NSW Premier Mike Baird is on the Central Coast today to announce a new aircraft manufacturing facility that will establish in the region and create a new aerospace industry and subindustries in Australia.Premier Baird said that Amphibian Aerospace Industries will relocate its off-shore manufacturing to the Central Coast and become the first transport category aircraft manufacturer to set up in Australia since the 1940s.It will create 240 direct jobs in aircraft manufacturing, as well as thousands of indirect jobs in auxiliary industries like parts supply, instrumentation, interior fitouts and avionics.“This is a great day for the Central Coast – this announcement means thousands of jobs for the region with a significant flow on to the Central Coast economy,” Premier Baird said.“The decision by AAI to locate here is a testament that NSW is Australia’s prime location for business growth and investment.”Council Administrator Ian Reynolds said the announcement was the culmination of over 12 months of negotiations between AAI and Central Coast Council staff.“Bringing jobs to this region and enabling employment growth are some of the key priorities of Central Coast Council.
Central Coast Council is holding a series of free green living workshops to help you live sustainably and reduce your environmental impact around the home.Learn from experts in their field on how to compost, setup an organic garden, use Australian bush flower essences, eat sustainable food, keep backyard chickens and clean your house without chemicals.To celebrate National Recycle Week, from Monday 7 until Friday 13 November, Council also has a range of workshops that focus on recycling around the home including in the kitchen, your backyard and even in your wardrobe.In addition, a variety of workshops will be on offer as part of the Wyong Lakes Festival from Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 November.Council’s Environmental Education Officer, Anni Griffiths, said there are workshops to suit all households.“Regardless of what size your backyard is or whether you live in a unit, we have a range of workshops to suit everyone’s lifestyle and sustainability goals,” said Ms Griffiths.“By making small changes you can easily live a greener lifestyle.
Coast Olympians and Paralympians to be honoured with Civic ReceptionCouncil will host a Civic Reception next month to honour the Olympians and Paralympians from the Central Coast who represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Games.Four athletes from the Coast made their Olympic debuts in Rio including Matt Dawson in the men’s hockey team, Jesse Parahi in Rugby 7s and Lachlan Tame and Riley Fitzsimmons in canoeing.Five Paralympians represented Australia in Rio - Liesl Tesch in sailing, Dylan Littlehales in canoeing, Rae Anderson in athletics with Matt Formston and Nick Yallouris in the cycling team.Administrator Mr Ian Reynolds said the athletes were great ambassadors for the Central Coast and the community was proud of what they have achieved.“These athletes have taken on the best on the world’s biggest sporting stage and have done themselves, and our region, proud,” Mr Reynolds said.“To be the best takes a lot of time and sacrifice - but it is worth it when you get to represent your country in a sport you love.”“We are proud of how these athletes have performed in Rio and are delighted to have them as sporting ambassadors for our great region.”The athletes and their families will be invited to a civic reception to be held within the next month.Monthly Council meetings go live onlineCentral Coast Council meetings will now be held monthly and broadcast live to a potential audience of 331,000 residents.Council will utilise new technology and install fixed cameras in both the Gosford and Wyong Chambers to allow residents to see what is discussed and decided at a council meeting.Council’s Administrator said the community has shown this is something they want as often due to distance and time constraints they cannot always attend Council meetings themselves.‘Like residents, I am looking forward to having the option available. It is an open and transparent way to show how Council works,” Mr Reynolds said.“Unfortunately, many people don’t understand how local government works which limits their opportunities to be involved.“I hope that once the community can see the proceedings without having to attend, there will be a greater understanding of the governance of Council and how decisions are made.Council meetings will be held on the fourth Wednesday of every month from January to November inclusive and continue to alternate between Gosford and Wyong.The next Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 26 October in the Gosford Chambers in Mann Street.Council shelves Gosford Land Sale Strategy Council has abandoned plans to reclassify a number of land parcels under the Land Sale Strategy of the former Gosford Council.In late 2015, the former Gosford Council resolved to reclassify a number of identified parcels of public land from "community" to "operational".
Spring is in the air and the school holidays are just around the corner - a perfect opportunity to holiday in or explore the Central Coast.The Coast has a lot to offer to keep your family entertained these holidays, from the beach to the lakes, to the valleys and the bush - there’s something for everyone. As the weather warms up, it’s a great chance to head on down to one of our 15 patrolled beaches from the Lakes in the north to Umina in the south.Beach conditions are assessed daily to determine the safest part of the beach to swim and where to set up the red and yellow flags.If the beach isn’t your thing, we have been working hard to improve the Lake’s boat ramps and swimming areas with foreshore improvements, maintenance of netted swimming areas and buoy markers, as well as the general amenity of foreshore parks - but remember these areas are not patrolled by Lifeguards.There is more to the lakes than swimming and fishing. With more than 700 kilometres of shared pathways around the Coast (most of them along the water’s edge), this opens up a number of options to walk, ride explore the lake foreshores with family and friends.Check out the first section of Magenta Shared Pathway - 1.5 kilometres of shared pathway that runs along the edge of the Red Gum Forest - or the new pathways winding around the Peninsula.Along all our pathways there are a number of play spaces to stop play or rest and enjoy the views.We maintain more than 250 play spaces across the Central Coast catering for all ages and abilities – so there is bound to be one close to you.There are also 24 skate places on the Coast, including the new regional skate place at Bateau Bay called Bato Yard, which has shading, seating, a basketball court, parkour elements and much more.There’s so much to do and see on the Coast these holidays, and don’t forget to use #thisisthelife and share your favourite places.October long weekendThis year, the October long weekend falls in the middle of the school holidays.If you’re planning on going away, remember these simple travelling tips to ensure you arrive safely at your destination:Stick to the designated speed limit - speeding remains the greatest cause of fatalities and injuries on our roads.Recognise the tired signs.
Places are now available for the popular Reading Buddy program run at select Central Coast Council libraries during Term Four (October – December 2016).Aimed at developing the literacy skills of school aged children and fostering a lifelong love of reading, the program matches students one-on-one with Reading Buddy volunteers from across the community.Council’s Library Services Coordinator Michelle Swan-Beardmore said Reading Buddy programs have been shown to enhance literacy outcomes in young people around the globe.“The Reading Buddy program is so successful because children enjoy quality time and the undivided attention of an adult dedicated to helping them improve their literacy skills and encourage their enjoyment for reading,” said Ms Swan-Beardmore.“Children develop a real rapport with their Reading Buddy and our volunteers gain just as much from the program as the students do.“Previous term programs run here on the Central Coast have been fully booked out, proving the program’s popularity and value with both volunteers and students.”The program consists of bookings for half an hour per week, every week for the ten-week school term.
Central Coast Council’s award winning Wyong Lakes Festival is returning in November bigger and better than ever.Once again, Tuggerah Lakes will take centre stage when more than 30 events make a splash from 12-20 November.The nine day program will feature a full program of sporting, family, cultural, educational and live music events on and surrounding the Tuggerah Lakes catchment area including:Memorial Park, The EntrancePicnic Point, The EntranceMcKenzie Reserve, BudgewoiCanton Beach foreshoreColongra Bay foreshoreLong Jetty foreshore.Council’s Events Officer, Ms Cobey Linsley, said this year’s program has expanded and will be focussed around the six key event hubs.“We have even more events planned for this year’s Festival as well as some of the favourites from last year returning,” Cobey said.“The opening weekend will be jam packed and include a spectacular free evening concert featuring headliner ’Thirsty Merc’ and fireworks.“The popular Triathlon and Stand Up Paddle Board competitions will also be running on the opening weekend as well as a free brunch by the lake.“The final weekend of the Wyong Lakes Festival will finish with a big splash and will see live bands, moonlight cinema, folk festival, water obstacle course and a street festival.“We’ve had more interest this year from groups wanting to be a part of the Festival and have even more free events locked in the calendar.”Some of the new additions to the 2016 Wyong Lakes Festival include Colour Ya World, Obstasplash, Lighthouse Folk Festival, Long Jetty Street Festival and Long Jetty Moonlight Cinema.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said he is excited about the opportunities the Festival will bring to the region.“No wonder our Wyong Lakes Festival is winning state-wide awards, it’s a fantastic event that takes in one of the most iconic locations on the Coast – Tuggerah Lakes," Mr Reynolds said.“The Festival is a great way for residents and visitors alike to take part in a wide range of interesting events and explore our beautiful lakes at the same time.“I can’t wait to see the Lakes come to life on and off the water.”All events are free for spectators to enjoy, with opportunities for people to participate in some events.A full program will be available online from Thursday 1 September.
Local high school students got a taste of local government representation yesterday when Central Coast Council hosted its annual Future Council.Future Council is a forum for students to role play a mock Council meeting in the Council Chambers.
Central Coast Council is embracing Bluetooth technology to help monitor and protect the health of our waterways.Council’s Catchments Management Officer, Ken Brookes, said the technology allowed him to download vital water quality measurements without needing to enter the water.“Council measures a number of water quality indicators at four locations in the lower Wyong River as part of its water extraction licence,” Mr Brookes said.“We use automatic data loggers to test the water every hour and then once a week I download this information to send to our regulators.“The data loggers are now equipped with Bluetooth technology, so there is no longer a need for me to get in a boat and plug directly into the equipment to get the information we need.
Householders in Bateau Bay, Shelly Beach, Killarney Vale, Berkeley Vale, The Entrance and Long Jetty have been advised to watch for discoloured water or changes in water pressure over the next two days, while a leaking trunk main is repaired.Residents are advised the water supply remains safe to drink.Operational changes are being made to the water supply system because of the leaking main, in the median strip of The Central Coast Highway (The Entrance Rd) at Bateau Bay which may lead to the discoloured water and changes to water pressure.It is expected that any discoloured water will clear quickly, but, as a precaution, residents in affected areas and surrounds should check tap water before using their washing machine and dishwasher.To clear discoloured water, run the front garden tap into a bucket for up to one minute to check if the water clears.