Happy New Year Central Coast Community!

I hope you and your families had a relaxing break. As we head into the year, there are a couple of significant items from 2021 that we await the outcome of. In summary, that is the Public Inquiry, whether there will be a local government election for the Central Coast this year, the upcoming consideration of the community submissions as part of the special rate variation (SRV) and a formal decision from Council whether it will make an application to IPART for the current 15% Special Variation (including rate peg) to be maintained in the rate base for an additional seven years, or 10 years in total.

Whilst we await the outcome of these items to further cement our financially sustainable future here at Council, I am pleased to say Council continues to get on with the job. This week we held our first Council meeting for 2022, an online Australia Day Awards - recognising those members in our community going above and beyond, hosted a Citizenship Ceremony on Australia Day where over 150 conferees were nationalised, and commenced construction on the netball amenities upgrade at Ettalong. Just one of the many projects set for 2022.

I wish all the Central Coast Community a bright and vibrant New Year, and I look forward to continued collaboration with the community.

Rik Hart, Administrator