Central Coast Council is calling for artists to present and develop new performance work in Council’s ‘Performance Illuminated’ pilot program.

The 2024 Central Coast Seniors Festival is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever!

If you’re a young aspiring photographer with a keen eye and love for the world around you, then Central Coast Council would love to see what you’ve got.Entries for the second ‘Your World Your Way’ youth photography competition are now open until Thursday 29 February 2024.This free-to-enter photography competition is open to young people aged 12-24 years, with judges especially looking for photographic content that includes local locations and young people.Exciting prizes include:Winner:

Central Coast Council, Central Coast Primary Health Network and the national men’s mental health and suicide prevention charity, The Men’s Table, is launching its 180th table in Doyalson in the north of the Coast.

Ten locations across the Central Coast are receiving a playspace renewal, making way for improved and accessible playspaces for locals and visitors.The ten locations will see $1.1 million of upgrades that have commenced February and are estimated to be complete by April 2024.

With the end of the busy summer holiday period, and the departure of migratory Little Terns from the Karangi sand spit, Central Coast Council will commence the next stage of works this month at The Entrance channel to ensure it is in an appropriate ‘flood ready’ state, by establishing a pilot channel.Council currently monitors the channel condition in real time (via remote cameras, satellite imagery and gauges, that monitor tidal range within the estuary) and forecasts catchment inflows and lake heights.

Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) has released its latest water utility customer satisfaction quarterly survey results about Council’s Water and Sewer services.

Canton Beach sandstone log restoration works and upgrades will commence Thursday 15 February to restore and enhance the usability of the beach, improve safety, and help prevent erosion.Central Coast Council has 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.Council Director of Environment and Planning, Alice Howe said that Council is pleased to be able to restore and upgrade the Canton Beach sandstone log wall.“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 to rotate seaward,” Dr Howe said.“Thanks to the funding from the Australian and NSW Government we will be able to reinstate and increase the height of the sandstone log wall and improve drainage behind the wall to help it withstand future weather events.”The full list of works include:Increasing the height of the wall and placing a stepped finish to help prevent erosions and subsidence, and support access to the beach.New drainage works to be installed behind the wall.Sand nourishment works – additional sand will be placed along the beach to help mitigate erosion.Supply and install turf as required along the back of the sandstone wall.“Construction is anticipated to take eight weeks with minimal impacts to the community.

Central Coast Council’s annual ‘Dogs Day Out’ event is back on Saturday 24 February, offering an exciting day out for not only dogs and their owners, but the whole community.Now in its third year, this year’s event is set to be bigger and better than ever, with over 30 local businesses hosting stalls, training programs and demonstrations. Event highlights include: •  

Central Coast Council placed a Draft Central Coast Local Approvals Policy and Draft Central Coast Outdoor Trading Specification on public exhibition late last year and is reminding of the opportunity to provide feedback by 22 February 2024. In addition to online submissions via yourvoiceourcoast.com, Council is running information sessions for local businesses on the proposed Outdoor Trading Specification. In-person:

Wyong’s beloved Love Lanes Festival is back for its seventh year on Saturday 10 February.

Central Coast Council is inviting businesses, community groups and event organisers to propose an event or activity to be a part of the annual 10-day Lakes Festival program celebrating the Coast’s diverse waterways. The Lakes Festival, scheduled to run from 8-17 November 2024, is an annual reminder of the variety of waterways available on the Central Coast.

Central Coast Council Water and Sewer is turning to ‘man’s best friend’ to look for solutions to help solve leaking issues in the water and sewer network.Council’s Water and Sewer team met with Sydney Water Lead Detection Dog Team to understand how sniffer dogs detect leaks, as part of Council’s proactive leak detection program.The teams recently joined two energetic Springer Spaniels, Joey and Hydro and one Cocker Spaniel named Winnie as they ’sniffed out leaks’ over 25km of water mains and 10km of sewer rising mains across the Central Coast.Over five days, during wet and dry conditions the dogs demonstrated expertise in detecting leaks undetectable to the human senses.

Central Coast Council has officially opened the new Community Hall and playground at Norah Head, with a celebration event attended by members of the community. The $1.7 million project has been completed after Central Coast Council received $935,000 from the NSW Government, with Council funding the remaining contribution of $765,000 from planned capital expenditure. Council Director for Community and Recreational Services, Melanie Smith said the opening of the new hall and playground is a fantastic outcome, and one to celebrate, with the event being attended by residents and community groups. “Council undertook community consultation to inform the design and construction of the venue, which has resulted in a fabulous modern facility, transforming what was previously in place,” Ms Smith said. Key features of the new facility include a multi-functional hall, kitchen, storage, accessible family friendly amenities, a children’s playspace and picnic area.

Central Coast Council Water and Sewer is seeking feedback regarding potential water and/or sewer connections from people who occupy, own, or operate a business from an ‘unserviced property’ on the Central Coast.The second phase of consultation follows an earlier consultation phase which was open to customers who are connected to Council’s water and/or sewerage services on the Central Coast.Council Director for Water and Sewer Jamie Loader said the community consultation ensures that Council develops knowledge and customer interest for including connection of ‘unserviced properties’ into future plans.“There are approximately 7,500 ‘unserviced properties’ that are not connected to the Council water and sewer network.

Central Coast Council offices will be closed on Friday 26 January for the Australia Day public holiday, and re-opening Monday 29 January 2024.Some of Council’s services and facilities will be closed or have changes, however essential services will continue to operate.An after-hours service is available on 02 4306 7900 to call in any urgent reports (such as water main breaks or sewer issues, and urgent road safety issues such as fallen trees over roads).Non-emergency enquiries, requests, reports or formal feedback can be submitted through our online Customer Service Centre 24/7 and these will be progressed from Monday 29 January 2024.

MEDIA RELEASEThe NSW Central Coast is set for increased visitation and a further boost to the local economy with new digital content to attract visitation to lesser-known areas of the region.This grant funded project which begun in 2021, led by Central Coast Council’s Marketing and Tourism Section (Destination Central Coast), has enabled the development of multiple online content hubs on LoveCentralCoast.com that showcase and promote a diverse range of local tourism products, services and experiences to potential visitors – and aims to support the economic and social recovery of regional communities impacted by the bushfires of 2019-2020.Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said many of the Central Coast’s unique offerings and experiences are on display to attract people from Sydney, NSW and beyond.“The newly launched content hubs on LoveCentralCoast.com offer locals and guests to the region the opportunity to explore areas of the Central Coast they may not be aware of.

The NSW Central Coast is set for increased visitation and a further boost to the local economy with new digital content to attract visitation to lesser-known areas of the region.This grant funded project which begun in 2021, led by Central Coast Council’s Marketing and Tourism Section (Destination Central Coast), has enabled the development of multiple online content hubs on LoveCentralCoast.com that showcase and promote a diverse range of local tourism products, services and experiences to potential visitors – and aims to support the economic and social recovery of regional communities impacted by the bushfires of 2019-2020.Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said many of the Central Coast’s unique offerings and experiences are on display to attract people from Sydney, NSW and beyond.“The newly launched content hubs on LoveCentralCoast.com offer locals and guests to the region the opportunity to explore areas of the Central Coast they may not be aware of.

Central Coast Council is currently developing a new Coastal Management Program and is seeking community input on practical management for Central Coast beaches.The Open Coast Coastal Management Program is one of five new Coastal Management Programs (CMP) for the region that will be certified by the NSW Government and used to guide coastal management decisions and funding priorities for the next 10 years.Council’s Unit Manager of Environmental Management, Luke Sulkowski said the objective of the Open Coast CMP is to manage the coastal environment consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development for the social, cultural and economic well-being of the people of the Central Coast.“We’re at stage three of this five stage process in completing the document and would love as much input from the community as possible,” Mr Sulkowski said.“Once we have collated everything, we will develop an options assessment and come back to the community with a final draft before sending the final document to the State Government for their certification.“Input from our local residents will help optimise coastal management for the well-being of both our community and the environment – so tell us your concerns, ideas, wants and needs related to our beautiful beaches.“We would like to thank those who came along to our earlier pop-up sessions at Terrigal, Avoca and Toowoon Bay and encourage more suggestions throughout the consultation period whether it’s online or in person.”Council offers multiple ways the community can have an input into the future management of The Open Coast CMP.

The sod has been formally ‘turned’ to mark the commencement of the construction of the new Gosford Regional Library in Donnison Street, Gosford.Council Administrator Rik Hart was joined by Dr Gordon Reid MP Member for Robertson and North Construction &