Council has released One – Central Coast, a draft of the first ever Community Strategic Plan for the region.

The plan represents the culmination of 18 months of extensive consultation with the community and establishes a road map for the future of the Central Coast over the next decade.

Mayor Jane Smith said the process to develop the Coast’s first ever Community Strategic Plan has engaged many thousands of people in the local community and is a true representation of what our community think, feel, want and value.

“The release of the first Community Strategic Plan for the Central Coast is significant in many ways,” Mayor Smith said.

“It is the first single plan that defines the priorities of our community and represents a considered and evidence-based roadmap for the future of the Central Coast.

“It defines the environmental and social qualities the community have told us they love about the Central Coast and provides a clear path of action for what Council needs to prioritise and deliver to meet the needs of our growing population.

“As inhabitants of the sixth-largest urban area in Australia, we have the opportunity to harness and direct our potential more than ever before.”

The draft Plan comprises five key themes based on this vision that encapsulate the voice and values of the Central Coast community:

• Belonging
• Smart
• Green
• Responsible
• Liveable

The Plan also defines a Community vision - “We are the Central Coast. A smart, green, and liveable region with a shared sense of belonging and responsibility.”

Connected Communities Director, Julie Vaughan said the Plan aims to enhance the day-to-day lives and opportunities of the Central Coast community through effective decision-making, planning and service delivery across all government and non-government agencies.

”Council alone cannot deliver the outcomes and objectives of this first ever Community Strategic Plan for the Central Coast,” Ms Vaughan said.

“Shared decision making and effective working partnerships with government agencies, non-government organisations, business and, of course, our local community will be critical to our collective success as a region.

“Together, we can create a vibrant and sustainable future for the Central Coast.”

The draft Community Strategic Plan, One – Central Coast, will be on public exhibition from Monday 30 April until Monday 28 May. For more information, to view the draft Plan and make a submission, visit yourvoiceourcoast.com