Taking the ‘trash’ out of waste management

The adoption of an innovative waste management strategy has underlined Central Coast Council’s commitment to being a leader in its approach to reducing waste and recovering resources which would otherwise end up in landfill.

Council last night adopted its inaugural Waste Resource Management Strategy, including provision to maintain the general waste red bin weekly service for residents and investigate the introduction of a Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) service for the Central Coast. The Strategy is intended to drive the region’s push to improve solid waste management and resource recovery for the next decade.

The Strategy is the result of extended consultation with the community, industry and other stakeholders, exploring attitudes, waste sector expertise, local and global trends and options for creating a circular economy which values the recovery of resources and advocates the prevention of waste.

More than 1300 residents participated in the initial community consultation phase, with the diversion of waste away from landfill emerging as a top priority. 

Mayor Lisa Matthews said the development and adoption of the Waste Resource Management Strategy is a win for the whole Coast community.

“We are committed to sustainability, recovering resources and reducing our landfill,” Mayor Matthews said.

“The adoption of this Strategy means that together, we can continue to make the Central Coast a more sustainable place to live and work, and one that is leading the way in reducing our waste footprint.”

Thanks to Rural Fire Service as bushfire season approaches

Ahead of the upcoming bushfire season, Council has formally recognised the work of the Rural Fire Services (RFS), Fire and Rescue New South Wales (NSW) and Emergency Services in helping protect the Central Coast community during the past summer bushfire emergency.

There are over 128,500 hectares of bushland on the Central Coast and as a significant landowner and land manager, Council actively manages bushfire risk including:

• on-ground mitigation works such as the establishment and maintenance of approximately 217 fire trails totalling 225km, and approximately 260 asset protection zones (fire breaks)
• the management of RFS buildings and equipment
• contributing funds to the NSW Emergency Services Levy
• participating in several committees with the RFS including the Bushfire Management Committee and the Local Emergency Management Committee

Mayor Lisa Matthews said Council delivers on its responsibilities and functions relating to emergency events as defined in a range of legislation, plans, policies and guidelines.

“In the case of an emergency, Council is not an Emergency Service Provider so we rely on the expert advice of the lead emergency agency to provide the appropriate resources, people and equipment to assist their emergency and recovery plans,” Mayor Matthews said.

“On behalf of Council and our community we thank the RFS, Fire and Rescue New South Wales (NSW) and Emergency Services for their outstanding efforts in preventing loss of life, land, wildlife and properties during the past summer bushfire emergency.

“We also thank Council staff and teams on the ground who diligently actioned emergency works as directed to ensure the safety of our community.

“Our community is strong and resilient – we have seen this over the last 10 months as we’ve endured fires, storms, floods and coastal erosion. Our community recognise that each emergency situation is different and their proactivity in preparing for and responding to emergencies is exemplary.”

Prepared communities are resilient communities. Being prepared for emergencies can save lives and property and also helps us to recover from disaster events when they do occur.

Get ready, search ‘emergency’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Funding to strengthen community spirit during difficult times

While COVID-19 continues to impact the way community groups and not for profits deliver services across the Central Coast, Council is delivering funding to support a range of community projects, ensuring the community can continue to benefit from essential services during difficult times.

Mayor Lisa Matthews said the recent funding awarded through Council’s Working Together Staying Strong grant program and Community Support Grant Program reflects Council’s commitment to work within our communities to connect people, build capacity and create local solutions and initiatives.

“With many of our community currently experiencing tough times, it is important that support is given to those frontline groups and organisations which are working hard to deliver essential services to those in need.” 

The Working Together Staying Strong grant program was developed to assist organisations to deliver essential support to vulnerable and at-risk groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two applicants were granted funding under the Working Together Staying Strong grant program in July 2020 and will share in $14,099 of the $300,000 allocated to the program between 1 May and 30 September 2020.

Successful applicants were:

• Gosford City Community & Information Service Ltd - Community SOS Foodbank - $9,149
• Berkeley Vale Neighbourhood Centre Association Inc - Food Relief - $4,950

The Community Support Grant Program remains open for applications from not for profit groups throughout the year and provides up to $5,000 per project per financial year in combined funding and in-kind Council services to applicants.

Eight applicants were successful in their applications in the period of June 2020, sharing a funding pool of $31,188.61.

Successful applicants were:

Gosford City East Gosford Lions Club Inc - Defibrillator and training - $2,534.37

Country Women’s Association Umina Beach - Media Package - $3,988

Art At Work Incorporated - Art At Work Event - $4,100

The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) on behalf of UCA Gosford Uniting Church - Christmas Eve Community Carols - $5,000

We Care Connect Limited - Promotional materials to increase support for local vulnerable children - $4,880

Toukley and Districts Art Society Inc. - Toukley Arts and Craft Fair By The Lake - $3,023.24

Central Coast Primary Care - Annual Mental Health Art Exhibition - $3,395

Cerebral Palsy Alliance - Neurological treatment table - $4,268

Council taps into new water policies

The ongoing quality and security of the Coast’s water supply was further ensured last night when Council adopted two policies relating to the treatment of water.

The Drinking Water Quality and Recycled Water Policies were adopted as part of Council’s ongoing review and consolidation of policies held by the former Wyong and Gosford Councils.

During the review process, where policies are found to have ongoing relevance, they are updated and consolidated to ensure a single policy exists for the Central Coast Local Government Area (LGA).

Drafts of both new water policies were publicly exhibited during July. After being updated to accommodate feedback from the four submissions received during that period, the revised policies were formally adopted last night.

Mayor Lisa Matthews said this marks another leap forward in delivering consistent policy direction across the region in all areas of Council business.

“Council staff have been working hard since the amalgamation of the two former Councils, to review and develop consolidated policies for the one Central Coast region, whilst also delivering on essential services and facilities for the community,” Mayor Matthews said.

“This undertaking not only ensures responsible, transparent and fair governance but also creates a policy framework which is contemporary and relevant.”

Open pile burning now allowed for Hawkesbury River communities with smaller land sizes and boat only access

The Central Coast Open Pile Burning Policy has been amended to allow the riverine communities of the Hawkesbury River with boat only access (including Little Wobby, Wondabyne, Cogra Bay, Bar Point, Marlow Creek and Patonga Creek) and land parcel less than the 4000m2 to undertake open pile burning due to limitations for green waste services.

This revision follows a request from these residents and Council’s subsequent assessment and consultation with the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Council adopted the Central Coast Open Pile Burning Policy on 27 May 2019 which enables residents who reside on large rural properties that generate large amounts of dry and dead vegetative waste to be disposed by open pile burning.  The Policy enables a self-regulated approval process for pile burning and permits landowners who meet the prescribed conditions to burn dry and dead vegetative waste generated on their land parcel. 

Landowners do not require a permit to undertake open pile burning from Council, but they must provide 24 hours’ notice of their intention to undertake open pile burning to either NSW Rural Fire Service Central Coast District Office, Fire and Rescue NSW Central Coast Office or their local fire station.

Vegetation burning must be undertaken in a safe manner and follow the conditions of consent set out in Central Coast Council’s Open Pile Burning Policy.  These conditions related to land parcel size requirements within prescribed zones, the size of vegetation piles, safety precautions, minimising smoke hazard, notification to adjacent property occupiers and adherence to total fire ban periods. 

Council will continue to review the Central Coast Open Pile Burning Policy every three years.

Search open pile burning at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au for more information.

Warnervale Working Group progresses protection of Porters Creek Wetland

The permanent protection of Porters Creek wetland is a step closer with the Warnervale Working Group progressing a Biodiversity Conservation Trust Agreement and other priority actions in the Tuggerah Lakes Estuary Management Plan, with $432,019 in funding.

The Warnervale Working Group has received updates on planning applications in the Warnervale area as well as the Warnervale Education and Business Precinct as part of its commitment to progress employment generating opportunities in the sectors of health, manufacturing, food production, renewable energy and waste in the area. 

The Warnervale Working Group was established by Council on 27 April 2020 and has held fortnightly meetings since 27 August 2020. Membership of the Group includes the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Councillor Kyle MacGregor, Councillor Louise Greenaway, Councillor Chris Burke, the CEO, General Counsel and Unit Manager Governance and Business Services.

Revised plan to make it easier for the community to participate in planning

Council’s Community Participation Plan has been revised to ensure ease of understanding and access by the community and will soon be placed on public exhibition for community to review and feedback before it’s officially implemented.

The Central Coast Community Participation Plan (CPP) was adopted in 2019 and is designed to make participation in planning clearer and easier for the local community. It does this by setting out in one place how and when the community can participate in the planning system, Council’s role and the different types of planning proposals, and community participation objectives which are used to guide community engagement.

Council’s Community Participation Plan was reviewed at a Councillor planning workshop in March 2020, which provided an opportunity to reflect on the implementation of the plan, any new and related legislative changes or other issues that need to be looked at since its adoption four months earlier.

Revisions have been made to the CPP,  or processes updated on the following matters:

Role of Councillors - include a more detailed description of the role of Councillors in planning matters, particularly relating to consideration of community views, objective decision-making, Local and Regional Planning Panels, the role of State Significant Development and how residents can access that process, and in the ward based process and collection of feedback for the Strategic Planning and the Local Strategic Planning Statement.

Clarification of detail - provide a description of the different categories of development to clarify which matters are determined by the Local Planning Panel and to also clarify specific parameters to the timing of when community consultation opportunities can be undertaken

Consideration to the implementation of the CPP for ease of access and understanding to ensure effective engagement with the community on planning matters by providing a FAQ document to support the CPP, additional links between the CPP and Council’s Engagement Framework and other relevant parts of Council’s  website.

Improvements to ease of access to planning information - Improve links to the Community Participation Plan, exhibition pages and materials, to search DAs and to include details of when the exhibition material will be removed and provide notice at the time.

Consideration and Determination of Planning Matters -  a new part has been added to the document to more fully explain the role of Councillors, the Central Coast Local Planning Panel, the Hunter/Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel, and the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces in the planning system.

Mayor Lisa Matthews said community participation in planning matters is important and the Community Participation Plan will ensure these opportunities are easy for the community to be a part of with clear information to help understand the process.

“Council recognises that community participation in planning matters contributes to building community confidence in the planning system and creates a shared sense of purpose, direction and understanding of the need to manage growth and change, while preserving local character.  The Plan also improves the process that generates two-way engagement that recognises and embraces community knowledge, ideas and expertise,” Mayor Matthews said.

“These new amendments will further improve a plan that ensures the community voice is Council’s compass and that we continue to work in partnership in planning matters.”

The revised Community Participation Plan will soon be put on public exhibition on www.yourvoiceourcoast.com and notification will be community at the time through Council’s online channels such as social media.