Council finances on track and delivering for the community

Council adopted the audited financial statements for the 2017-18 Central Coast Council consolidated financial statements.

The reports and financial statements for 2017-18 confirm a total income from continuing operations of $651.2million, a surplus including capital income of $66.2million and an asset base worth $7.0billion.

Mayor Jane Smith said it is important for Council to demonstrate sound financial management for the community and provide accountability and transparency in reporting.

“We’re here to deliver the best possible services to our growing community, and having thorough financial management is essential,” Mayor Smith said.

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

Community events and projects receive $823,000 boost

Sixty-nine projects will share more than $823,000 in funding to hold community events and programs after Central Coast Council last night voted to allocate funds from its annual Sponsorship and Grants Program.

See separate media release.

Winney Bay Clifftop Walk to proceed with amended design

Council has considered the feedback from the community and recommended changes to Stage 2 of the Winney Bay Clifftop walk.

The results of the community consultation showed the majority of our community supported the walk with some modifications to the concept design.

Council will now proceed to detailed design with the path width reduced to a maximum of 2 metres and without the bridge and market stall spaces.

Mayor Smith said the next stage of the project is a detailed design and that the removal of the market stalls and bridge could be accommodated into this phase of the project.

“We understand that there has been some community concern on this issue, however the results of the consultation show support for the formalised walk with some modifications,” Mayor Smith said.

“Council has decided to remove the market stalls and bridge from the design.

“We have also asked that the design reduce the path width to a maximum of 2m and to include a fully accessible viewing platform in the area where the bridge would have started.

“The remainder of the path past this section will be built from materials sympathetic to the natural environment.

“We are also ensuring the environment will be protected, with a Review of Environmental Factors to be undertaken, removal of native species to be minimised and local native species to be propagated and used for revegetation.

“The result will be a walkway that respects the local environment while allowing walkers access to the beautiful scenery of Winney Bay.”

Making our towns the centre of attention

Council has moved to adopt recommendations that will see a strategic and regional approach to town centre management on the Central Coast.

The new approach will provide a regional model that will give the best value for the community and ensure services, infrastructure, events and activations are delivered effectively whilst also addressing local place based issues.

Mayor Jane Smith said Council resolved to undertake this review last year and the review has been shaped by relevant internal business units and external stakeholders.

“Our town centres are important, vibrant spaces that help attract more people to the Central Coast, drive business and economic development and create new experiences for visitors and residents to enjoy,” Mayor Smith said.

“This review identifies town centres as key places that not only serve their localised residential community, but also play a pivotal role in the wider region.

“It highlights ways we can continue to invest in improving our town centres to ensure we remain a vibrant, sustainable, growing and competitive region and we will continue working closely with businesses and the community to develop a model that will achieve both localised and regional objectives.”

Council will continue to work with local business stakeholders including business chambers, Gosford Business Improvement District organisation, Greater Toukley Vision, Wyong Business Chamber and the NSW Business Chamber to develop a regional approach to specifically support local economic and business development initiatives. A further report on potential new models including how a regional board might operate and also engage with local business stakeholders will be considered at Council’s meeting early next year.

Bold new tourism plan underpins first year success

Council has led key actions towards growing tourism on the Central Coast through the first year’s delivery of the Destination Management Plan (2018-2021).

contemporary branding replaced the outdated notion of the coast and anchored the ‘Have a little adventure’ marketing campaign. This was partnered with record levels of investment from local tourism businesses and generated over $800,000 of media value for the Central Coast. Other highlights include an ongoing social media campaign and a new online visitor guide with five times more local business product, itineraries and What’s On listings at visitcentralcoast.com.au.

Council’s Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said Council’s actions in 2018 were a testament to what Council could deliver when working with the tourism industry in the best interests of the whole of the coast.

is a significant industry on the Coast injecting $912 million into the economy in 2017,” Ms Vaughan said. “That translates into a lot of local jobs and there is potential to keep growing this by working together to deliver more economic development for our growing community.

“We have heard from research and market experts that the Central Coast needs to shift some perceptions about the region as a whole, what is on offer and the quality of products to lift the desirability and overall visitor experience of the coast.

“Perception change is a long term plan and Council is committed to the Plan’s four year vision and working with our local tourism industry to achieve what needs to happen in order to increase the success of tourism on the Central Coast.

“Thank you to all the local businesses that are supporting and investing in this vision.”

Other actions delivered were towards encouraging better visitor dispersal with more information about the lesser known places to see, stay and experience; continuing infrastructure capital investment to enable this – such as the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex which will have a capacity to host more sporting events on the coast.