Budding artists over 50 years of age are being asked to pick up their paint brushes, as entries for the prestigious Grandma Moses Art Exhibition are now open.In its 34th year, this long-standing fixture on the cultural calendar takes inspiration from the life and work of Anna Mary Robertson, better known as Grandma Moses, who became widely famous for her evocative paintings depicting American rural life, after taking up painting in her seventies.Central Coast Council Group Leader Customer and Community Relationships Judy Jaeger, said the essence of the competition is that it’s never too late to learn new skills.“The fact that this competition has been running for more than three decades is a testament to its popularity, both for artists and viewers,” said Ms.

Central Coast Council is continuing to deliver new facilities for the Central Coast, as well as improving existing ones to improve the quality of life for our community and visitors.Expanding Little Free LibrariesOur library service is continuing to inspire a love of learning and reading in the community with the installation of two all-weather Little Free Libraries on the shores of Tuggerah Lakes.The newly installed boxes at Saltwater Creek Reserve, Long Jetty and Canton Beach add to our growing list of these free, accessible libraries across the Coast.These libraries are set up so anyone can stop and pick up a book to read or drop in a book or two for the community to share.Little Free Libraries are available at the following locations:Farm Gate Café, North WyongKibble Park, GosfordYesterYear Hair Salon, TuggerawongGosford Smart Work HubGosford Hospital Emergency DepartmentPeruch Avocado Farm – Wisemans Ferry Road, SomersbyBurns Park, GosfordMingaletta, Umina Beach Community HallPeninsula Recreation PrecinctKariong and Kincumber Youth centresWyoming Community CentreRotary Park, Terrigal (anticipated to be available August 2016).We’re always looking for more interest from organisations or businesses who would like to host their own book exchange.

Long Jetty foreshore has been restored to its former glory as a popular swimming and boating paradise with a new sandy area open for community enjoyment.Central Coast Council recently completed the stormwater consolidation and foreshore enhancement works with $360,500 in funding from the Federal Government’s National Landcare Programme.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the project was another key step in improving our community’s quality of life.“Council has a responsibility to not only provide key services to the community but to provide places the community can get together and enjoy their local environment,” Mr Reynolds said.“The project not only provides benefits to our lakes through foreshore improvements and stormwater works, but some unique recreational opportunities as well.“Wooden lounge chairs and picnic benches were installed to complement the foreshore next to the iconic Long Jetty and are already proving popular with the locals and visitors alike.“It’s great to see so many people taking advantage of these community facilities.”Council’s Manager Waterways and Asset Management, Peter Ham said aside from the recreational opportunities, important physical works were completed.“The physical works on site included re-profiling a 60 metre section of foreshore, sand nourishment and construction of a sandstone rock wall which will result in a more natural shoreline profile and provide protection from future erosion,” Mr Ham said.“Also included in the works were infrastructure improvements which allow stormwater to be better collected and diverted away from the newly enhanced foreshore site - this will result in improved water quality along the lake foreshore.“Continuing with the unique nature of this project, our staff have also captured the development of the foreshore area with a time-lapse camera.“So if you have ever wondered what it takes to actually create a new space such as this one, visit our Facebook page or YouTube channel and check it out.”Council is reminding residents the Long Jetty is currently closed for maintenance until Friday 29 July (weather dependent) and requests the community enjoy the jetty from a safe distance until it is reopened.#loveourlivinglakes

Central Coast Council is recognising the community members who shared their stories as part of a year-long campaign that highlighted the Coast as a great place to live, work and play.Tagged Wyong Alive, the campaign was run as part of the 2015-16 Year of the Community and has been collated into a book to showcase the vibrant and diverse characters in our community.Council’s Community Partnerships and Planning Manager, Ms Julie Vaughan, said the past 12 months has showcased everyday people doing what they love best on the Coast.“Through Wyong Alive, we brought to life the stories of everyday people and have captured the overall journey in a book,” Julie said.“The book, Wyong Alive – The Story so Far, gives a special insight into our unique community and highlights the vast array of activities, places, traditions and personalities that make up our community.“Each month community members appeared in a number of different features such as history, sport, volunteers, entrepreneurs, creative arts, positive ageing, future leaders, Indigenous and more all shared through the Wyong Alive website, various mainstream and social media.“The book celebrates the stories of our community and everyone who told their story will receive a copy of the book to share with their family and friends.“We will be expanding the concept this year with Coast Alive giving monthly snapshots of the lives of people in our wider Central Coast community.“Wyong Alive has proved to be a successful campaign and has been recognised as a great way to build pride within a local community.”See the story so far by visiting www.wyongalive.com.au 

Live streaming of fuller Council meetings on the agenda   In a move to improve efficiency, transparency and public engagement, council resolved to undertake a six month trial of live webcasting of its meetings.At the first meeting of the new council on 25 May, the Administrator called for a report on the potential to webcast meetings to provide the community with an additional and convenient means of seeing the decision-making processes of council first-hand.  That report was presented to council tonight.The trial will include the installation of fixed cameras in both the Gosford and Wyong Civic Centres, with images and audio live streamed via the internet.Council will continue to alternate meetings between Gosford and Wyong Civic Centres.A further public exhibition will get underway shortly to gauge community views on webcasting and also a proposal to hold monthly instead of fortnightly meetings.Councils are required to hold at least ten meetings a year.

Registrations are still open for the SeaFM DISCOVERED series – the Central Coast’s premier vocalist competition for singers aged 7-24 years.The next heat will be held on Friday 5 August 2016 from 6.30pm, at The Hub Erina Youth Entertainment Venue, North South Road, Erina Fair, with a $5 entry fee at the door.This round will feature a selection of young people from across the region, performing two songs each as they contend for a place in the semi-finals in October and November.The series offers professional development opportunities for young people, and the chance for emerging vocalists and singer/songwriters to share in the spotlight.Contestants make their way through a series of heats, competing for the chance to perform in the Grand Final in December and be in the running for the first prize, $5000 in Macron Music money.The SeaFM Discovered series is presented by Central Coast Council Youth Services, and The Hub Erina Youth Entertainment Venue.Professional development partners include:

The wait is over – Bato Yard opens at 3pm!Bato Yard is the biggest skate park in the region and its opening has been the hot topic of conversation for local riders of all abilities and disciplines.Council’s Landscape and Recreation Planner, Mr Boyd McMillan, said this skate park will be one of the biggest and the most diverse in Australia as it will have a few features no others can boast.“Bato Yard has been built to a competition standard and has a rare feature in that it has a competitive street area and two competitive bowls all in the one park,” Boyd said.“The quality of CONVIC’s work shows through all over the park but is on display in the deep bowl – one of the most innovative and exciting bowls in Australia.“The highlight is the 12ft deep (3.6 metres) circular bowl with 1.5ft vert that rises to central 7ft twin hip open bowl and waterfalls down to a 9ft deep square end.

With the joining together of the former Gosford City and Wyong Shire Councils, we're now stronger together as one Central Coast Council.

The Woy Woy Road rail underpass for vehicles is set to re-open this Monday 1 August 2016 following the completion of emergency repair works by Sydney Trains over the last three months.Sydney Trains has now finished constructing protection columns around the rail bridge’s support structures and installing new, 2.5 metre height restriction bars on both sides of the underpass.Central Coast Council will be putting the finishing touches on Sydney Trains repair works over the weekend by installing median strips on the approaches to the underpass.Motorists especially need to be aware that the underpass’ height limit has now been reduced to 2.5 metres.

Central Coast residents will have a chance to meet their new Administrator and CEO when they pop up at Council’s engagement stalls from this week.Council has been rolling out the stalls in major shopping centres across the Coast as a one stop shop to answer resident questions about the newly merged Council.Council’s Administrator Mr Ian Reynolds and CEO Mr Rob Noble are set to join in and will pop up at the following shopping centres:Thursday 4 August: