Central Coast Council has changed its policies and procedures to provide more notice to the owners of abandoned vehicles before taking further action. Council acknowledges that a recent impounding of a resident’s car has caused concern in the community. In response to community feedback, Council has changed its operational process to provide 14 days’ notice.
Central Coast Council is encouraging the local community to start a conversation with their family, friends and neighbours about preparing for seasonal hazards such as storms, floods, and bushfires. Council Administrator, Rik Hart said that being prepared for emergencies can save lives, property and help the community recover quicker from disaster events when they do occur. “This year we’re facing La Niña climate conditions, which means we can expect to see above average rainfall and more severe and more frequent storms.
Due to the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases on the Central Coast, Council has made the difficult decision to cancel the Australia Day Fireworks at The Entrance Foreshore and Woy Woy Foreshore on 26 January 2022.This decision was not made lightly, however Council’s core priority is the health and wellbeing of the Central Coast community.Council understands this decision will be disappointing to many people and apologises for any inconvenience caused by the cancellation of this event.Council will be reviewing other upcoming Council events and provide regular updates as further information becomes available. ENDS
Central Coast Council is calling on our local amateur artists over the age of 50 to enter its popular Grandma Moses Art Competition.After a break following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this popular competition is back and now in its 38th year.
Highly regarded education leader and local resident, Karen Jones, has been announced by Council as the 2022 Australia Day Ambassador for the Central Coast.Mrs Jones began her career as a special education teacher in 1982, and has been strongly committed to public education since, with a particular focus on Aboriginal education.As former Principal of Wyoming Public School, Mrs Jones transformed and unified the then struggling school with her teaching and learning initiatives significantly increasing literacy growth between Years 3 and 5.
Twelve outstanding locals have received Australia Day honours, including Robyn Downham (Founder of River Cares Group Inc.) who was named ‘Citizen of the Year’ in the 2022 Australia Day Awards on the Central Coast. Council Unit Manger Community and Culture, Glenn Cannard said the annual awards are a chance to recognise the achievements of individuals who have made a positive contribution to the Central Coast community. “I would like to congratulate our nine winners and three highly commended recipients on receiving this honour and thank them for their ongoing contributions to our community,” Mr Cannard said.“Our Citizen of the Year for 2022, Robyn Downham is undoubtedly a worthy recipient of this award and epitomises the true meaning of community spirit, through committing her time to founding and running the River Cares Group Inc.“The community of Spencer have been impacted by bushfires and floods for the past two years, leaving many people in the local community feeling overwhelmed and isolated.“Under Ms Downham’s leadership, River Cares Group Inc.
Community members are invited to share their values, stories and aspirations associated with the Mangrove Creek Dam picnic area, lookout and surrounds to influence the design of an exciting new Visitor Space at this significant site.Featuring a new amenities building, an improved picnic area and educational elements, the new Visitor Space will replace the original facilities destroyed in the 2019 Three Mile Fire.Central Coast Council has received $2.567million from the NSW Government’s Bushfire Local Economic Recovery (BLER) Fund to complete this important project. Council Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said the new Visitor Space will play a key role in supporting locals who were significantly affected by the Three Mile and Gospers Mountain Fires.“Here on the Coast it was community members in our mountain and hinterland regions who were hardest hit by the devasting fires of 2019-20,” Mr Loader said.“The fires posed a threat to life, property and environment, and local businesses faced reduced patronage for an extended period of time.“Our visitor facilities at Mangrove Creek Dam were completely destroyed in the Three Mile Fire and we are seeking to create a new Visitor Space that encourages both locals and tourists to spend more time enjoying this beautiful area and supporting local businesses. “We are keen to hear from our community on how to best represent the significance of this site, which is home to a critical piece of our region’s water supply network and has a rich Indigenous and agricultural history.”Council Administrator, Rik Hart said the project provides an opportunity to create a space that helps to drive tourism for the Coast’s mountain and hinterland regions.“Thanks to this important NSW Government funding we have an opportunity to not only rebuild the Mangrove Creek Dam facilities we lost to the devasting Three Mile Fire but to create an improved space for both locals and visitors to enjoy.“A trip to Mangrove Creek Dam does not disappoint – is a spectacular site to behold and is nestled within beautiful bushland and alongside the Coast’s stunning hinterland region.“I encourage community members to have their say on how our new Visitor Space can feature the values and history of this site and enhance linkages with other tourism offerings.” Key features of the concept design for the new visitor space include:new amenities blocknew overhanging viewing platforms on two levelscommemorative plaqueproposed two level viewing platform at significant survey pillar and rock outcropnew picnic table shelters, bins and bench seating throughoutnew gravel and concrete pathways around the site including disabled accessnew soft native landscaping to car park and surrounding areasnew plaques at pathway intersections and areas of interest containing directions, historical, natural and cultural facts/informationnew bitumen car park area and access roadsexisting trees and natural features to be retained where possiblenew shelters to existing and new BBQ areaspathway access to significant historic Stone Culvertnew road access and parallel bus parkingexisting picnic areas to be refurbished with new low maintenance ground finishnew pergola shelters provide weather protection and signpost the pathway circulation through the sitenew children’s nature play space new adjacent picnic and BBQ areaopportunity for mural to be featured. Community members can have their say until Friday 11 March 2022 by visiting yourvoiceourcoast.com/MCDvisitorspace
The popular Love Lanes Festival in Wyong is back for its fifth year on Friday 8 April, presented by Central Coast Council and Club Wyong, Mounties Group. Love Lanes was originally planned to take place in February, just two days before Valentine’s Day.
Council will host a new Responsible Pet Ownership Event on Saturday 19 February 2022 at Terilbah Reserve, The Entrance North.The event will see SoCares and the Animal Welfare League join Council’s Community Safety team in promoting responsible pet ownership.There will also be over 15 local pet-related businesses holding stalls and delivering demonstrations on the day.