Local high school students got a taste of local government representation yesterday when Central Coast Council hosted its annual Future Council.

Future Council is a forum for students to role play a mock Council meeting in the Council Chambers. Students play the part of Councillors or community stakeholders and debate local issues voting on these issues from a community perspective looking at their  importance and relevance to the community.

Council’s Team Leader of Community Education, Planning and Learning, Ms Danielle Hargreaves said, Future Council is a great opportunity for students to develop an understanding of how Local Government works and a taste of the skills and knowledge required to make decisions that affect those in their local community.

“This forum gives the students an opportunity to explore environmental, social and economic issues in a format that is engaging and colourful,” Ms Hargreaves said.

“We want more young people to participate in civic life and their community and this program provides a forum where they can express views on issues they are passionate about, build self-confidence and encourage community connectedness.

“Future Council gives students an understanding of civics and citizenship's specific to their local community and displays how local Government fits into a democratic process.

“Students participating in yesterday’s session discussed community gardens, light rail between Gosford and The Entrance, plastic bag ban, shark culling introduction, coastal erosion, rezoning of endangered ecological communities, illegal dumping of mulch, changes to residential waste services and the development application for Coast Chill Music Festival.

“We are proud to host this program for our local students and look forward seeing some of these students as leaders in our Council in the future,” Ms Hargreaves added.

Local schools who participated in Future Council were Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, Wyong High School, Wyong Christian Community School, Lakes Grammar Anglican School, Saint Brigid’s Catholic College and Lake Munmorah High School.