Central Coast Council Water and Sewer is gearing up to commence the $82.5 million major upgrade of Mardi Water Treatment Plant.

Council is hosting a variety of free workshops and information sessions this May and June, to help community groups and organisations improve their grant writing skills, ahead of the Community Grants Program application period which opens 1 June 2024.Council’s 2024-25 Community Grants Program will open with $900,000 in annual funding available to support local community groups and organisations to deliver worthwhile projects, programs and events that strengthen our community.Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith, said now is the time for local community groups and organisations to register for a workshop and prepare their applications. “Community leaders are urged to seize this valuable opportunity to create compelling funding applications, thereby bringing to life their vision for achieving shared community objectives."The community benefits from all projects, and funding distribution is often determined by the quality of the application,” Ms Smith said."To help you succeed, we urge you to join us for Grant Writing Workshops, Information Sessions, and Drop-in sessions, all developed to support your community projects and ideas."The workshops and information sessions on offer include:Grant Writing Workshops:

Canton Beach foreshore sandstone log restoration works and upgrades are now complete, restoring and enhancing the usability of the popular beach, improving safety, and helping to prevent erosion.Central Coast Council received $256,000 from the Australian and NSW Governments as part of the Local Government Recovery Grants Program, under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to help restore areas affected by storm and flood events in 2022. Acting Director of Environment and Planning Luke Sulkowski, said he is pleased to see the works completed for this project. “After an east coast low event in March 2022 Tuggerah Lakes saw levels rise above the top of the existing wall which caused erosion and pushed the sandstone logs causing them to rotate lakeward,” Mr Sulkowski said.“Since that event the community have been eager to see the restoration of this much loved asset and it is great to officially announce the works are now complete with not only repairs but also upgrades to the sandstone wall to help it better withstand future weather events.”The full list of works at Canton Beach included:Increasing the depth of the sandstone log wall to provide a firm foundation, along with an inclusion of a stepped finish, to help prevent future erosion and subsidence, and support access to the beach.New drainage works were installed behind the wall.Sand nourishment works – additional sand was placed along the beach to help improve beach amenity.Supply and install of turf along the back of the sandstone wall.Council Administrator Rik Hart said our beaches are valuable assets providing benefits to the lifestyle and health of Central Coast residents and visitors."I’m glad to see the works completed at Canton Beach.

Central Coast Youth Week Awards have returned to celebrate the pursuits of young people on the Central Coast.The Central Coast Youth Week Awards, which coincides with NSW Youth Week, is an initiative of Central Coast Council to help shine a spotlight on remarkable young individuals who are making a difference.This year’s winners saw an extraordinary mix of achievements in arts and entertainment, community sporting, leaders helping those in need, creating positive change in sustainability, contributing to the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts culture and entrepreneurship.

Revised dates and venue changes have been announced for the two public hearings into the reclassification of 10 Council owned properties from community to operational. As previously advised, the sites to be reclassified were reviewed by Council in 2023 and the choice of sites was streamlined to ensure that only sites with the highest level of community benefit were included.  Most of the sites will continue to remain in community ownership in the future, being either retained in Council ownership or transferred to well-established locally based community organisation that provide valued recreational, sporting or accommodation facilities.One property will be sold on the open market with the proceeds of sale being used to fund a new community centre. 

Central Coast’s foodie wonderland in the hinterlands is celebrating its award-winning produce and spectacular scenery at Harvest Festival on 8 and 9 June 2024.Immerse yourself in a world of entertainment and fun, with fantastic live music, farm experiences and delicious fresh produce at over 30 event hubs.

Central Coast Council has instigated an online customer satisfaction survey to gather feedback from the community on what they think of, and want from, Central Coast leisure centre and pool services.

The construction for the repair of Jenny Dixon Beach stairs starts today, 8 April 2024.

The NSW Central Coast visitor economy is gaining momentum, with visitors spending, and exploring, more in region. Central Coast Council’s Director Community and Recreation Services Melanie Smith said Council’s Central Coast Destination Management Plan 2022-2025 (CCDMP), which includes close collaboration with local tourism operators, has been instrumental in leading destination marketing and management initiatives contributing to this growth. “The latest domestic data from Tourism Research Australia* shows the CCDMP’s implementation has significantly increased the value of the visitor economy and positively impacted key visitation metrics across the region.

Central Coast Council Water and Sewer is working with the State Government to act quickly in removing Salvinia weed recently identified on Wyong River.Salvinia is a free-floating weed that thrives in warmer weather forming dense mats of vegetation on water surfaces.

The second information session for community members interested in nominating as candidates for the upcoming Central Coast Council election, will be held on Tuesday 9 April 2024 at Council’s Wyong Administration Building.With the 2024 Local Government elections to be held on 14 September, Central Coast Council is urging interested community members to take the opportunity to attend this information session, to get an insight into  what is required to be a councillor and the role of a governing body.The first information session was held in October 2023 and attracted approximately 70 attendees, with materials available from this session on Council's website.

Central Coast Council Water and Sewer has successfully tested new, innovative condition assessment technology for water and sewer pressure pipelines.The technology will improve strategic and tactical decision-making for planned renewals and upgrades.

Central Coast Council has opened expressions of interest (EOI) for the sponsorship of six major community events featured across the region in 2025-2026.The Sponsorship Prospectus presents enticing packages for each of the events, giving potential businesses a great way to promote their organisation to a large, targeted audience, whilst directly supporting the local community.The EOI period is open for six weeks from 18 March - 3 May 2024.

The Central Coast in New South Wales has won First Place in the global Green Destinations Story Awards at the world’s leading travel trade show ITB Berlin on Wednesday 6 March. The annual awards are presented to the most inspiring sustainable tourism initiatives submitted across six categories, with the Central Coast receiving the top accolade in the Destination Management category today.The NSW Central Coast was the only Australian certified ECO Destination recognised on the international stage at ITB Berlin 2024.

With the return of elected councillors in September 2024, Central Coast Council continues to track well financially, and also in the progress and delivery of budgeted capital works – ensuring the business is in a strong position for the new Council.After paying down one of the emergency loans in December 2023, Council has now commenced setting aside funds, $1.4M each month, to enable the final pay down of the remaining emergency loan in November 2025. Council CEO David Farmer said the extinguishment of these emergency loans is a great achievement and that moving forward it will mean more funds to allocate towards community services and projects.“It has not only been the money that has had to be put aside every month towards paying down these loans, but also the interest that has had to be paid on the loans, which has been a burden on Council for the last several years.”Other points in the Q2 Business Report review presented at the February Council meeting, include a projected increase in budgeted operating income of $5.9M, and an operational expenditure projected to increase by $3.2M.Mr Farmer said based on these proposed budget changes, Council projects a modest operating surplus for the year ending 30 June 2024. He added the projected capital income from developer contributions is being reduced, whilst projected income from grants has been increased by $8.7M to align with approved funding agreements.An increase in capital expenditure of $38.3M has been included mainly relating to the receipt of unbudgeted grants.“Overall, the Q2 Report is very good, and we are getting on with delivering projects and services in a very timely and financially prudent manner.“This was evidenced in January in our Capital Works quarterly update, that Council is tracking at 100% to budget.“Current major projects include the new Gosford Regional Library, the Mardi Dam Water Treatment major upgrade and the Hue Hue Road pavement upgrade.”Council Administrator Rik Hart said he is very pleased with the results reported in the Q2 Review and said the community should have confidence in how things are tracking."The fact that we are on track to achieve another modest surplus and our capital works program is also on track, I think means the community can be confident in how Council is functioning."For all information on the progress of Council’s capital works projects visit: https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/council/about-council/current-works-and-projects/capital-works-program

In a continuation of Central Coast Council’s commitment to the community to be accountable and transparent in its progress to improve water and sewer services, Council has delivered an update on the Water and Sewer Delivery Plan 2022-2026.The bi-annual report highlights the key achievements across July to December 2023 under three focus areas:

Central Coast Council is inviting residents to clear out unwanted hazardous chemicals from around the home and safely dispose of them for free at the local Chemical CleanOut events this March.Community members can safely drop off unused, out-of-date or unwanted household chemicals for free over the first two weekends of March: Saturday 2 March and Sunday 3 March (9am-3.30pm), Kincumber – former Kincumber Waste Management Facility on Cullens Road.

Council has announced ten new Y4Y (Youth for Youth) Action Team members, to represent young people on the coast.To ensure the continued and meaningful engagement of young people in the region, Council is excited to introduce the 2024 Y4Y Action Team.Y4Y Youth Action members are:Anannya Bandaru, Isabelle Ince, Janine Southwell, Jasper Blakely, Lilia Olaru-Mohr, Lily Arendse, Maddison Elwine-Wilson, Malcolm Barlett, Simran Nathani and Travis Pankhurst.Director Community and Recreation Services Melanie Smith said the Y4Y Action Team aims to meaningfully engage young people on the Central Coast, drawing on their own skills, experience and networks and helping to further develop them.“Through their position as representatives of Y4Y Action Team, members contribute to a community program, the development of a legacy item for young people and a community campaign based on a theme of the Central Coast Youth Strategy,” Ms Smith said.“With members aged 14 to 24 years, the Y4Y Action Team has doubled this year due to an increase in applications during recruitment.

Central Coast Council is calling on the community to complete a short survey to help inform the development of a new 10-year Public Art Plan. The survey is the first step in a community engagement program that will be rolled out in March and April, talking with local community, groups, artists and creatives, industry professionals and businesses. This is an opportunity to shape the approach to public art which will place the community, and its creative practitioners at the heart of the plan.Council’s Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said public art plays an important role in our community.“This survey is the first step in engaging with the community, understanding their values and seeking feedback on what should be included in a Public Art Plan.

Central Coast Council is taking the next steps in the reclassification of 10 Council owned  properties  from community land to operational land.The sites to be reclassified were reviewed by Council in 2023 and the choice of