Central Coast Council has agreed with auditors PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) to extend the timeframe required to finalise the audit report into the finances of the former Gosford Council.

As soon as the report is ready, Council if necessary, will call an Extraordinary Meeting in March to be held in the Gosford Chambers.

Council CEO Rob Noble said the auditors are in the process of finalising their audit testing and Council is working closely with PWC to ensure the final accounts are transparent and understandable by the community.

“As with many issues in respect of Council mergers, the alignment of Council financial management is a complex issue, so we want to ensure the community gets a clear view,” Mr Noble said.

“We’re here to deliver the best possible services to our growing community, and having a thorough and consistent understanding of financial management across both former Council areas moving forward is essential.

Council accounts are governed by a strict Local Government Code of Accounting Practice and Financial Reporting, and by legally binding Accounting Standards.