Central Coast Council has joined the State-wide ‘Save Our Recycling’ campaign, calling on the NSW Government to reinvest 100 per cent of funds collected through the waste levy into waste minimisation, recycling and resource recovery. The ‘waste levy’ is the contribution paid to the NSW Government for each tonne of waste received at Council’s Waste Management Facilities – a requirement of The Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (POEO Act). Mayor Jane Smith said Council is supporting the campaign as the funding collected by the waste levy should be reinvested in creating jobs and sustainable industries right here on the Central Coast.

Central Coast Council is reminding residents and visitors to the Central Coast of the importance of beach safety this summer.Mayor Jane Smith said Council cannot highlight enough the importance of being aware and understanding the risks when visiting the beach.

Central Coast Council has recently installed new water tanks at Matcham and Mount Elliot as part of an initiative to help fight fires in areas of the Central Coast without access to town water.The Central Coast now has eight strategically placed water tanks in four separate locations to significantly reduce the time it takes to transport water during a fire.Acting Council Director Environment and Planning, Jamie Loader said the tanks help Council to better serve community members in rural locations during emergency events.“It is critical that Rural Fire Brigades can access water quickly and get on with the job of fighting fires and keeping our community safe,” Mr Loader said.“These tanks mean that it is no longer necessary for trucks to travel significant distances to refill when fighting fires in these locations – a process that could take more than 30 minutes.”“We worked closely with the NSW Rural Fire Service and the Bush Fire Management Committee to identify high risk locations without access to the town water supply.“This project is a great example of Council collaborating to deliver a great outcome for the Central Coast community.”Mr Loader said each of the 35,000 litre tanks is filled and ready for use during an emergency.“Residents in Matcham, Mount Elliot, Holgate and Dooralong can now be confident local Rural Fire Brigades can access water quickly to fight fires in these locations.“Each set of tanks can provide enough water for at least 20 firefighting tanker loads of water during an emergency.”Council will continue to work with the NSW Rural Fire Service and the Bush Fire Management Committee to identify further possible sites across the region.

Central Coast Council have partnered with the YMCA to run the Australian Skateboarding League’s NSW State Qualifier 2019 event at BATO Yard, Bateau Bay on Saturday 19 January.Being Australia’s premier nationwide, amateur skateboarding series, the Australian Skateboarding League showcases and provides an opportunity to some of the country's best up-and-coming skaters.Central Coast Mayor Jane Smith said this event is a win for our community and provides the perfect opportunity for our local skaters to test their skills and step into the world of professional skateboarding.“Securing this event at BATO Yard demonstrates the high quality of this facility and promotes active lifestyles and youth development for our community”, said Mayor Smith.“It also demonstrates that when Council establishes effective partnerships we can create great opportunities for our growing community.”Australian Skateboarding League:

After being postponed in October due to heavy storms, the much anticipated inaugural chalk art event will turn the Waterfront Plaza at The Entrance into one giant canvas for the community to enjoy.The free ‘Chalk the Walk’ event will be held from 17-20 January and is uniquely designed to showcase the talents of the Coast in a fun and interactive way.Central Coast Council Unit Manager Community Partnerships, Glenn Cannard said despite a slight delay, Council is committed to supporting our community and showcasing the artistic talent of the Coast.“When the pavement is your canvas and chalk is your brush, creating an interactive gallery of chalk art that truly honours the amazing talent of local artists becomes challenging when Mother Nature has other ideas,” Mr Cannard said.“We are delighted to host the inaugural Chalk the Walk event these school holidays with a number of different ways the community can get involved.“The event will feature two large 3D artworks by renowned street artist, Anton Pulvirenti, with another 20 chalk masterpieces being produced by local artists to make an interactive pavement gallery.“Children of all ages are free to go wild and express themselves on the chalkboard snake, and on Sunday, 20 January we also have a special opportunity for 10 young artists to register and take part in a major collaborative piece.

An exciting new tournament will have young gamers reaching for their consoles in the hope of winning more than $2,000 in prizes.An initiative of Central Coast Council, the six-month Ultimate Gamer Tournament, open to gamers aged 12-24 years of age, will kick off at Woy Woy’s Deepwater Plaza on 31 January with the grand final taking place at Erina Fair on 22 June.Council’s Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said the tournament is another way Council is creating a strong sense of community for the region’s young people.“The Ultimate Gamer Tournament will appeal to many young people who may not enjoy other popular youth activities such as beach life, sports or music,” Ms Vaughan said.“Players of all ability levels and abilities can compete, offering an activity which often appeals to people who are on the autism spectrum.“Chill-out areas will be also be provided at every event offering gamers a space to relax and connect with other gamers during the competition.”Mobile gaming vans will host each heat at major shopping centres, with capacity for up to 100 gamers per session.

Mr Laurie Maher OAM, has been named the 2019 Australia Day Ambassador for his tireless work providing support for the homeless, and those at risk of homelessness, on the Central Coast.As the former CEO for not-for-profit charity, Coast Shelter, Laurie has led the development of 10 different programs which work together to end homelessness on the Coast including:Kara Women and Children's RefugeNeleh Women and Children's RefugeElandra Women and Children's RefugeRondeley Domestic Violence ProgramCoimba Men's RefugeRumbalara RefugeMaya Young Women's RefugeYouth AngleWoy Woy Youth CottageWyong Youth RefugeCoast Community CentreCentral Coast Council Mayor Jane Smith said Laurie’s community advocacy and national pride made him the perfect choice for the role of Australia Day ambassador.

Central Coast Council will host a line-up of freestyle skate, BMX, scooter and WCMX (wheelchair) events in the first quarter of 2019, continuing its commitment to provide multi-use skate park facilities for the benefit of the community.Council are involved in a number of freestyle riding events that cover all ages and experience levels, and provide an opportunity to identify and showcase local talent and also attract premium riders from around Australia.Some of these 2019 events include:19 January - Australian Skateboarding League:

Central Coast Council is holding a free microchipping day on 16 February for four-legged family members of Central Coast residents.Residents are encouraged to bring their pet to one of the Central Coast Animal Care Facilities at Charmhaven and Erina, to have them microchipped at no cost.Mayor Jane Smith said microchipping was one of the first steps in responsible pet ownership.“Should your cat or dog ever go missing, microchipping helps reunite pets with their owners,” Mayor Smith said.“It’s an important and simple step in pet ownership, along with registering your animal and ensuring your contact details are up-to-date.”Pet owners must microchip and register their new family member by 12 weeks of age, or when they are first sold, which ever happens first.

With the summer holiday season upon us, Central Coast Council is reminding residents to dispose of their litter in bins provided or take it with them to avoid hefty on the spot fines.Council Director, Environment and Planning, Scott Cox, said that a team of Council Rangers have been deployed specifically to target littering hotspots to ensure everyone can enjoy a clean coastal environment this festive season.“Whilst Christmas is a time of good cheer, the incidence of littering increases during this time, and we want everyone do the right thing and dispose of their rubbish in the right place – the bin,” Mr Cox said.“The festive season means more parties, more family get-togethers, more food than you would usually eat … and, sadly, more waste dumped than at any other time of the year.“Certain areas of the Coast become litter hotspots this time of year and our Rangers will be highly active in these areas targeting litter from vehicles and individual littering offences which can attract on the spot fines of up to $250,” Mr Cox said.Areas being targeted include skate parks and busy reserves, beaches and surrounds, water fronts, town centres, fast food outlets and surrounds and major arterial road intersections.

Central Coast Council Offices and a number of services will close from Monday 24 December for the annual Christmas closure and reopen on Wednesday 2 January 2019. This includes Gosford and Wyong Offices, works depots and libraries, with the exception of Gwandalan Library Link and Mooney Mooney Community Library which will reopen on Monday 14 January and Tuesday 29 January, respectively. Essential services will continue throughout the closure period including residential waste collection, water treatment and lifeguards will patrol beaches.

Central Coast Council has welcomed the sight of the resident Eastern osprey pairs nesting across the Central Coast again this year.Five breeding pairs have made the Coast their home this year, with at least two welcoming chicks in the past few months.Council’s Environmental Education officer, Nick Carson said three of the osprey pairs were nesting on Council facilities.“We have had a pair of Ospreys nesting on a purpose built platform at Council’s Erina works depot since 2012 and have since had others nesting at Central Coast Stadium and the Kincumber Sewage Treatment Plant,” Mr Carson said.“We have had reports of two other pairs making the Coast their home, one at Woy Woy and the other at The Entrance.“In the past couple of weeks we have seen the fledglings of the pairs at the Erina Depot and Central Coast Stadium emerge from the nest and start to learn to fly, it’s a great sight to see.”Eastern ospreys, Pandion cristatus, are listed as a vulnerable species in NSW, meaning they face the risk of extinction in the medium-term future.Mr Carson said community members wishing to see the eastern osprey should keep an eye out around our waterways where they like to hunt for fish.“The eastern ospreys look similar to the White bellied sea eagles found here on the Coast, but are smaller in size,” Mr Carson said.“They also have a different mode of catching their prey, preferring to plunge dive for fish, rather than swooping in and grabbing with their talons. “Another key feature of the osprey is the way they carry fish they have caught, preferring to make sure the head of the fish is facing forward during flight to improve aerodynamics. “The waterways here on the Central Coast are home to some pretty special animals, the Eastern osprey being one of them.”We can all play our part in looking after our ospreys by keeping the Central Coast’s waterways healthy.

Central Coast Stadium will proudly host the Star 104.5 Central Coast Carols on Friday 21 December with 100 per cent of all ticket proceeds donated to Cancer Council NSW to support services and facilities right here on the coast.

Central Coast Council has been awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award recognising how both Council and the local community embraced the nationwide reuse program Garage Sale Trail this year.Central Coast Council was one of only 14 councils to receive an award for their involvement in the annual campaign held over the weekend of 20 and 21 October 2018.“This award is the result of a committed and passionate approach to the project by the Council staff involved," commented Co-Founder of Garage Sale Trail, Darryl Nichols.“Through its involvement and promotion of the program, Central Coast Council demonstrated great leadership in sustainability and reuse and ultimately helped make this year's Garage Sale Trail such a success, both locally and nationally.”With 301 sales and stalls registered, Central Coast placed in the top 10 of the 150 Councils that took part across Australia.Mayor Jane Smith said it was great to see Council support this worthwhile national event, which supports Council’s Community Strategic Plan by improving environmental behaviours and increasing community connections.“Our community are certainly committed to, and embrace reusing and recycling and I want to thank and congratulate them for making this year’s event such a huge success,” Mayor Smith said.“The recently issued results have recorded more than 17,000 items sold across our region, with the average sale netting almost $300.“$10,000 of this went directly to local charities, which will have more positive flow on effects to our community which is great to see.“This year’s report has shown there were over 10,000 interactions as a result of the Garage Sale Trail, helping residents get to know their neighbours and feel more connected to their community.“Importantly every garage sale on the Trail saw 516kgs of items reused and saved from landfill which is real benefit for our local environment.“With 35 per cent of the event sellers admitting that without this event the items sold would have otherwise been thrown out, it has also helped us work towards our target of 45 per cent of domestic waste being diverted from our landfill sites.“The average Australian creates over two tonnes of waste every year so it is great to know 88 per cent of local sellers are now more conscious about waste and understand their role in reducing it.“We can all play a role in helping to minimise our waste and this amazing sustainable event brings attention to the positive impact reusing unwanted items has on our environment - a welcome reminder with Christmas only a week away.”Visit garagesaletrail.com.au for more information on the best ways make money selling pre-loved stuff online and how to responsibly donate clothes to charity. ENDS

A diverse mix of young people have been appointed as members of Y4Y (Youth for Youth), the Coast’s first regional youth action team.

Memorial Park at The Entrance is the place to be this New Year’s Eve with free activities, an array of food trucks and a spectacular fireworks display over the water.Award winning Australian band, Pseudo Echo, will also headline the program with a special performance live on stage for the community to enjoy.Central Coast Council Unit Manager Community Partnerships, Glenn Cannard, invited locals and visitors to celebrate the last sunset of 2018 with family and friends along the waterfront.“It is hard to believe that 2018 is coming to an end but we are delighted to host this special event and bring our community together to celebrate our achievements over the past year,” Mr Cannard said.“Memorial Park will be buzzing with a variety of entertainment, free craft activities, live music and a ‘Food Alley’ featuring an array of food choices.

As part of its aim to deliver $2.08million worth of upgrades to Central Coast Council’s leisure centres this financial year, $476k worth of upgrades are now complete.These works include $110,000 worth of solar pool heating installed at Peninsula Leisure Centre and Toukley Aquatic Centre, and $66,000 worth of ventilation improvements at Peninsula Leisure Centre and Lake Haven Recreation Centre – where large fans have been installed in the sports halls.Additionally, $200,000 worth of brand new, cardio gym equipment has been delivered and installed at Lake Haven Recreation Centre, with an additional $100,000 spent on upgrading the surrounding infrastructure to support this new equipment – including flooring, power and internet to allow the users to live stream entertainment on the cardio equipment while they exercise.Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said that Council is committed to providing outstanding leisure facilities.“Our aim is to ensure sport, leisure, recreation and aquatic facilities are high-quality open spaces that are well maintained and activated,” Ms Vaughan said.“With the goal to continually improve the physical and social wellbeing of the Central Coast community, investing $2.08million over the next year across our six leisure centres will further provide residents and visitors of the Coast with terrific facilities and classes.”Work still to commence this financial year includes an upgrade to the outdoor seating and grandstand area at Wyong Olympic Pool and a $1.29million upgrade to the Lake Haven Recreation Centre building.

Central Coast Council has announced the winners of their Library Service’s first Poetry Writing Competition.The competition is one of the many ways Council is delivering on the Community Strategic Plan by celebrating and continuing to create opportunities for inclusion where all people feel welcome and participate in community life.Council Acting Unit Manager Libraries, Beth Burgess said she was pleased with the positive response from the community and it was fantastic to see all ages getting involved.“I would like to thank everyone who was brave enough to submit an entry and tell their tale in verse,” Mrs Burgess said.“I hope the competition acts as a springboard for our local talent to go on and gain recognition at a national and possibly internationally levels.“Thank you also to our judges, Meg Gatland-Veness, Cherry Beckett and Marilyn Campbell, who have volunteered their time towards this worthwhile cause, helping to strengthen the sense of belonging in the community.“I am incredibly proud of the role we play in nurturing and inspiring our amazing local talent, while helping to create a sense of connection within the community.“This is just one of the many ways our libraries help meet education, learning and recreation needs, while encouraging development of literacy and reading skills.“I would encourage everyone to rediscover their local library and take advantage of the amazing free resources and services available.”Winner of the open category, Shelley Stocken from the Peninsula, who discovered her love of poetry while at school, was thrilled when she received the call saying she had received first place.“Even though I studied poetry at university I have never considered myself a poet,” Ms Stocken said.“I have entered a few competitions in the past, but this is the first time I have ever placed, let alone won – I’m surprised, but also incredibly proud of this achievement.“My poem was a self-reflection of sorts, contemplating the theme of ‘Peace’ on an individual level rather than a collective or worldwide concept.“I really enjoyed the process of writing my piece ‘Vessel’, contemplating peace of mind and being comfortable within myself and of my own choices and I hope others can relate.“We have such home grown talent right here on the Coast and we are great at celebrating ourselves – it is fantastic to see Council taking an active role supporting our creative community.”To support writers in their poetry, Council will gift prizes of $200, $100 and $50 gift cards to first, second and third places respectively for every category, as well as a writing gift pack, which will also be awarded to Highly Commended entries at a formal celebratory afternoon tea will be held on Wednesday 20 March 2019.An additional $600 worth of prizes was donated thanks to the 2018 sponsors of the Poetry Competition, Book Bazaar, Book Face, Musicians Making a Difference, QBD Tuggerah and Writing NSW.Winning entries will also be on display in the Central Coast community on World Poetry Day 21 March, 2019.To view the winning poems and find out more about the free resources and services on offer visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/librariesThe winners of the Library Service Poetry Writing Competition for 2018 are:Junior:First place - Finlay Smith for ‘Lady Ocean’Second place - Ellen Leahy for ‘Matcham “Peace’Third place - Cooper Jamieson for ‘Peace’Highly commended - May Russell for ‘The Peace of Winter’Youth:First place - Caitlyn Dixon for ‘How I wish’Second place - Willow Robinson for ‘Music to my Ears’Third place - Indiana Ginglo for ‘Indiana’s Peace Poem’Highly commended - Isabel Wann for ‘Evening’Adult:First place - Shelley Stocken for ‘Vessel’Second place - Catherine Dunk for ‘Rainbow Buddha’Third place - Gail Beard for ‘Nightwatch’Highly commended - Brian Purcell for ‘Full Moon over Avoca Beach’

Central Coast Council will commence further safety improvement works at Willoughby Road, Wamberal in January 2019. Works include the installation of traffic calming devices at two intersections either side of the causeway (dip), a section of kerb and gutter, and footpath and bus stop upgrades.

The Central Coast community can enjoy a powerful new exhibition over the Summer holidays thanks to Central Coast Council’s Gosford Regional Gallery.‘Express Yourself’ is drawn from the National Portrait Gallery’s contemporary collection and it is the first time these portraits have toured the country together.Council Team Leader Art Galleries, Arts and Culture, Tim Braham said he was honoured to have secured such a prestigious National exhibition, free for our community to enjoy.“Express Yourself celebrates portraits of Australians whose unique life experiences symbolise social and cultural themes,” Mr Braham said.“The individuals displayed in the exhibition come from a variety of professions and each subjects’ strength of conviction and uncompromising individuality has lead them to excel in their chosen field, and contribute meaningful change to the social and cultural environment in Australia.“Portraits of Marcia Langton, Jack Charles, Jeff Fenech, Alex Wodak, Carol Ruff, Jim Conway and Gary Foley are among more than thirty photographs, drawings and digital works on display including a newly acquired work, the commissioned portrait of campaigner Rosie Batty by photographer Nikki Toole.“Art plays an important role in our lives, in telling our story and in bringing people together.