At last night’s Ordinary Meeting of Council, I confirmed my intention to hold a Constitutional Referendum concurrently with the next local government election for the Central Coast region in 2022.

This decision has been made following the rescheduling of the NSW local government elections as a result of COVID.

In running a Constitutional Referendum with our region’s local government election, we will have an overall saving to Council of $1.3M, not to mention avoiding an impost on the community if run separately.

The Referendum will ask Central Coast voters to determine the following question: ‘Do you favour a reduction in the number of Central Coast Councillors from fifteen to nine? This will result in three Wards with each Ward electing three Councillors’.

Whilst my door has always been open to the community in my role as Administrator, I believe it’s important to restore democracy for the Central Coast region with a representation of councillors.

Therefore I will be writing to the Minister for Local Government recommending that the next general election for the Central Coast be conducted in September/October 2022 and in conjunction with the Constitutional Referendum, with the results of the Referendum to apply in the 2024 local government election.

Rik Hart, Administrator