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. These priorities respond to the key themes that the community told us were important during consultation activities and engagement.

Some of the 2023-24 Operational Plan highlights include:

•    A comprehensive roads, drainage and pathways investment of $58 million. These improvement projects include road and drainage upgrades at Lakedge Avenue, Berkeley Vale; Del Monte Place, Copacabana; Virginia Road and Warnervale Roads, and Hamlyn Terrace, the Magenta Shared Path, plus an extensive Road Renewal Programs with works planned across the region.
•    Water and sewer upgrades totalling $84.15 million with key projects such as the South Tacoma Low Pressure Sewer System Installation, an upgrade of Mardi Water Treatment Plant and ongoing sewer pump station and rising main upgrades across the region.
•    Significant investment of $24.14 million in community and recreation facilities and programs Some projects include the commencement of construction for the Gosford Regional Library and Umina Skate Park Upgrade, sportsground drainage and irrigation improvements, and playspace renewals right across the Central Coast.
•    An investment of $10.19 million total in other planned infrastructure projects for the community which also support economic growth across the coast including improvements at Council’s four holiday parks and the renewal of beach access at Jenny Dixon and Soldiers Beach, Norah Head.
•    Additionally, a further $40.46 million of infrastructure projects have been identified and are dependent on successfully obtaining available funding grants. 
Council Chief Executive Officer David Farmer said the Operational Plan and Fees and Charges are a considered document that supports Council’s ongoing financial stability.

“Our key goal for this year’s plan is a focus on improving service namely customer responses, development assessment, capital works delivery, as well implementing the newly endorsed Service Optimisation Framework, which aims to look at the what, why and how of a service and determine if it is fit for purpose,” Mr Farmer said.

“Residents will notice slight variations to fees and charges with the majority of the increases being below CPI. From 1 July 2023 the combined yearly bill for a typical household will increase by approximately $169, or $3.25 per week, for water, sewerage, and stormwater rates. There is no increase in domestic waste charges with rates being frozen for a second consecutive year.

“It’s important to note that the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) determines how much councils can charge for rates, and the annual increase or ‘rate peg’ – which is 3.7% for 2023-24. There is also an additional 0.1% that
is allowed for population growth, resulting in a total increase of 3.8%.

“There is still increasing inflationary pressure on our budget, as the rising costs of materials shows no signs of slowing down. For the second year Council will be absorbing significant increases in some of its largest expenses, such as the huge increase in electricity costs and a 55% increase in the State Government set emergency services levy. Central Coast average rates continue to compare favourably to nearby Local Government Areas including some who have had significant special rate rises approved recently,” Mr Farmer concluded.  

Council Administrator Rik Hart said the community will continue to see the benefit of Council’s well planned and long-term capital works program with more than 200 works in the pipeline for the year ahead.

“Construction will commence on two marquee projects for the coast, the long-anticipated Gosford Regional Library contributing to the revitalisation of Gosford and upgrade to the Mardi Water Treatment Plant. This is an essential project to ensure future sustainability of the Coast’s water supply,” Mr Hart said.

“The organisation is appropriately positioned in its long term works program and financial strategy as it looks towards the return of an elected body of Councillors in less than 18 months.”