up of artists, including some of the country’s best.”Memorial Park is in a prime position to host fabulous events, such as this one, situated along the popular waterfront at The Entrance.The headline act on Sunday at The Entrance will be Australian country music legends, Adam Harvey and Beccy Cole – who are stopping off at The Entrance as part of their Great Country Songbook Volume 2 tour.Adam is a proud resident of the Coast who has won many ARIA and CMAA awards, including a number of Golden Guitars and will be joined on the Memorial Park stage by one of Australia’s most successful singer-songwriters, Beccy Cole, who also has won a number of ARIAs and Golden Guitar awards.Memorial Park’s main stage will also have a stellar line up of great local and interstate country music artists including award-winning trio The Wolverines, Tori Darke, Hurricane Fall and 2017 Toyota Star Maker winner, Rachael Fahim.The live music will start from 10am, amongst buskers, amusement rides, food and market stalls.The festival will also provide fans with an opportunity to get up close and personal with the artists with a signing tent after their performances, and festival-goers will be able to purchase artist merchandise.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the festival is anticipated to draw in country music fans from near and far, providing a great tourism boost for our region.“The Entrance is already a popular tourist destination, and it’s free events like this that really make our region even more attractive to residents and tourists alike,” Mr Reynolds said.“So bring along your chair or blanket to listen to some of Australia’s best country musicians in one of the best outdoor entertainment venues the Coast has to offer.”In conjunction with the free Country Music Festival on Sunday, the weekend will be filled with entertainment in nine local licensed venues across the region featuring 24 local performers which is sure to appeal to all country music fans, on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 August.The full Central Coast Country Music Festival program is available online at theentrance.org.au

Central Coast Council has been recognised for Excellence in Communications at the Annual RH Dougherty Awards, held last night as part of NSW Local Government Week.The Excellence in Communications Award, a state-wide category, sponsored by News Corp Australia, recognises a communication campaign or event that shifted community attitudes and behaviour to achieve special outcomes during the 2016 calendar year.Council was awarded for their work on the successful opening of the popular Bato Yard in August 2016.RH Dougherty Award judges were quoted as saying:

Central Coast Council has announced Cleanaway Pty Ltd as their new partner to deliver essential waste services to the community from 1 February 2018.As one of Australia’s leading providers in waste management, Cleanaway believe in partnering with local government and the community to deliver a sustainable future.  Cleanaway best met all the criteria of the tender process particularly in price and service and will have all equipment ready to go for the start of the new contract.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the community could look forward to a more streamlined waste service due to the economies of scale from amalgamation and the technology advances in waste services.“One of the great benefits of amalgamation is Council’s ability now to negotiate better rates and services for the entire Central Coast and we can see that with this new contract,” Mr Reynolds said.“Previously there were two contracts with different service specifications operating and a border on the Central Coast for waste services – that is no more,”“Cleanaway ticks all the boxes in experience, customer service, technology advances, equipment and local employment.“Local jobs will also be protected with Cleanaway agreeing to employ the garbage drivers at the rate Council negotiated previously with the Transport Workers Union.”The popular six free kerbside collections for each residence are included and residents will be able to book one via a dedicated call centre, website and for the first time via a phone app.Bin sizes will be standardised across the Coast with every residence entitled to a 140 litre bin and a recycling and green waste bin as well.  Residents can also request a larger, 240 litre bin which attracts an extra fee.An independent probity advisor was engaged by Council to oversee the process and the opinion of the tender panel was unanimous for Cleanaway.“I am confident Council has followed due process and has negotiated the best possible outcome for the community who will benefit from the delivery of a superior waste service.Remondis will continue to deliver waste services to the Central Coast until 31 January with Cleanaway taking up the reins from 1 February 2018.

Central Coast Council is aware the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is investigating issues arising from the use of the site at Spencer.

Do you experience anxiety, or are you looking for different ways to relieve stress?Come along to an Open Day on Thursday 24 August 2017, and book into one of many free creative classes, activities or workshops.The day is aimed at showing our community the number of creative possibilities available across the Central Coast, which can help to manage stress and anxiety in all its forms.All classes are free to join or just to observe.View the Full 'Experience, Explore, Be More' Anxiety Program

Feel the magic of the new season as Laycock Street Community Theatre comes alive with two of William Shakespeare’s classics – A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Merchant of Venice – this spring.Playing over two nights, on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 September, Melbourne City Ballet returns with their magical neoclassical ballet interpretation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.Suitable for all ages, this whimsical and enchanting Shakespearean adaption explores three different stories: