Central Coast Council’s Youth Services team has won a Highly Commended award in the Creative Communities section at the 2019 Local Government Excellence Awards.Council won the award for its Creative Engineers @ The Hub program, which runs Battle of the Bands, Discovered, Idea to Screen and Let Me Entertain You.Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan, said she was delighted that the Youth Services team had been recognised for creatively engaging young people.“Creative Engineers @ The Hub was established for young people to expand their vision for the future and connect with the arts industry.“This well-deserved recognition of Council’s Youth Services team reflects all the energy and time that goes into creative projects engaging young people through The Hub Erina.“This overwhelming success is largely due to Council’s strong vision which has attracted a myriad of committed supporters, including prominent national music industry insiders Rod McCormack and Gina Jeffreys, the national youth charity organisation Musicians Making a Difference (MMAD), and other local creative businesses such as Macron Music Erina and The Grove Studios.”Mayor Jane Smith said the award reflects Council’s commitment in the Community Strategic Plan to connect people, build capacity, celebrate and create opportunities for young people to participate in community life.“It also aligns with our aim to foster creative and performing arts, while working with local leaders to mentor young people in skill development.

From today 1 July 2019, residents and customers in the former Gosford LGA will receive their water bills quarterly instead of bi-annually, in line with the same cycle already in place in the former Wyong LGA.Central Coast Council will also move the stormwater drainage charge, which appears on the rates account for residents and customers in the former Gosford LGA, to the water account – again reflecting what is already in place in the former Wyong LGA.Council Chief Financial Officer, Craig Norman said while these changes are small and ultimately won’t impact the bottom line of the consumer, it is another example of how Council is aligning some of its essential services for the community and moving forward as ‘One Central Coast’.“Not only are we continuing to move forward as ‘One Central Coast’, but unifying our water billing across the region ensures consistency for our community,” Mr Norman said.“Water charges for residents in the former Gosford LGA will now be spread across four bills instead of two, making for a more manageable bill, helping to reduce bill shock and ease financial pressure for a number of residents and customers.“A more frequent bill can also help residents budget better as well as identify leaks more readily to ensure we are all using our water responsibly.”Mayor Jane Smith has welcomed the streamlining of services and lower water prices but is encouraging the community to continue to be water wise.“The aligning of our essential services across the Coast is something that the community have told us they want, and it is something that Council wants as well,” Mayor Smith said.“This change follows The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART)’s recent determination that will see a reduction in water bills across the Coast, depending on usage.“While we are all excited by lower water bills, we must remember that like most of NSW, the Central Coast is affected by drought and we encourage everyone to continue to use water wisely.”“So now is the time to start being water wise and think about what we can do as individuals and as a community to preserve this most precious of our resources.”IPART is responsible for reviewing and determining the maximum water, sewerage and stormwater drainage prices for major water utilities in NSW, and has been doing so for over 25 years.IPART’s recent determination will see the annual water bill for a typical household in the former Gosford LGA fall by approximately $330 in 2019-20, and a typical bill for a household in the former Wyong LGA fall by approximately $150 per year, depending on water usage.If residents or customers have any questions about their next water bill visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/mywaterbill or phone 1300 463 954.

Central Coast Council has commenced a water mains cleaning program for selected areas in the region as part of its continual water quality program.Council Acting Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said Council is utilising a new technology to ensure water is not wasted and disruption to the community is minimal.“Council undertakes regular maintenance of our water mains to ensure the continued high quality delivery of this essential service to the community,” Mr Loader said.“We are using a new technology that treats and then recycles the treated water back into the mains, ensuring minimal water is wasted during the process – something that is essential as we head closer to the introduction of Level 1 water restrictions for the region.“Work will commence every day until 16 July, typically between the hours of 8am and 5pm.

Central Coast Council will be celebrating this years’ NAIDOC Week with a flag raising event at Council’s Wyong administration building.

Central Coast Council has closed Terrigal Beach, Haven and Lagoon due to poor water quality, detected as part of the Terrigal Catchment Audit.Heavy rainfall in the Terrigal area yesterday resulted in the opening of the Lagoon which has likely contributed to the poor water quality, however testing shows this is not the sole source of pollution.Council and the NSW Government are undertaking further sampling for the Audit, which will assist us to learn more about the potential sources of pollution in the Terrigal Beach and Haven area, particularly during wet weather.Warning signs are in place and Council advises that community members should not swim or surf in the area until the signs have been removed.Council will remove the signs and update its social media channels as soon as the water quality returns to an acceptable level.All other beaches are open however Council recommends that people avoid swimming and surfing for at least one day after rain at ocean beaches and for up to three days after rain at lagoon/lake and estuarine sites.Swimming is not recommended near stormwater drains or where there are obvious signs of pollution such as litter, discoloured water, odours and surface scums (oil and foam).The Terrigal Catchment Audit is a comprehensive program undertaken as a partnership between Council and the NSW Government which is assessing possible sources of pollution within the Terrigal Catchment and their impacts on long term water quality in the Lagoon, Haven and the Beach.The audit extends the Beachwatch program sampling to assess water quality in incoming stormwater drains and will systematically move throughout the catchment to understand pollution sources and solutions.

Central Coast Council has pulled together its July school holiday program with new activities designed to take the pressure off families wondering how to keep the kids entertained.The popular program includes free and ticketed activities right across the Coast, while Council’s newly designed school holiday webpage allows the community to filter activities by date, location and age – making it even easier to discover things to do.What's On for our YouthCouncil’s Youth Services team have developed a dynamic program full of activities across technology, professional skills development, sports and creative.

Council to design and build new play space in WadalbaA new play space at 30 and 32 Voyager Rd, Wadalba (opposite Johns Road) is proposed for construction in the 2019/20 financial year.Detailed planning and design will firstly be undertaken, with the new play space to provide a shared active space for the many young families that live in this growing region.Council’s first all-region plan for future growth and development to go on exhibition for community feedbackCentral Coast Council’s plan for growing the Central Coast in a sustainable manner that enhances the region’s character, preserves its natural attributes and improves our quality of life will soon be on exhibitionThe draft Urban Spatial Plan (draft Plan) aims to provide a spatial framework that will guide the Central Coast Region’s future growth and development over the next 20 years, prioritising the uniqueness of local areas and local communities.“This Plan is the next step in helping to achieve the long term social, environmental and economic aspirations of our community,” Mayor Smith said.“It responds to the goals and directions of the NSW State Government’s ‘Central Coast Regional Plan 2036’, and Council’s ‘One Central Coast Community Strategic Plan 2018’, to ensure the Central Coast of tomorrow will grow into a world class region that is Smart, Green and Liveable with a shared sense of belonging and responsibility.“The draft Plan proposes four planning pillars:

Central Coast Council is encouraging those interested in shaping the future of waste and resource recovery across the region to register for community workshops.The workshops follow online consultation to help formulate Council’s first Waste Management Strategy, which seeks to inspire change to help maximise the amount of waste diverted from landfill and its impact on the environment.Council Unit Manager Waste Services and Business Development, Andrew Pearce advised the workshops would be the last round of public consultation before the first draft Strategy was prepared.“Initial feedback and ideas are now with staff, who would like to sit down with the community and test some proposed actions for the strategy,” Mr Pearce said.“It is imperative we gain a heightened understanding from our residents and businesses of the viability of waste diversion actions, as it’s their willingness to come on board with proposed initiatives that will determine future successes.“Following these workshops staff will develop Council’s first draft Waste Management Strategy, which will be placed on public exhibition later in the year.”Council Mayor Jane Smith said she was looking forward to working with the community in developing an innovative and sustainable Waste Strategy.“With 55 percent of household waste being sent to landfill, we need to work together to come up with the best ways to reduce this and protect our natural environment into the future,” Mayor Smith said.“We are doing our part to try and reduce waste through initiatives such as our draft single use plastic policy and Green Living Program - now more than ever we need the community to join us.“If you are have a great waste reduction idea then please register for a workshop and be part of influencing positive environmental change in our community.”Workshops will be held on:Tuesday 25 June at Wyong Civic Centre, 12-2pmTuesday 25 June at Wyong Civic Centre, 6-8pmMonday 1 July at Umina Surf Club, 6-8pmWednesday 3 July at Erina Centre, Erina Fair, 10am-12pmBookings are essential – visit yourvoiceourcoast.com/our-coast-our-waste to register and help design the future of waste on the Central Coast.

Central Coast Council’s first ever expo supporting local authors and illustrators will be held next month.An initiative of Council’s Library Service, the event will promote the breadth of writing and artistic talent we have in our region and bring together a community of avid readers and book lovers.Council’s Unit Manager Libraries Learning and Education, Beth Burgess said this was the first time Central Coast Council has run an exhibition like this and she hoped the new format would engage the local community.“We are always looking for different ways to support local talent and work within our community to connect people, and the inaugural Central Coast Council’s Library Service ‘Local Author Expo’ provides a great opportunity to do this,” Mrs Burgess said.“Local authors and illustrators will be able to showcase their published work directly to the public for discussion and sale, and our community is invited to attend the event, meet some fascinating people and discover something new.“Expressions of Interest to be part of the expo are now open and we are inviting local authors or illustrators, who might be looking for a new way to get their work seen, to apply to be a stallholder.

Central Coast Council Councillor and Deputy Mayor, Chris Holstein is one of seven local citizens awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Queen's Birthday 2019 Honours List.Mayor Jane Smith said the Queen's Birthday 2019 Honours List recognises and rewards commitment to community and country.“The passion and dedication of our community is one of the things that make the Central Coast truly a great place to live,” Mayor Smith said.“A number of local community members have been acknowledged for the contribution and support they provide our region, including Council’s own Chris Holstein, recognised for his service to local government and the community.“Having grown up on the Central Coast, Cr Holstein is a valued member and representative of our community, actively supporting local programs such as Central Coast Life Surf Life Saving, Central Coast Vietnam Veterans Association, Central Coast Scouts, Coast Shelter and Regional Youth Support Services in addition to his role in Council.“Cr Holstein has been a Councillor on the Central Coast since 1991, Mayor of the Former Gosford City Council between 1998-2001 and 2008-2009 and Deputy Mayor of Central Coast Council since 2017.

Harvest Festival 2019 attracted over 32,000 attendees for the June long weekend filled with farm, friends, food and fun in the picturesque Central Coast hinterland.Acting Council Unit Manager Community Partnerships, Kerrie Forrest said the third annual Harvest Festival injected $8million into the Central Coast economy with attendance numbers up by 100 percent.“Harvest Festival keeps getting bigger and better – we had record attendance numbers of over 32,000 this year, up from 16,000 in 2018,” Ms Forrest said.“Locals and visitors explored eight rural farming communities and their picturesque heritage villages and participated in a host of fun activities across a weekend blessed with fabulous winter weather.”Mayor Jane Smith said it is great to see such support for a Festival that celebrates our unique and beautiful hinterland areas and promotes the Central Coast as a supplier of quality produce.“Events such as this help to ensure the future of this vibrant industry which provides local employment opportunities, highlights sustainable farming practices and makes a great contribution to our economy,” Mayor Smith said.“The Festival is important for tourism too – over $8million will have been injected directly into our economy over the weekend.“Tourism is a significant industry on the Coast and an area where we are committed to growing more jobs and opportunities.“The focus has always been, for obvious reasons on promoting our natural resources.“The Harvest Festival is a great example of how we can create tourism opportunities that protect the local character and environment of our region.”The Harvest Festival invited attendees to explore Dooralong, Jilliby, Yarramalong, Kulnura, Mangrove Mountain, Peats Ridge, Somersby and Calga.Event activities across the two days included fresh food and country markets, food and wine, factory tours, bush tucker tours, working farm tours and the popular ‘pick your own pecans’ and tree shaking demonstrations.Harvest Festival is supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, and contributes to the continued growth and development of the Central Coast.

Children visiting Point Clare will have the opportunity to enjoy an inclusive, peaceful and sensory play experience thanks to a new upgrade to the Wendy Drive play space delivered by Central Coast Council.Councils improvement works at the new Dinosaur themed play space have been designed to encourage the imagination of small visitors and accommodate the needs of children on the Autism spectrum, with complete perimeter fencing combined with a low canopy of trees providing a sense of a secure space within a defined boundary.Mayor Jane Smith said the revitalisation of the Wendy Drive play space has created an inclusive recreational space that brings the community together and promotes healthy lifestyles.“This collaborative project demonstrates our commitment to providing inclusive spaces and opportunities for all people to feel welcome and participate in community life,” Mayor Smith said.“We encourage members of the community to visit this wonderful space which delivers on our Community’s vison for activated open spaces and facilities in natural settings.”The $145,000 upgrade project was jointly funded by Central Coast Council and NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership program and includes a double slide, basket swing and dinosaur fossils and footprints throughout the rubber softfall sparking the imagination of small visitors to be on the lookout for a T-Rex or Velociraptor.Visitors to the play space will also find some beautifully hand crafted timber seats to rest on as they pass through the park, with a natural branch climber linked back to the resident who owned and donated the land to Council.A new path links the Point Clare community from Camden Close through to Wendy Drive with pedestrian access gates at each end.

Central Coast Council and NSW Police are encouraging schools to attend an innovative educational program aimed at reducing the number of road incidents involving children on their bikes. Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said CARES – Community and Road Education Scheme – aims to improve the safety of children on and around Central Coast roads. “Children are vulnerable roads users and it’s important we take a range of measures to keep them as safe as possible, Ms Vaughan said. “Road trauma is a leading cause of death and injury for children in NSW and our goal is to help reduce this alarming statistic. “CARES is a joint initiative of Council and NSW Police to provide children in Years Five and Six with an experiential program – we combine classroom learning with building practical skills using a simulated roadway.” Mayor Jane Smith said that more than 2,500 Central Coast school children participated in the program last year. “CARES is a great example of a joint initiative from Council and NSW Police to help keep our kids safe,” Mayor Smith said. “After more than a decade of operation the program has become a Central Coast institution and I would encourage local primary schools to book in their classes. “We have 2,200 kilometres of roads on the Coast and we want to ensure our children have the knowledge to ride safely near those roads. “This program not only increases safety but also encourages our kids to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.” CARES offers a practical and fun learning experience and contributes to the Stage Three Personal Development, Health and Physical Education syllabus. The single-day program sees children complete obstacle courses to enhance their basic cycle skills, before using a simulated roadway to be exposed to a variety of real road situations in a controlled safe environment. The CARES program costs just $5 per child and more than 35 schools have already booked children into the program for this school year. For more information about the CARES school program, schools should call 4362 8340 or book online at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/cares.

Council’s Operational Plan 2019-20 to deliver $792M for the Central Coast communityCentral Coast Council tonight adopted its Operational Plan for the 2019-20 financial year which will deliver $792.0million worth of investment in essential services and capital works.The Plan forms the second year of Council's Delivery Program 2018-21 and will deliver $556.4million in essential services and $235.6million in capital works in the priority areas of roads;

Central Coast Council tonight adopted its Operational Plan for the 2019-20 financial year which will deliver $792.0million worth of investment in essential services and capital works.The Plan forms the second year of Council's Delivery Program 2018-21 and will deliver $556.4million in essential services and $235.6million in capital works in the priority areas of roads;

A selection of Australia’s leading blues and jazz musicians will delight audiences with performances at nine Central Coast venues across five suburbs this July.The ninth annual Winter Blues and Jazz Festival will feature headliners Russell Morris and Emma Pask and a jam-packed program over two days – Saturday 13 July and Sunday 14 July.Council Unit Manager Community Partnerships, Glenn Cannard said the Central Coast’s most popular free music event catered to all music lovers.“We have a great and varied line-up that will make it almost impossible not to move your feet,” Mr Cannard said.“Blues and jazz fans love the event but non-fans often walk away with a new understanding and appreciation of what modern blues and jazz is all about.“Great music with our beautiful Central Coast as the backdrop is a combination that is not be missed.“The Entrance is the flagship venue for the event but locals and visitors can enjoy the music and soak up the atmosphere at venues in Bateau Bay, Tumbi Umbi, Wamberal and Avoca Beach.The Winter Blues and Jazz Festival 2019 features headliners Russell Morris and Emma Pask, along with Caiti Baker, 19-Twenty, Chase The Sun, Geoff Achinson, Muma Janes Blues Band and much more.Mayor Jane Smith said the Winter Blues and Jazz Festival was about bringing people together to celebrate music and have a great time.“Locals and visitors love this event – it’s all about fun with family and friends and experiencing some incredible free entertainment,” Mayor Smith said.“The Winter Blues and Jazz Festival attracts between 6,000 and 9,000 families, friends and visitors to our region, which provides a welcome boost to the local economy during the quieter winter months.” Event venues are:

Australia’s foremost prestigious and controversial portraiture prize – the ‘Archibald Prize’ – is among a number of exhibitions announced for the Central Coast community as part of Gosford Regional Gallery’s new Winter/Spring Program.The new program also sees the return of the hotly contested ‘Gosford Art Prize’, which this year has been expanded to include an Aboriginal Art prize for the first time.Central Coast Council Team Leader Art Galleries, Arts and Culture, Tim Braham said the Gallery prides itself on securing prestigious exhibitions for our community and it is because of this that the venue has recently been ranked as TripAdvisor’s number one destination to visit in the southern area of the Coast, among 17 other local attractions.“We are delighted to continue bringing fantastic exhibitions to the Central Coast and saving locals a trip to Sydney or Newcastle,” Mr Braham said.“The most exciting exhibition in our new program is the 2019 Archibald Prize, choosing to return to the Gallery for just the third time in its 98 years of exhibition – telling us that the experience we offer here on the Central Coast is world-class, which is reflected in our recent TripAdvisor ranking of number one.“The Gallery is also a platform for local artists to professionally display their works and we have some great local exhibitions including ‘Short Stories’ by Miriam Cullen, ‘PARADIGM/SHIFT’ by Natalie Verriest, ‘Heads above water’ by Peter Baka and ‘Tales of a modern Blackfulla’ by Garry Purchase.“The Gallery is recognised as a ‘hidden gem’ of the Central Coast and we invite locals and visitors to check out our new Winter/Spring Program and drop by to view the exhibitions, take a stroll through the Gardens and enjoy a coffee at the café.”Mayor Jane Smith said the Gallery is an important cultural and educational resource that attracts outstanding exhibitions for locals and visitors to the region to enjoy.“Our Gosford Regional Gallery hosts a variety of local, national and international exhibitions from both established and emerging artists and its recent ranking on TripAdvisor shows just how valued the facility is,” Mayor Smith said.“Tourism is a significant industry on the Central Coast and the visitor economy makes a positive contribution to the community through building local pride, youth employment, and supporting local events and community infrastructure.“Council is committed to investment in tourism for the region and this achievement brings us one step closer to being the natural choice for leisure, business and major events in regional NSW.”Gosford Regional Gallery’s new Winter/Spring Program can be viewed online at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/galleries

An Eastern Osprey nest has been upgraded to VIP status at Central Coast Stadium just in time for this year’s breeding season. The nest, which originally sat on top of a lighting tower for the stadium, has been relocated to a purpose built nest platform a few metres away. Central Coast Stadium Manager, Kath Casey said the nest relocation was necessary for the comfort and safety of both the birds and stadium goers. “Unfortunately, since the birds first moved in and started nesting on the light tower in 2014, they have been creating many challenges, as well as some real safety issues,” Mrs Casey said. “With the nest sitting so close to the lights, maintenance of the tower was becoming difficult and we’ve also had to close the seats in the bay below as sticks and debris continually fall from the nest.” Mayor Jane Smith said Council had considered a number of options for the nest. “Council has been working closely with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage since 2015 to find the best possible option to manage this crucial threatened species,” Mayor Smith said.

Central Coast Council understands community concern over the use of herbicides in light of recent news coverage around USA civil law suits connected to ‘RoundUp’ a commonly used herbicide.The health and safety of Council workers and the community are taken very seriously and Council ensure responsible practices are in place for the safe use of herbicides whilst protecting the environment.Council applies herbicides containing glyphosate for the purpose of weed control within the Central Coast Local Government Area.

Central Coast Council is calling on all mountain bike (MTB) riders, environmentalists, users of our natural reserves, visitors, and the general Coast community to assist us with our first Mountain Biking Feasibility Study.With participation in mountain bike riding as both a sport and nature-based recreation increasing, and demand for suitable areas to ride also growing, Council is looking to hear from all interested members of the community to help better understand the demand, potential issues and management options for mountain biking in Council reserves across the region.Director of Environment and Planning Scott Cox said the feasibility study will assist in planning for recreation that will meet the needs of the community as well as protect biodiversity, heritage and the nature conservation values of Council’s natural reserves.“This study will provide us with an opportunity to accommodate and manage the competing demands of natural reserve users and mountain bike enthusiasts in a way that protects sensitive areas and provides new opportunities to enjoy nature-based activities in the region,” Cox said.“Additionally, it will assist in providing opportunities to enjoy the cherished and protected natural beauty of the Coast that is compatible with the values of the natural reserves, including the Coastal Open Space System.”Council currently provides for mountain bike riding on fire and management trail systems in its natural reserves however a number of unauthorised trails have recently been constructed in some reserves which may pose risks to both riders and the environment.Community members can provide their views to Council via a survey until 2 July 2019.At the completion of the Mountain Biking Feasibility Study, Council will seek further community input via public exhibition of a discussion paper.