The Central Coast community continues to have their say on key local projects with nearly 4,000 people visiting Central Coast Council’s Your Voice Our Coast hub to help shape future Coastal Management Programs.

Over three months, Council collected community feedback to understand how the Coast’s waterways are valued so this vital information can be used to help shape the future management of Tuggerah Lakes, the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system including Brisbane Water, and our Open Coast and Coastal Lagoons.

Council also collected community feedback for our northern and southern-most waterways including Lake Macquarie and will be sharing this with our neighbouring councils as we work together to ensure the values of these important areas are heard in those Plans as well.

Feedback collected from over 1,100 survey responses, as well as focus group discussions found:

• 94.5% of respondents stated that waterways are a significant reason that they live on the Coast. 65.6% of respondents agreed that if waterway access, safety or condition declined significantly they would consider moving from the region.
• 96.5% agree that more should be done to protect and enhance the natural aspects of waterways such as the cleanliness of water, health of coastal vegetation and the protection of wildlife. 69.2% of respondents would support more resources being used for the management of our waterways and coast, even if it meant a very small increase in their property rates or rent.
• Recreational opportunities and access to waterways, beauty and aesthetics, and environment and natural amenity are what our community values the most about our waterways.
• Reducing pollutant loads (sediment, nutrients and microbes) entering waterways, improving and maintaining water quality, and restoring and maintaining key habitats are the top three areas our community want our Coastal Management Programs to focus on.

Council will use this community feedback to guide our future direction, with the aim to continually improve the management and condition of our waterways and coastline, and focus on what matters most to our community.

Council will continue collating all the feedback received and a report will be available to view in the coming months.

Learn more about what’s been done and what happens next for the ‘Our Coast, Our Waterways’ project at yourvoiceourcoast.com/waterways

Other matters open now for feedback include:

• Ross Park, Avoca district playspace design (until 30 August)
• Draft Responsible Dog Ownership Policy (until 8 September)
• Wamberal Beach Terminal Protection and Sand Nourishment - Investigation and Concept Design (until 10 September)
• Draft Central Coast Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2021-2025 (until 13 September)
• Tuggerah Lakes foreshore restoration works (until 2022).

The Development Assessment for Terrigal Lagoon Trail is also open for feedback until 6 September.

Have Your Say 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at yourvoiceourcoast.com