Council Meeting live webcast for the very first time 

Central Coast Council is the latest local government authority to open up democracy by holding its first ever live webcast of a council meeting.

Local Councils are increasingly opting to live webcast their meetings to give the community a convenient way to see decision making first-hand.

Councils in NSW who also live webcast their meetings include Eurobodalla Shire, Lane Cove, Northern Beaches and Newcastle.

Administrator Ian Reynolds said even more members of the community would be able to see democracy in action and hopefully understand better how decisions are made.

“This is an historic day for Council,” Administrator Reynolds said.

“We don’t know how many may want to watch each meeting but the fact that they can without having to be physically in the Chamber is a great outcome.

“I hope our residents will gain a better understanding of what Council actually does.”

Council is undertaking a six month trial of live webcasting with a report due back to Council following the trial.

Meetings can be viewed through Council’s YouTube channel.

The next meeting of Council will be held on Wednesday 23 November at 5pm in the Wyong Office Chamber.

Council recognises Engineer’s success

Council’s Senior Asset Systems Engineer, Misbah Khan, has been officially acknowledged and congratulated on his recent Newcastle Professional Engineer of the Year Award.

Misbah undertook a research project to look into how authorities, including Councils, could better manage road pavement performance following storms and flooding.  It is believed these results will help road pavement authorities in managing flood-damaged roads with the appropriate treatment and within budget.

Administrator Ian Reynolds said this ground breaking work would go beyond receiving a personal award to directly benefiting the wider Central Coast community.

“There are many areas on the Central Coast that are subject to flooding and Council is always looking for ways to best manage and improve our local roads so they can cope,” Mr Reynolds said.

“We are lucky to have someone working here at Council with the calibre of Misbah who is working hard to find engineering solutions that will directly benefit our community.

“I congratulate Misbah on this well-deserved award and will be looking at how his career progresses with great interest.”

Misbah has been nominated for the Australian Professional Engineer Award to be held in November this year.

Development Application process streamlined across the Coast

Council tonight adopted a new policy to process Development Applications (DAs) to apply across the whole Central Coast.

Under the new policy DAs with more than 50 submissions will be reported to a Council meeting for a decision and DAs with less than 25 submissions can be determined by staff under delegated authority.

Applications with more than 25 submissions will automatically trigger a briefing note to be sent to the Administrator for consideration.   The Administrator can also call up any DA for deliberation at a Council meeting.

The new policy is in place following extensive public consultation which highlighted concerns that 100 submissions, to trigger referral to Council, was too many, particularly in smaller communities.

Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said Council now has one approach across the Coast making the process of determining DAs clearer for everyone.

“This has always been about adopting one uniform approach so the community is clear about the process,” Mr Reynolds said.

“Because the number of submissions required for an application to come to me for determination has been reduced from 100 to 50, development applications with a high level of public interest will automatically be determined by Council.”

“I do want to assure the community that all submissions, are taken into account when considering any DA no matter how many are received.  Staff must assess all DAs on their merit and under planning law and I have confidence in staff to do their job effectively.”

Rezoning will deliver a new Rural Village for Mardi

A new rural residential development for Mardi is closer with Council tonight agreeing to support a planning proposal to rezone the land.

The rezoning will allow the large parcel of land on Old Maitland Road, just minutes from Westfield and Wyong CBD to be developed with up to 300 rural residential properties.

Importantly the rezoning will secure the long term protection of 167 ha of Environmental land which is 75% of the site.

The proposed rezoning has been subject to two rounds of public consultation, generating over 100 submissions.  The submissions have been taken into account with the proponent entering into Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) which will require management of the potential impacts of the development relating to biodiversity, bushfire and traffic.

Administrator Reynolds said additional rural residential land provides more housing diversity for the growing population on the Coast.

“We need more jobs and new housing on the Coast and this development will deliver both of those,” Mr Reynolds said.

“It is also about delivering choice in housing.

“This is just the rezoning stage. When the development application is eventually lodged it will set out the details of what is actually planned for the site and residents will be able to have their say.”

The planning proposal to rezone the land will now be sent to the Department of Planning and Environment for approval.

Peninsula road upgrades a priority for Council

Nuisance road flooding will be alleviated at Lone Pine Avenue, Umina Beach after more than $1 million of drainage and road reconstruction works have been completed.

Council has accepted a tender from Kerroc Constructions Pty Ltd to upgrade the street drainage system between Haynes Avenue and Ocean Beach Road, prior to Council carrying out road reconstruction works.

The drainage works will commence in November 2016 and carry through to the end of the year.

Some $380,000 will be spent on these drainage improvement works, which will mean $650,000 of road reconstruction works can go ahead in February 2017.

These will include kerb and gutter, footpath and new road pavement.

Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the upgrade of Lone Pine Avenue would greatly benefit residents.

“Council is committed to investing in the community and the improvement of our roads is an important part of this,” Mr Reynolds said.

“There has been flooding in the Umina Beach area and these works will help reduce the impact of nuisance flooding will have on this road and make it safer for our residents.

“Improving road drainage and road reconstruction makes our roads safer for the community.”

$250,000 in grants to build a stronger Central Coast community

Fourteen community groups will share in $250,000 in Stronger Communities Fund grants endorsed by Central Coast Council tonight.

Newly merged Councils, like the Central Coast, received $10 million under the State Government’s Stronger Communities Fund with $1 million earmarked for grants for local community groups.

Central Coast Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said this funding was a great outcome from the amalgamation and increased Council’s capacity to deliver projects the community need, want and value, working in conjunction with the community.

“It is great to see funds going directly to our many sporting, cultural, environmental and other groups who work hard every day to deliver important services to our community,”

“The funding will contribute towards a wide range of vital projects such as improving sports facilities, implementing vital community programs and restoration projects, which will enhance the lives of Central Coast residents.

Council received 91 applications for the first round.  Successful recipients will receive confirmation via letter from Council shortly as will those groups that have been unsuccessful.

Local community groups are encouraged to apply for round two of the Stronger Communities Fund which will open on 30 January 2017 and close on 24 February 2017.

More information on the Fund can be found at strongercouncils.nsw.gov.au/funds

New boardwalk on the way for Killarney Vale  

In a win for sustainability on the Coast, Council is creating a 200m boardwalk over an area of saltmarsh near Lucinda Avenue, Killarney Vale.

The project is a win for the environment as it will prevent further deterioration of the saltmarsh community in an area which is an old bike track that has been previously used by pedestrians and cyclists as a thoroughfare.

Council staff will complete saltmarsh and bush regeneration work in the area, as well as install signage explaining the important role saltmarsh plays in the ecosystem. The project also involves benches and a bike rack.

The area will be safer and more accessible as a result of the loop boardwalk, making it possible for school and community groups to use it and learn about the environment.

Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the project demonstrated Council’s commitment to a sustainable environment for the Central Coast.

“Building a 200m loop boardwalk at Killarney Vale is good for the environment as it will stop the saltmarsh from deteriorating further,” Mr Reynolds said.

“The area will be safer and more accessible for the community and visiting tourists.

“Saltmarsh plays a very important in the aquatic food web and also provides coastal protection. The signage Council is erecting will contain educational information on the many roles it fulfils in our ecosystem.”

Council has appointed Fleetwood Urban to do the work, which is expected to start in January 2017 with an investment of $240,000

Budgewoi Boardwalk continues Town Centre revitalisation

Council has appointed SMC Marine to build the much-anticipated Budgewoi Boardwalk.

The boardwalk is one of the key initiatives in the upgrade to the East Village Centre, identified in the Budgewoi Masterplan 2013.

The boardwalk will be built along the waterfront of Budgewoi Creek near Budgewoi Circle. Included in the works will be a new floating concrete pontoon with gangway and fixed timber jetty along with replacement of nearby footpaths and maintenance and rebuilding of rock revetment and section of seawall.

Council is investing more than $600,000 on this project and work is expected to be completed by June 2017.

The Budgewoi Masterplan has 33 initiatives and aims to enhance the distinctive character of the Budgewoi village, create dedicated public spaces, facilitate pedestrian and cyclist activity and encourage greater utilisation of public spaces.

Initiatives already completed include the upgrade of street furniture and new bin enclosures, and the construction of a missing section of footpath in Budgewoi Circle.

Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the boardwalk was an exciting part of reactivating the Budgewoi Town Centre.

“Budgewoi is a very important part of the Coast, much-loved for its relaxed coastal village atmosphere,” Mr Reynolds said.

“Council has listened to the community and is delivering a project that will help re-activate this gem of the Coast so it is attractive to both residents and tourists.”

Rezoning proposal seeks to retain community use of Wyong Grove

Council is asking the Department of Planning to consider a rezoning proposal that will allow residential development on the Wyong Grove site while retaining the community buildings.

The northern part is mostly undeveloped and the rezoning will allow for medium density residential housing on the site and expand housing choice in an area close to a public transport (Wyong Station) and within walking distance of facilities in the town centre.

The southern portion of the site (close to Wyong Road) will retain its current zoning allowing for the possibility the former school buildings to remain.

Administrator Reynolds said Council was trying to strike the right balance between creating more housing for the growing community and providing the services and facilities they need.

“The community want to see the buildings retained and the developer rightly wants to develop the land that he owns,” Mr Reynolds said.

“The rezoning aims to achieve both outcomes.”

Council grants delivering a stronger Central Coast community

Dedicated and talented Coast residents are being supported as they continue to do valuable work in the community and travel nationally and internationally to compete in elite sporting events.

Paralympian Nick Yallouris’ grant of $1,000 helped him to travel to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Paralympic Games, where he acted as the sighted pilot for Australian cycling Paralympian, Matthew Formston.

Siblings Keenan and Brannen Kerry each received $1,000 to travel to Wisconsin in the US to compete in the Australian Barefoot Waterski World Championships.

Other grants from The Sport & Cultural Sponsorship Program, which allocated more than $11,000 to 17 recipients, will support a wide range of sporting activities, helping talented Coast residents attend national and world championships for water polo, triathlon, AFL, karate, dirt track racing, surfing, water skiing, swimming, lifesaving, marching and road walking.

As part of the 2016-17 Community Subsidy Program Council has awarded almost $6000 to four groups: Wyongah Progress Association Inc; The Entrance Neighbourhood Centre Inc; Central Coast Country Music Association Inc and Aussi Malayalam Cultural Association Central Coast Inc.

Neighbourhood Activation grants were awarded to the Adam (Molch) Memorial Surf Classic and the National Seniors Australia Central Coast – Wyong Branch Incorporated.

Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the grants program was designed to reward, recognise and support the efforts of hardworking Coast residents.

“These programs provide funds for events, activities and programs that are of great benefit to the community,” Mr Reynolds said.

“We have many dedicated people on the Coast who get out there and do good in the community. We want to keep supporting their great work. We also have many talented athletes, and we’re proud to support them as they excel in their chosen field and represent the Central Coast at the national and international levels.”

The grants for these three programs are awarded every two months throughout the year.

Each year Council provides $30,000 for the Community Subsidy Program, $50,000 for the Neighbourhood Activation Program and $20,000 for the Sport and Cultural Sponsorship Program.