As the Central Coast gears up to host Germany and England for their team base training camps during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia &

Central Coast Council adopted the 2023-24 Operational Plan at Tuesday night’s Council Meeting.The Operational Plan identifies a focus on maintaining our road networks, caring for community open space, as well as working on improving the response time for development applications.

School holidays start next week, and once again Central Coast Council has lots of free and affordable activities and events. Council Director of Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said our popular school holiday program is delivered from a range of facilities including the Gosford Regional Gallery, libraries, leisure centres and theatres.“This winter we have a mix of activities to entertain and capture the interest all ages – from a supersized gym room, stop motion workshop, glow rooms, art and craft, gaming, indigenous virtual reality and lots more,” Ms Smith said.“One of the highlights of this holiday program is the celebration of NAIDOC week through virtual reality technology, as the Pamagirri group transports viewers (in a full 360-degree view) to Far North Queensland where they will demonstrate songs, legends and art.“Gosford Regional Gallery events often book out fast, and this winter program looks to be no different.

Central Coast Council is calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for three community members to join the Chain Valley Colliery Community Advisory Panel.

The life stories of the famers who call the Central Coast home are set to come alive in a visual spectacular this Saturday for one afternoon only.When These Mountains Speak is an innovative series of pictures and stories that highlight the stories of seven farming families from diverse backgrounds.

Solar and battery systems have been installed at 20 Rural Fire Stations across the Central Coast to ensure services can continue to operate independently should a grid power fail occur during natural disasters.Central Coast Council’s Director Environment and Planning, Dr Alice Howe said the initiative will be of particular importance to the many community members who live in isolated and vulnerable areas across our large Local Government Area, who have previously faced limited access to basic needs such as power and vital emergency services during natural disasters.“The installation of solar and battery systems at local Rural Fire Stations will provide the community with the assurance that they can access emergency services during times of need,” Dr Howe said.Dr Howe said Council has partnered with NSW Public Works to manage this initiative, which is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.“The ability to generate and store renewable energy also provides economic benefits, including savings on the consumption and cost of electricity.”Council Administrator, Rik Hart said this is a great move towards further ensuring that our community and local emergency services are prepared when faced with natural disasters.“It is crucial that our local fire services can maintain operational during a bush fire and these new resources will help to achieve that.

With just 36 days until kick-off in the opening matches of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia &

Central Coast Council's popular Harvest Festival, held over the June long weekend, has once again attracted thousands of people from near and far to experience the Coast's hinterland communities and boost the local economy.This year’s Festival had 32 event hubs run a range of unique events and experiences from farm tours, fruit picking and produce markets to food and wine fairs, and live entertainment.Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said Harvest Festival provides an opportunity for people to take a glimpse behind the farm gate and explore Central Coast rural farming communities and their picturesque villages, whilst supporting local businesses and the economy. "We are delighted to report that an estimated 56,000 attendees enjoyed Harvest Festival over the long weekend, bringing an estimated economic boost of $8.6million to our region," Ms Smith said."Our event hubs reported a successful weekend and received an abundance of positive feedback from participants and visitors, many of which travelled from Sydney and beyond to experience the unique events on offer within our beautiful hinterland.”Council Administrator, Rik Hart said Harvest Festival makes a great contribution to the local economy, whilst highlighting sustainable farming practices and shining a spotlight on the rural side of the Central Coast."For many people, the Central Coast’s abundance of beaches may be the first to come to mind but on the other side of the M1 there’s the natural beauty of our hinterland.

Five professional and two emerging local creatives have been selected to deliver innovative and contemporary new works as part of Central Coast Council’s ‘Creative Art Central’ program 2022/23.Creative Art Central is an annual commissioning program which offers funds for established and emerging creatives of diverse disciplines living on the Central Coast.

National touring exhibition William Kentridge - I Am Not Me, The Horse Is Not Mine will be travelling to the Central Coast’s Gosford Regional Gallery from 17 June to 27 August 2023.I Am Not Me, The Horse Is Not Mine premiered at the Biennale of Sydney in 2008 and was gifted to the Art Gallery of New South Wales by Anita and Luca Belgiorno-Nettis in 2017.Central Coast Council Regional Gallery Director, Tim Braham said William Kentridge is one of the most powerful voices in art today, with this ambitious moving image installation now the most significant work by the artist in an Australian museum collection. “Emerging as an artist during the apartheid regime in South Africa and grounded in the violent absurdity of that period in his country’s history, William Kentridge’s artworks draw connections between art, ideology, history and memory,” Mr Braham said. “I Am Not Me, The Horse Is Not Mine is a deeply immersive large-scale, eight-screen video installation.

 Artists from around Australia are invited to submit works to compete for the Central Coast’s major institutional art prize, the annual Gosford Art Prize. The Gosford Regional Gallery is accepting submissions online now until entries close on 24 July 2023 at 4pm.Gosford Art Prize offers an exciting range of opportunities for visual artists working in any art form to showcase their work to a large audience and potentially become an acquisition of the Central Coat's art collection.

Central Coast beach patrol season came to an official close on Tuesday 25 April 2023, with the 2023/24 season to recommence on Saturday 23 September 2023.The year’s summer season saw over 3.7million visitations on the Coast’s 15 patrolled beaches during Council lifeguard and Surf Life Saving Central Coast patrolling periods.

12 months ago the Central Coast became the second only destination in NSW to achieve international recognition as a sustainable destination through Ecotourism Australia’s ECO Destination Certification program – just in time for World Environment Day.Now as one of only seven ECO Destinations in Australia, Council is proud to be home to seven ECO Certified tourism businesses on the Coast, with another 10 local operators having commenced their journey to achieve ECO Certification.

Central Coast Council Water and Sewer is seeking feedback from Central Coast residents and businesses about Council’s water and sewer services.The community is encouraged to share their feedback in an online survey which will be launched on Council’s website on Monday, 5 June. Council’s Director of Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said community participation will help identify Council’s water and sewer key focus areas moving forward. “Greater participation in the survey will ensure that Council’s water and sewer services and investment are focussed towards the areas that our customers and community values most.“The survey is the third and final phase of the current community consultation, however we will continue to engage with our community into the future. “Phases one and two consisted of face-to-face forums and focus groups.

Council’s 2023-24 Community Grant Programs are now open, with $900,000 in annual funding available.

Bateau Bay and Kariong Libraries are next in line to offer extended hours access as part of the Library@yourtime program.The extended library service follows the success of this initiative providing additional access at Toukley Library over the past year. The innovative program uses technology to monitor self-access, self-service loans and returns, computers, printing as well as lighting, alarms, and public safety.Central Coast Council Libraries and Education Unit Manager, Beth Burgess said Library@yourtime at Toukley Library has been embraced enthusiastically by library members. “Library@yourtime lets inducted library members have access to the library outside regular staffed hours and compliments our services during staffed hours, where library members can receive help and guidance as required. “As always, our extensive range of free online resources and services, including eBooks, eAudiobooks, homework help, music streaming and more are also available 24/7 via Council’s website,” Ms Burgess said. Participants of Library@yourtime, must be over the age of 18, and meet the terms and conditions of the program, including completing a building and safety induction course.

Opportunity to join reference group for Wrack Management StrategyCentral Coast Council is currently seeking expressions of interest from community members who would like to join a community and stakeholder reference group to help develop a new Tuggerah Lakes Wrack Management Strategy - as part of the development of the Tuggerah Lakes Coastal Management Program (CMP).Wrack is aquatic plant and vegetation material (including seagrass) that is moved about by wind and washed onto foreshores or collects in shallow areas.

Central Coast Council has partnered with twelve eateries to bring you the Taste of Toukley and Taste of Wyong community events - with a limited number of free tasting boxes at each town up for grabs on the day!Event locations:Saturday 3 June 202312pm to 3pmToukley Village GreenSaturday 10 June 202311am to 2pm Wyong Town ParkCouncil Director of Community and Culture, Melanie Smith said these community events will be a treat for all the senses!“There will be family friendly activities at each location, including workshops, craft activities, face painting, a petting zoo with baby animal feeding, roving entertainment along with live entertainment and giveaways from local businesses,” Ms Smith said.“I encourage our community to bring your friends and family along to the Taste of Wyong and Taste of Toukley community events and support local businesses.”Each eatery will be managing their own distribution of tasting boxes and you will need to visit one of the participating restaurants on the day and use the codewords “I love Toukley” on Saturday 3 June and “I love Wyong” on Saturday 10 June to receive a free box (numbers are limited and conditions apply).Taste of Toukley participating eateries: •    Mexicoast Cantina, 243 Main Rd, Toukley•    Sorrisos by Dish, 268 Main Rd, Toukley•    Spices Indian Restaurant, 231 Main Rd, Toukley•    Noble Thai, 49 Canton Beach Road, Toukley •    What the Pho, 266 Main Rd, ToukleyTaste of Wyong participating eateries:•    Chapman Coffee House, 9/14-16 Alison Road, Wyong•    Chick’n Korean Fried, 10/14-16 Alison Road, Wyong•    Eva’s Corner, 108 Pacific Highway, Wyong•    Hungry Wolf’s Wyong, shop 14, 18-34 Alison Road, Wyong•    Jerry Sent Me, 7/14-16 Alison Road, Wyong•    Sirone’s Pizza by the Meter, 7/1-11 Alison Road, Wyong •    Woodblock Bar &

A busy program of five major community events planned for the next 12 months is an exciting opportunity for local charities and not-for-profit organisations to raise their profile and secure fundraising opportunities by partnering with Central Coast Council.Expressions of interest are now open for key events in The Entrance, Gosford and Wyong 2023-24 including ChromeFest, Light Up the Lake, New Year’s Eve, Australia Day and Love Lanes.If selected as an official charity partner, charities and not-for-profit organisations will be invited to conduct fundraising opportunities at the event, taking advantage of the expected high attendance.Council’s Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith, said it’s a great opportunity for charities to connect with the community at a large-scale event.“Attendance figures at community events over the last few years continue to grow and it’s important that we as a Council offer charities the opportunity to reach sections of the community they might not necessarily be able to target on a regular basis.”Council Administrator Rik Hart is encouraging charities to register their interest now.“Charites and not-for-profits do an enormous amount of work for the community, much of which is in the background.“As a Council we have positive relationships within the sector, and I am delighted that we offer this opportunity, particularly to those smaller organisations, to become an official event partner.“Many of our past partners have achieved very successful fundraising at our events and I have no doubt it will continue at what are very popular days out for our community and visitors to the Coast,” Mr Hart said.Find out how more to make an application and become Council’s official charity partner at an event in 2023-24 below.Applications close at 5pm Friday 2 June.  

Central Coast Council has put its support behind the national Sport4All program, as the first local government area to sign up to the program in New South Wales. Sport4All aims to help sporting clubs and schools become more accessible and inclusive to support people with disability to have choice and control over where and how they would like to participate in sport. “Sport saved my life as well as changed my life.