Applications for Round Two of the NSW Government’s Stronger Communities Fund - Community Grants Program are now open, following the successful sharing of more than $250,000 among 14 local not-for-profit groups under round one program funding.The funding is available as part of the $10 million Stronger Communities Fund provided to Central Coast Council as part of the local government amalgamations, with $1 million earmarked for local community group grants over the next three years.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the Community Grants Program fosters projects that help create a more vibrant, sustainable and inclusive community.“Successful round one recipients have been using their funding towards building community gardens, improving sports facilities and amenities, enhancing community centres and supporting a healthy and happy community through a range of support programs and activities,” said Mr Reynolds.“Council is encouraging as many sporting, cultural, environmental and other not-for-profit organisations to apply for round two funding to continue in their endeavours to make the Central Coast a great place to live, work and play.”Round one recipient and Davistown Progress Association President, Mrs Jenny McCulla, said the Stronger Communities Fund grant has enabled residents to come together to participate in the Davistown Progress Hall Centenary Restoration Project.“The Stronger Communities funding has helped our local community provide a much needed makeover for the historic Davistown Progress Hall,” said Mrs McCulla.“The 100 year anniversary of the hall is approaching in a few years and locals have banded together to reinvigorate this facility as a community focal point and meeting place.“The grant has enabled us to undertake works including replacements and refurbishments, improved drainage and landscaping to help restore the venue.
An awards ceremony for young book worms is being held at Erina Library on 14 February to celebrate the libraries' Summer Reading Competition.All 163 young book lovers who registered for this year’s challenge are invited to attend the event, which falls on Valentine’s and Library Lovers Day, and includes a silent disco.Council’s Group Leader of Connected Communities, Ms Julie Vaughan, said the library children’s team from both ends of the coast are committed to making sure children keep learning by helping them discover the joys of readings.“We like to encourage children to keep developing and learning over the summer holidays by taking part in educational activities such as this one,” Ms Vaughan said.“Council libraries are committed to investing in educational activities for children in order to make sure they are well equipped for the life and the work force.”The competition was open to children aged 5 – 16 years, and has been running nationally for five years.
Explore hidden gems and discover forgotten laneways when the Gallery Precinct 2259 Love Lanes Festival showcases Wyong in a new light.Festivalgoers to the inaugural event will be able to immerse themselves in the abundance of colour, sounds, and smells of this unique outdoor festival on Saturday 11 February 2017.Three laneways in the town centre of Wyong will be transformed for one afternoon — nothing like you’ve ever seen before.There will be live entertainment, aerial circus performances, live art, free kids’ activities, great food, markets stalls and much more including strange creatures set to excite the crowd, as interactive street performers make their way through the festival.See Wyong come to life on Saturday 11 February from 4pm–10pm at:Grand Hotel Lane (Robley’s Lane) will feature aerial circus performances, ‘La Toosh,’ tunes on the stage, a licensed bar area, as well as an outdoor cinema from 8.15pm on the Chapman Building Lawn.Coastwide First National Lane (Alison Road) will offer tastings from Wyong’s local favourites:
The best of Central Coast Council’s lifeguard service battled it out on Terrigal Beach last week for top honours in Central Coast Council’s inaugural lifeguard challenge.The annual challenge took a new approach this year following the amalgamation of the former Gosford and Wyong Councils in May 2016.Competitors contended individually in the Howard Jones Memorial Mission and in teams to take out the coveted Cook Cup trophy.Council’s Connected Communities Group Leader, Ms Julie Vaughan, said the competitive spirit was still there under the new format.“Thirty of our finest lifeguards took part in the two events that demonstrated their experience, skill and talent,” Ms Vaughan said.“Our Lifeguards do a great job keeping our beaches safe every summer and certainly showed off these skills at the challenge.”The Howard Jones Memorial Mission is an individual event consisting of an 800metre run, 400metre swim, 800metre run and 600metre board paddle.The Cook Cup is a team event which saw 10 teams of three compete in an 800metre run, 400metre swim and a 600metre board paddle.Shelly Beach’s James Koch was the man of moment taking home both the Howard Jones Memorial trophy as well as the coveted Cook Cup.The top five place getters in the Howard Jones Memorial Mission were:
The Central Coast’s largest riding facility will be hosting one of the biggest skate competitions in the region to find how who will be named the inaugural King of Concrete Champion.Bato Yard will be hosting this prestigious event in the King of Concrete skate series for bowl riders on Saturday 11 February.The competition will see the best riders from all over the region – even the state and country – competing not only for a share of $5000 in prize money but for wildcards into the Bondi BOWL-A-RAMA, the peak world bowl competition that celebrates the skateboarding culture and attracts international pro riders, such as Tony Hawk.Event organiser and former world champion, Mr Renton Millar, said holding a King of Concrete round at Bato Yard gives top bowl skaters from the Coast a chance to showcase their skills.“Our team can’t wait to get up to Bato Yard,” Mr Millar said.“I was a part of the original workshops and had a say in the design of Bato Yard, so it’s exciting to bring these competitions to the Coast and watch the community improve their skating skills.“Bato Yard has the potential to attract top riders from around the country to the Central Coast as well as other major skating events.“You already have well-known riders Matt Kitai and Bryce McKean travel the country doing what they love, and now they can do it in their own backyard.”Riders will compete for $5000 in prize money as well as giving the chance to three junior riders and the top two masters and opens riders to compete in the popular Bondi competition on 18-19 February.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the facility was delivering on its promise to attract world class events and providing important opportunities for residents and visitors alike.“Since its opening, the riding facility has seen thousands upon thousands of people come through and test their abilities on some of the rare features the Yard has to offer,” Mr Reynolds said.“Bato Yard was built for local riders and to attract major competitions to our great region, just like this one.“Last month we had a YMCA skate event that was so popular they are looking at holding it over two days next year.“It’s certainly becoming well known as one of the premier riding facilities in the region, if not the state.”The King of Concrete skate series is a national event that has really injected energy into the bowl skating scene in Australia and next week’s event is one not to be missed.Street riders will also have a chance to show off their skills when the team brings the King of Street competition to Bato Yard on Saturday 22 April with winners getting a chance to win a share in $5000 and a pathway entry to an event in the USA.For more details on what’s happening at Bato Yard, visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/batoyard
Council is urging residents to do their part in taking care of Tuggerah Lakes to mark World Wetlands Day which is today.World Wetlands Day, 2 February, is an international celebration to increase public awareness of the vital functions wetlands play in the environment and to promote conservation and the wise use of wetlands.Council is committed to preserving and maintaining our remaining wetlands in the Tuggerah Lake catchment, with some 50 per cent having been lost due to draining and clearing for agriculture and housing over the past 200 years.Council’s Group Leader of Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Mr Mike Dowling, said World Wetlands Day presented a timely reminder that Tuggerah Lakes, a 1620 ha catchment, needed constant care.“The wetlands are like the purifiers for water entering the lakes, in that they are important filters for water before they enter our lakes.
Central Coast Council congratulated 2016 scholarship and internship students and welcomed the 2017 scholarship students at a well-attended ceremony yesterday.With the number of young Coast residents with university qualifications less than half the state average, these innovative programs aim to inspire locals to stay committed to their studies.Council’s Executive Manager of People and Culture, Ms Kellie Reeves, said the programs served the dual purpose of encouraging tertiary education while assisting students to get a head start in their chosen careers.“Although youth unemployment on the Coast has dropped 2.5 per cent, from 17 per cent in July 2016 to 14.5 per cent in November 2016, we are keen to see this figure drop even further, as we are still higher than the national average,” Ms Reeves said.“Our scholarship program looks to address the current disconnect in the transition from schooling to training or employment.“Open to local high school graduates and students who have completed their first year of university, this program encourages students to continue their education and look towards their future.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said council’s internship program was open to third or fourth year students.“Our internship program equips students with skills and hands-on experience needed to get their foot in the door of a very competitive workforce,” Mr Reynolds said.“Both programs provide financial support to pursue tertiary study which may otherwise be unattainable for individuals.“Job creation is one of Council’s top priorities and this is one way Council is working to help the community establish careers locally and keep our talent here on the Coast.”The four graduating interns for 2016 are:Emily Rindfleish – Environmental Science & ManagementJeremy Jones –Engineering/Engineering PracticesMitchell Knox – Civil Engineering.James Wilkinson – Civil Engineering2016 Scholarships have been involved in a number of community projects and exposed to a wide range of skills and experiences within their allocated areas within the business.
Central Coast Council wishes to advise that road closures will be in place on McMasters Road, Woy Woy on Sunday 5 February 2017, as the Peninsula Leisure Centre hosts the Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon.The closure will run from John Hoare Crescent to Blackwall Road, starting at 5am and reopening at 1pm.Welcome Street, Drew Street and Fairview Street will also be closed for the duration of the event.Warning signs will be in place during the road closures to notify motorists of the changed traffic conditions, Council encourages everyone to take care if driving nearby.Council would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their patience and understanding during this road closure.
Applications for the second round of the NSW Government’s Stronger Communities Fund - Community Grants Program opened on Monday 30 January.The funding is part of the $1 million earmarked for local community group grants over the next three years, as a result of local government amalgamations.The Community Grants Program fosters projects that help create a more vibrant, sustainable and inclusive community.More than $250,000 has already been shared among 14 local not-for-profit groups under the first round of the grants program.Successful round one recipients have been using their funding to build community gardens, improve sports facilities and amenities, enhance community centres, and support a healthy and happy community through a range of programs and activities.Davistown Progress Association was one successful group from round one, where the Stronger Communities Fund has enabled residents to come together to participate in the Davistown Progress Hall Centenary Restoration Project - providing a much-needed makeover for the historic hall.The 100 year anniversary of the hall is approaching in a few years, and locals have banded together to reinvigorate this facility as a community focal point and meeting place.The grant has enabled them to carry out works including refurbishments, improved drainage and landscaping to help restore the venue.We want other community groups, just like the Davistown Progress Association, to apply for second round program funding.Round two is open to not-for-profit organisations to apply for funding to continue in their endeavours to make the Central Coast a great place to live, work and play.So if you or anyone you know is involved in a local community group, spread the word about applying for the second round of the Stronger Communities Fund – Community Grants Program to help make your projects happen.To be successful for funding, community projects must meet the following criteria:Deliver social, cultural, economic or environmental benefits to the local community;Address an identified community priority;Be well defined with a clear budget;Demonstrate that any ongoing or recurrent costs of the project can be met by the community group once grant funding has been expended;