Central Coast Council is bringing back the popular outdoor ice skating rink to Kibble Park again this winter school holidays.Suitable for the young, and young at heart, the 19m x 12m rink will return daily from 7-15 July between 10am to 7pm, with 45 minute skating sessions starting every hour.

Central Coast Council would like to congratulate Gosford’s Mr David Magro, who took out first place in the 2017 annual Exposure Photographic Prize for his show-stopping image Field of stars.The winners were announced at a crowded ceremony at The Art House - which is now showcasing the most outstanding images from amateur and emerging photographers, including the exceptional moment David captured in the sky.Council Group Leader, Ms Julie Vaughan, said the judges definitely had a difficult task selecting a winner, but all agree First Prize is the most remarkable.“The quality of images just keeps getting better and better as well as being more contemporary and creative – especially from our local photographic community,” Ms Vaughan said.“We received entries from all over Australia, but this year photographers from the Coast have really shown the judges they have what it takes to stand out in an open competition, dominating the 2017 awards.”The entries from young emerging photographers are also outstanding and highlight the depth of talent on the Central Coast, and are showcased along with the other finalists.“Exposure has always been popular with young people, so this year we introduced a new award for an Emerging Young Talent (aged under 24 years) to show our support for the future generation of Central Coast photographers,” Ms Vaughan said.“From the 675 entries received, the top scoring 145 images are now on display, and I encourage everyone to get along to The Art House and check out the amazing images.”The winners of this year’s competition include:First prize overall – David Magro (Gosford)Second prize overall – Rosie Wood (Berkeley Vale)Third prize overall – Ainsley Martlew (Ettalong)Emerging young talent – Faith Cass (Umina Beach)Highly Commended in Postcards of the Coast – Nicole Wells (Point Claire)Highly Commended in Through the generations – Ann Evans (Hamlyn Terrace)Highly Commended in The natural world – Matthew Bendt (Long Jetty)Highly Commended in A picture tells a thousand words – Raimee Carroll (Hamilton)The exhibition is now open to the public until Sunday 25 June at The Art House Wyong.

Central Coast Council has welcomed the State Government's commitment of $150,000 for an emergency dredge of the Ettalong Channel.Council raised the issue of the need for State Government funding for dredging of the Channel at the Community Cabinet Meeting held on the Coast in February and was involved in the recent roundtable discussion with all stakeholders on the issue.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the emergency funding was welcomed but a long term solution was needed to ensure the channel remained navigable."This is a good interim solution while a more permanent solution and funding model to maintain the Channel are developed."We need to continue the conversation with the State Government and stakeholders about how this will be funded in the longer term.

Central Coast Council is helping you rid the winter blues with a free music festival at The Entrance in July.The popular Winter Blues and Jazz Festival is returning to Memorial Park, The Entrance with a fantastic line up of artists performing across two stages on Sunday 9 July.Council Group Leader Connected Communities, Ms Julie Vaughan, said Memorial Park is one of the Coast’s most popular entertainment venues attracting some major events to the area – just like this one.“The annual festival is a great way to see some of the country’s best musicians in our backyard for free,” Ms Vaughan said.“So bring along your chair or blanket and sit back and enjoy free live jazz and blues music along the water.”Headlining the Festival this year is blues singer, Jeff Laing and jazz singer, Emma Pask.Jeff is world renowned as a prolific artist and has yielded the rewards of many a hard-working musician's dreams - widespread acclaim, a devoted fan base, an exemplary back catalogue, an ARIA Award in addition to countless nominations, invitations to the world's most prestigious festivals, and coveted tours with such icons as Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan.Emma is an award winning vocalist who has firmly established herself as one ofAustralia’s favourite voices in Jazz.

Central Coast Council will hold an Extraordinary meeting on Monday 19 June 2017 for the presentation of the audited financial statements and the auditor’s reports for the former Gosford City Council for the period 1 July 2015 to 12 May 2016.The audited financial statements for the former Gosford City Council are available for inspection at Council’s administrative buildings in Mann Street Gosford and Hely Street Wyong, customer service centres, libraries and online at yourvoiceourcoast.com from 9am Friday 9 June.Any person may make written submissions to Council with respect to the former Gosford City Council’s audited financial statements or audit reports until 27 June 2017.Also available for inspection are the audited financial statements of the former Gosford Water Supply Authority.The meeting will be held at the Council Chambers in Mann Street Gosford at 6:30pm.Council will hold a residents’ forum before the Extraordinary Meeting at 6pm in the Gosford Chamber.  Residents are required to register to speak by calling 4325 8361 and will have a maximum of five minutes.

AFFINITY has been named by Central Coast Council as the successful organisation to deliver tourism marketing and industry services for the Central Coast for the next two years.Bringing together a consortium of three companies, AFFINITY’s expertise extends across international and domestic tourism marketing;

The Peninsula Leisure Centre (PLC) is preparing for a swag of improvement and upgrade works over the winter months, as part of a $500,000 investment into one of the region’s premier recreational facilities.Members and visitors will soon be able to enjoy a refurbished sauna, steam room and showers, while the program pool will also be fitted with a new heating system.The main pool will also be the recipient of new starting blocks and an electronic timing system valued at $135,000 – thanks to the recently announced Stronger Communities Funding from the NSW Government.Other general repairs and painting will be undertaken during the upgrade, with new lighting is also scheduled for installation in the popular sports hall.During the works, access to some areas of the PLC will be limited, with the pool hall closed between Monday 19 June to Friday 23 June 2017.The Health Club, Sports Hall and Crèche will remain open for the duration of the project.If you have any questions regarding the upcoming works, closure dates or impacts on scheduled programs or services at the PLC, please contact reception on 4325 8123.Council would like to thank members and visitors for their understanding and cooperation while these important upgrades are completed.

Berkeley Vale will be a hub of activity when we finish upgrading the recreational facilities to meet the growing needs of the area.The run-down play space at Berkeley Park, off Bundilla Parade (near the traffic lights), has been transformed into a natural play space.The new look play space is now open, and visitors to the park will enjoy trying out new equipment with more natural elements, creating a space for children to play, climb and use their imaginations.Across the other side of the road, the popular skate park next to Berkeley Vale Oval is now even bigger and better.Local riders will notice it’s been expanded with extra elements such as ramps.

Council wishes to advise that a temporary road closure will be in place along Morgans Road, Wendoree Park, on Thursday 8 June from 9am – 3pm, while essential road pavement investigation works are carried out.The project will involve the complete closure of Morgans Road, between the bushfire trail and the Neverfail Park.Residents on Morgans Road will not have vehicular access to their properties during this time and are encouraged to plan any travel around the scheduled works.Warning signs will be in place to notify motorists of the changed traffic conditions and crews will be available to provide assistance to nearby residents and access to emergency vehicles if required.Council would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their patience while these important works are carried out and apologises for any inconvenience.

Council’s plan for managing the impacts of storms and coastal erosion on its southern beaches has been formally certified by the NSW Government.Council’s Gosford Beaches Coastal Zone Management Plan will now guide Council’s approach to the protection of public and private property from future coastal erosion.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the certification of the Plan was the start of the process of Council, the community, landowners and the State Government working together to protect the Coast’s unique coastline for generations to come.“The community’s right to access and enjoy our beaches is paramount and this Plan clearly outlines the responsibilities of landowners and government to ensure that can happen,” Mr Reynolds said.“Now the Plan has been gazetted, Council is the consent authority for most protection works on beaches and nearby land.  Landowners are reminded they must lodge a development application to get approval for such works before they proceed.”“This process is in place to ensure that the presence of any protection works does not adversely impact on adjoining private and public property or affect the long-term amenity of a public beach.”Now the Plan has been certified, Council is in a position to apply for State Government funding to help manage coastal hazards and other issues in a timely and cost-effective manner.The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) is currently undertaking a cost-benefit analysis for its design of a proposed revetment wall along the whole of Wamberal Beach.“Once the design, cost benefit analysis and construction cost is completed by OEH and made available to Council, Council can then have an informed and constructive conversation with local landowners, State Government, and the community about a possible permanent solution for beach erosion at Wamberal and how it might be funded,” Mr Reynolds said.“We need to ensure any permanent solution for Wamberal Beach balances the needs of private landholders to protect their properties, ensures the community can continue to access and enjoy this popular public beach, and provides an appropriate means of funding those works”.Residents are urged to contact Council if they are planning protective works on their coastal properties for further advice.

Temporary traffic control measures will be in place along a section of West Street, Umina, on Friday 2 June, while Central Coast Council completes asphalting works.The project will be undertaken between 7pm – 5am to minimise the impact on local traffic and nearby residents.Works will be carried out between Barrenjoey Road and Morris Street and be finalised on Saturday 3 June.Crews will manage the project schedule to ensure there is minimal impact on nearby residents as a result of these works.Warning signs will be in place for the duration of the project to notify motorists of the changed conditions and traffic will be detoured around The Esplanade.Council would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their patience while these important works are carried out and apologises for any inconvenience.

Central Coast Council has awarded the tender for CCTV installation works in Terrigal and Copacabana thanks to funding from the Federal Government’s Safer Streets Programme.Announced in late-2016, the $550,000 grant will see the installation of 16 new CCTV cameras across a range of locations in Terrigal and Copacabana in addition to the upgrade of four existing cameras.Installation locations include the Haven, Copacabana Skate Park, the Captain Cook Lookout and shopping strips in both suburbs.The successful tender, from ECS Services Pty Ltd will see works begin in June, with the new cameras set to be fully operational in November 2017.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said he was looking forward to seeing the positive benefits the Safer Streets funding would bring to these beachside communities.“The installation of additional CCTV is a great result for residents in both Terrigal and Copacabana,” said Mr Reynolds.“We’ve already seen the impact this funding has had in suburbs across the Central Coast thanks to first round funding received in September 2014.“The installation of CCTV is a strong deterrent for anti-social behaviour and ensures that residents can feel safer in their neighbourhood.“This is a great initiative and once again, I’d like to thank the Federal Government and Lucy Wicks for this latest round of funding.”Safer Streets funding has already been rolled out through Kariong, Kincumber, Gosford and the Peninsula following first round funding received in September 2014.

Central Coast Council has paid tribute to former local Member for Gosford and local cancer activist, Mrs Kathy Smith, who lost her own battle with cancer yesterday.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds said Kathy Smith was renowned for her commitment to the local community, particularly her campaigning for the Central Coast Cancer Centre which includes public radiotherapy services.“Kathy was a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to serving her community,” Mr Reynolds said.“From her passion and commitment to improving the lives of local cancer survivors as the Chairwoman of NSW Cancer Voices to her service to the people of Gosford and the Peninsula as an elected representative, her drive and tenacity were beyond question.”“On behalf of Central Coast Council, I extend our deepest condolences to Kathy’s family and friends at this time.”The flag at Central Coast Council will fly at half-mast today in acknowledgement of Kathy’s passing.

As the weather turns cooler and the winter woollies come out, it’s a great time to enjoy some of the many arts and cultural activities here on the Central Coast.Grant Molony, based in Long Jetty, is a local indigenous painter and photographer and is also a proud ambassador of the ‘This is the life’ campaign promoting the Central Coast.“The arts scene on the Coast is really starting to flourish,” he says.

Council welcomes the local tourism industry’s decision to continue with an industry body to input into the direction of the coast’s tourism, following an industry group meeting convened by Central Coast Tourism last night.CEO Rob Noble said it was an exciting time for tourism on the Central Coast with more changes happening now than have happened in the last twenty years.“The passion and commitment of the local tourism industry is great,” Mr Noble said.“Combined with Council’s increased investment, a new Destination Network with a purpose to capitalise on increased visitor growth opportunity, a new Destination Management Plan and the advent of a new marketing approach to implement it – we are all hopeful that we can all head in the same direction to deliver more for our region.“The local tourism industry told us over 18 months ago that they wanted improvements on how tourism is approached with a clear message to create the environment for tourism to flourish. That is what we are doing.”Council will work with Central Coast Tourism on the type of industry body and how it fits together with Council’s new service provider who will be contracted to deliver a marketing strategy and associated program for the local tourism industry to promote economic development and enhance tourism opportunities on the Coast.Council is continuing discussions with the first ranked tenderer to enter into a two year contract commencing on 1 July 2017.

When Central Coast Council was established in May 2016, the State Government decreed that the four planning instruments currently applying across the Coast should remain in place until a new Local Environmental Plan (LEP) is adopted.  As a result, development continues to be assessed under the planning controls which were in place prior to the merger.In order to move towards a uniform set of planning controls across the Coast, Council has developed a draft consolidated LEP.

Central Coast Council has today confirmed five executive appointments to its Leadership Team.An interim leadership was appointed at the time of the formation of the Council to lead the organisation through the initial stages of amalgamation.Council Chief Executive Officer, Mr Rob Noble, said these appointments can now be confirmed following an exhaustive external recruitment process attracting candidates from across Australia.“The calibre of candidates we attracted is particularly pleasing and highlights the strong interest in working for a new local government area that is now a major region in its own right with so many opportunities to really make a difference,” Mr Noble said.“I have chosen leaders who are customer-focused, collaborative, passionate and professional and truly committed to transforming our organisation and making the Central Coast the very best it can be.”“These leaders have an established track record and have ably risen to the challenges of our first year as one Council and I am pleased to continue to serve the Central Coast community with them.”The confirmed appointments are:Group Leader Assets, Infrastructure and Business – Mike DowlingGroup Leader Environment and Planning – Scott CoxChief Financial Officer – Stephen NavenExecutive Manager People and Culture – Kellie ReevesExecutive Manager Governance – Brian GlendenningThey join Group Leader Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan and Chief Information Officer, David Kennedy who were appointed to their positions last year with Executive Manager Transformation and Business Performance, Sally Ingram, rounding out the Leadership Team.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, welcomed the appointments which will provide the stable leadership the organisation needs to continue to support the outlook and vision of the new Central Coast Council.“I have worked with these leaders from the start of my time here and I rate them as some of the best Executives I have come across in my long career,” Mr Reynolds said.“They have been here from the start and will continue to lead the organisation as it goes from strength to strength.”The Leadership Team are employed under contracts in accordance with the form of contract for senior staff under the Local Government Act.

Central Coast Council are undertaking a review of Alcohol-Free Zones across the region, with proposed locations on public exhibition for a period of 28 days.Alcohol-Free Zones aim to reduce alcohol related crime, violence and anti-social behaviour in identified locations in order to help create a safer environment for the whole community.An Alcohol-Free Zone relates to public roads, car parks and footpaths, however, these zones will not restrict outdoor dining licences where Council approval has been granted.The zones will be in place for a four (4) year period and Council is currently seeking feedback from the community regarding the establishment of Alcohol-Free Zones in the following suburbs:Avoca Beach;

Tourism experts to deliver best services for the industry and the CoastCouncil will continue to deliver tourism marketing and industry services for the Central Coast with the assistance of expert external providers.See Separate ReleaseNew Central Coast Urban Design Panel established and consent periods confirmedExpressions of interest will soon be called for a newly created Central Coast Urban Design Panel to assist Council deliver high quality infrastructure, planning and urban projects.See Separate ReleaseBuilding a solid foundation for the newly elected CouncilCouncil is finalising preparations for the upcoming local government elections, with the exhibition of a draft Code of Conduct, Code of Meeting Practice and Councillor Expenses and Facilities Policy.Council will also be concluding the operation of the Local Representation Committee (LRC) – consisting of 18 former Councillors from the former Gosford City and Wyong Shire Councils.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the LRC had proven to be a valuable resource over the last 12 months.“The LRC have provided invaluable advice on key issues around the environment, the economy and community issues unique to the Central Coast,” said Mr Reynolds.“The conclusion of the LRC next month will allow some clear air between the operations of the committee and the election process – with the opportunity to nominate as a candidate commencing on 31 July.“Irrespective of who may stand for election, this will allow an equal playing field to all of those proposing to stand for election in September.“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the LRC for their ongoing commitment and contribution to Central Coast Council and I wish them the very best in their future endeavours.”Exhibiting the draft Codes and Policies will provide potential candidates with a greater understanding of meeting processes and the expectations of Councillors.The draft Code of Conduct is an integral part of Council’s governance framework and provides guidance on public comment, gifts and benefits and confidentiality;

Council will continue to deliver tourism marketing and industry services for the Central Coast with the assistance of expert external providers.Council recently called for requests for proposals for suitably qualified organisations to deliver these services, receiving fourteen proposals.