Council adopts Flying Fox Management Strategy

Council has adopted the Central Coast Flying Fox Management Strategy following exhibition of a draft and consideration of feedback from the community.

The strategy establishes a framework for the consistent management of all flying-fox camps and their habitat in the Central Coast region.

Key initiatives of the strategy include education/awareness, subsidies for property modification, incident management, supporting research, appropriate land-use and the creation of vegetation buffers; with all initiatives supported by the latest scientific research and current best practice management actions deemed acceptable under current legal and environmental legislation.

The dispersal of flying fox camps is not supported by research and legislation and is not identified as an available management action in the Central Coast Flying Fox Management Strategy. 

The Strategy puts Council and all other land managers – private residents, Department of Infrastructure – Lands & Forestry and other land owners – in a position of being eligible for State and Commonwealth funding for mitigation measures such as car and pool covers, cleaning services and habitat management. Without either a strategy or specific camp management plan, the funding is not accessible to anyone in the Central Coast region.

Mayor Jane Smith said she was pleased to see Council adopt the strategy following community consultation earlier in the year.

“Council acknowledges the potential for conflict between residents and concentrated populations of flying foxes and took a number of community considerations into account when finalising this strategy,” Mayor Smith said.

“Flying foxes are a vital to the health and biodiversity of our bushlands and their survival is crucial to the long-term persistence of eucalypt forests, rainforests, woodlands and wetlands.

“With the number of flying fox camps constantly changing across NSW, this strategy will help us manage any potential changes to camps in the coming years and their associated effects on residents.”

Report rates Terrigal water quality as ‘good’ for swimming

Council has received a progress update on the Terrigal Catchment Audit tonight, with report comments based on initial outcomes from 20 sampling days taken at 12 locations across Terrigal Beach and Terrigal Haven from January to May 2019.

Initial outcomes and actions included:

• Terrigal Beach and Terrigal Haven rated as ‘good’ for swimming 94 percent of the time during dry weather and 84 percent of the time during wet weather.
• Dry weather flows were found to have some degree of microbial contamination at all stormwater pipes discharging to the beach, however this contamination varied and did not correspond to elevated results at the paired ocean locations (the beach) with minimal risk to swim safety associated with dry weather flows from stormwater drains. 
• A number of pipes in the Terrigal Beach and Terrigal Haven catchment areas have been placed on a works program for upgrade after being identified as being in poor condition following CCTV inspection of stormwater and sewer networks.

Mayor Jane Smith said Council is committed to continued investigation and monitoring of water quality in the area.

“The quality of our water and beaches are very important to the community and Council will continue to conduct sampling and testing to gain a greater understanding of the effects on water quality under various conditions,” Mayor Smith said. 

The water quality audit program will now progress to a major audit undertaken in partnership with the NSW State Government and Central Coast Council. 

The major audit will assess: the off-shore zone where swimmers cross to Terrigal Haven; assess hydrological mechanisms driving microbial movement; reservoirs for bacteria and their response to environmental conditions; volume and microbial load; and broader environmental impacts from other pollution sources in the catchment.

Councillors will further consider LEP and DCP for the Central Coast

Following a Mayoral Minute, Councillors will participate in a full-day workshop to consider next steps for the Local Environment Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP) for the Central Coast.

Mayor Jane Smith said that proceeding with the Draft Urban Spatial Plan – A Framework for the Local Strategic Planning Statement would in effect commences the process of developing a Comprehensive LEP and DCP for the Central Coast.

“Communities in the former Gosford LGA have raised considerable concerns about the impacts of proposed changes under the draft Consolidated LEP” said Mayor Jane Smith.

“It is important that Councillors have this additional time to consider a range of factors, particularly the impact of reducing the minimum lot size in R2 from 550 square metres to 450 square metres.

“The workshop will give Councillors an opportunity to consider submissions on the draft consolidated LEP and to map out the process for the Comprehensive LEP including the community engagement process.”

Integrity and Ethical Standards Unit to build trust with community

Council has supported the establishment of an Integrity and Ethical Standards Unit to ensure high standards of integrity in Council practices and procedures and to restore trust and faith in the community in Council decision-making. 

Councils of a similar size and scale of Central Coast Council (Northern Beaches and Gold Coast) have established Integrity Units to build community trust and confidence in the public sector by operating at the highest ethical standards. 

Mayor Jane Smith said the Unit is essential at a time when trust in politicians and democracy is at an all-time low according to the Social Research Institute at Ipsos.

“Recent national and international surveys tell us that people are losing faith in democracy and our major institutions. Amongst our young people, this is even more stark,” Mayor Smith said. 

“I believe this Council is on the right track to restore this trust and our Integrity and Ethical Standards Unit will help to ensure we are actively listening and engaging with our community and our decisions are made in an open and transparent manner.” 

The CEO will report back to Council on the mechanism and budget implications for establishing the Unit by the end of October 2019. 

Could the Central Coast be the next home for the world’s largest outdoor sculpture exhibition?

Following reports that organisers of the world’s largest annual free-to-the-public outdoor sculpture exhibition, ‘Sculpture by the Sea’, could be looking for a new location, Council will contact organisers to express interest in relocating the event within the Central Coast LGA 

Council will investigate possible locations within the Central Coast LGA where the event might be able to take place, as well as the feasibility of bringing the event to the region.

The Central Coast offers a wide range of lifestyle activities and provides many opportunities to foster creative and performing arts through its theatres, galleries and creative spaces. 

Investigating the possibility of bringing such a prestigious event to the Central Coast demonstrates Council’s commitment to creating opportunities for the community, achieving tourism objectives for the region, and further helping integrate art and performance into public life for locals and visitors to enjoy.

Council will receive a report on the options for staging a similar type of event, including an estimate of costs.

Report shows Council has been allocated more than $9.71million in funding

Council has identified current and future major funding opportunities available through the State and Federal Governments as at 30 June 2019. 

Council received more than $9.71million in external funding applications for nine priority projects since 31 March 2019. 

Mayor Jane Smith said the funding will allow Council to deliver key priority projects across the Coast. 

“Receiving funding allows Council to fulfil our promises to the community, by helping us deliver important projects across the Coast,” Mayor Smith said.

“Over the last 18 months, since December 2017, Council has been allocated more than $97million in funding. 

“A large number of highly complex expressions of interests, business cases and applications have been produced by Council staff, who are to be commended on their achievements.”

Major NSW Government Funding opportunities for 2018-19 include:

• Infrastructure NSW ReStart NSW
• Federal Government – City Deal

Council has been allocated $9million for three local and community infrastructure projects within the Infrastructure NSW Restart NSW funding program and is working with relevant stakeholders regarding the outcome of other opportunities. 

Council investments ensure the continued delivery of essential community services

Council has reviewed a report on its investments for the financial year 2018-19 which shows its investment portfolio is delivering sound returns for the community.

Council’s cash and investment portfolio totals $472.85million with a total net return in interest earnings on the portfolio of $701,000 in June.

Council’s investments are made in accordance with local government acts, the investment policy adopted by Council and other policy guidelines. It takes into consideration credit ratings of financial institutions, interest rates offered, and the amount of the investment portfolio already held with each financial institution.

Council’s investments ensure the continued delivery of essential projects for the community including upgrades to essential roads, water and sewer, community facilities and open space and recreation infrastructure, as well as the new $23.71million Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex at Tuggerah.