Waste services on the Central Coast are provided by REMONDIS under a contract with Council.Council understands that REMONDIS and its drivers are currently negotiating a new Enterprise Agreement.Council expects that waste services will continue to be provided while these negotiations continue.Council has no role in negotiations between REMONDIS, its employees and the Transport Workers Union on this matter.An invitation for tenders for waste services across the Central Coast from beyond 31 January 2018 is in the process of being finalised.For any advice on delayed waste services, please contact REMONDIS on 1300 126 278.

Central Coast Council is holding a free microchipping day this weekend to help pet owners take that first step in responsible pet ownership.Residents are encouraged to come along to the Animal Care Facility, at Charmhaven on Saturday 18 February and have their pet microchipped at no cost.Council’s Group Leader Environment and Planning, Mr Scott Cox, said becoming a pet owner reaps many rewards, but it also comes with a great responsibility.“Owning a pet can be beneficial to our health and well-being – they can keep us active and give that extra comfort around the home – but they can also become costly if certain steps aren’t followed,” Mr Cox said.“Our animal care facilities receive a number of dogs and cats each year that have been abandoned as people don’t realise the level of care needed to raise a pet.”On average more than 45 per cent of dogs and cats that come into the facilities are not microchipped and less than 60 per cent of these are reunited with their owners.“Microchipping is the first step in responsible pet ownership and helps identify your pet if they should ever go missing,” Mr Cox added.“There is always an influx of animals brought into our facilities over the festive season.“By making sure your pet is microchipped, registered and details are up to date, with current address and phone number, we can reunite your pet and family faster.“We know how important it is to have your pet microchipped and that’s why we are offering this free service.”The day is more than a free microchip, it’s also a great chance to check chip details are up to date and talk to staff on responsible pet ownership, including lifetime registration.Everyone that comes to the Charmhaven facility to have their four-legged friend microchipped, registered or check their details are up to date will also receive a Happy Pet gift pack – a small bag full of treats, information and a toy for your pet.Find out all these details and more at the Free Microchipping Day at the Central Coast Animal Facility, Charmhaven on Saturday 18 February from 10am-3pm.Free microchipping will also be available at the Central Coast Animal Care Facility in Erina on the same day between 10am-4.30pm.Check out more about the free service by visiting wyong.nsw.gov.au/pets

The NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has confirmed all 20 recently merged Councils, including the Central Coast, will continue.The idea of holding plebiscites in merged Councils has also been abandoned by the Government.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the announcement was welcome news and provided the community and Council with the certainty needed to continue working together to make the Coast and its Council the best they can be.“Our staff have been working extremely hard over the past nine months to transform the Council as well as continue great service delivery to our community.

Following the recent success of two blockbuster exhibitions during the holiday period, Gosford Regional Gallery is continuing its commitment to diverse and stimulating programing, with the opening of four new shows on Saturday 18 February.The new exhibitions include:Australian exotica:

Central Coast Council has agreed with auditors PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) to extend the timeframe required to finalise the audit report into the finances of the former Gosford Council.As soon as the report is ready, Council if necessary, will call an Extraordinary Meeting in March to be held in the Gosford Chambers.Council CEO Rob Noble said the auditors are in the process of finalising their audit testing and Council is working closely with PWC to ensure the final accounts are transparent and understandable by the community.“As with many issues in respect of Council mergers, the alignment of Council financial management is a complex issue, so we want to ensure the community gets a clear view,” Mr Noble said.“We’re here to deliver the best possible services to our growing community, and having a thorough and consistent understanding of financial management across both former Council areas moving forward is essential.Council accounts are governed by a strict Local Government Code of Accounting Practice and Financial Reporting, and by legally binding Accounting Standards.

Filling up your water bottle while you’re out and about on the coast is about to get a whole lot easier, with the installation of nine new water refill stations.Central Coast Council is currently installing the water filter stations at high traffic areas including:Heazlett Park, AvocaRumbalara Reserve, SpringfieldMacKillop Oval, South KincumberHylton Moore Oval, East GosfordGreenvale Playground, Green PointThe Skillion, TerrigalTrafalgar Playground, Woy WoyHardy’s Bay ForeshoreNarara Valley Precinct Park.The project started in early November and is expected to be completed by the end of February 2017.The new fixtures will complement the 17 stations already established throughout the region at Woy Woy, Umina, Avoca Beach, Terrigal Beach, Ocean Beach, Kincumber, Copacabana, Ettalong Beach and Gosford’s Kibble Park.Each unit has multiple taps for drinking out of, with refill dispensers on each side.

A surprise entrant from Nitro Circus skate sensation, Beaver Fleming, wowed the crowd on Saturday with his gnarly tricks, which ultimately saw him crowned Bato Yard’s King of Concrete for 2017.Central Coast Council supported the inaugural King of Concrete bowl competition which saw more than 70 competitiors from the Coast, country and overseas compete for the King of Concrete title and a wildcard entry into the BOWL-A-RAMA, the peak world bowl competition.Riders came from all over including Victoria, ACT, Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, England and the USA to compete across the five catgories – Opens, 16 and under, 12 and under, Girls and Masters.Some used the competition as a practice round before Bondi, some tried to secure that wildcard for Bondi and others simply competed to test their skills against some of the world’s best.Despite the heat wave, more than 500 people came to Bato Yard to watch it get shredded with some top local and international skaters.Bato Yard was opened in July 2016 and is already making an impression on local and international riders alike:Beaver Fleming, California - member of the infamous Nitro Circus, said:

Laycock Street Community Theatre is encouraging audiences to hold their noses, when David Walliams’ award-winning book Mr Stink comes to life this February as part of a national tour, following its 2016 Sydney Opera House premiere.Connected Communities Group Leader, Ms Julie Vaughan, said Laycock is looking forward to welcoming this charming and original Australian adaptation to its stage.“It promises to be a real crowd pleaser for children aged 6 to 12, and we’re sure that adults in the audience are going to have equally as much fun with this heart-warming and comical production,” Ms Vaughan said.Well known British comedian and TV presenter David Walliams is also the fastest growing children's author in the UK.

The results of a recent report for five beach swimming areas – Terrigal Lagoon, Copacabana Beach, Pearl Beach Bath, Ocean Beach and Lighthouse Beach - have improved as a result of Central Coast Council’s management.Council manages and tests 44 swimming sites across the region, including beaches, lagoons, lakes and baths, in collaboration with the Office of Environment and Heritage.Of all the sites, 28 returned very good or good water quality ratings.Council’s Group Leader, Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Mr Mike Dowling, said Council was committed to the ongoing management of beaches and other swimming spots around the Coast.“It’s pleasing the BeachWatch report verified that our management of water areas is leading to cleaner beaches,” Mr Dowling said.“Council does a lot to manage community beaches and swimming spots – we installed gross pollutant traps at a number of key locations, bins at popular dog walking areas to stop pollutants entering our waterways, as well as crews who clean Macmasters Beach and Pearl Beach Rockpool four times a year.”Some of the works that led to the reported improvements include an investment of some $30 million on improving major sewerage transfer systems that service Forresters Beach, Terrigal, Avoca, North Avoca and Kincumber.Council plans to invest a further $36 million on improving the sewerage system, sewage pumping stations and sewage treatment plants throughout the former Gosford Local Government Area.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said this was great news for the community and tourism on the Coast, but there was still a number of projects to be completed.“We know how much the community loves our beautiful coast beaches and it is important our residents and visitors can swim in the water with confidence,” Mr Reynolds said.The Office of Environment and Heritage produces BeachWatch reports annually, using data and risks ratings provided by Council.

Central Coast Council will celebrate the start of the $23.71 million regional sporting complex located on Lake Road, Tuggerah on Wednesday 22 February at 9am.The Tuggerah Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex is in a prime position to attract regional, state and even national events with Tuggerah train station and the M1 motorway close by providing direct links to Sydney and Newcastle.The first stage will consist of nine playing fields, including a premier field, public amenities such as change rooms, canteen, toilets and store rooms.