Mayor calls for more assistance from NSW Government

Central Coast Council Mayor Lisa Matthews is calling on the NSW Government to deliver more financial support to enable Council to continue to operate effectively and provide essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Lisa Matthews acknowledges the local government stimulus package announced by the NSW Government today,but said it does not go far enough to help regional communities such as the Central Coast.

“Central Coast Council, along with our other regional counterparts, continue to struggle with the financial impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).   For our Central Coast community, this has been compounded by the recent bushfires and floods experienced,” said Mayor Matthews.

“We are grateful that the State Government has listened to local Councils’ campaigning and provided a number of financial relief measures including access to a Council Job Retention Allowance, freezing increases in the Emergency Services Levy and potential to apply for low-cost loans to fund infrastructure projects.”

“But there is much more that they can do to let Council get on with it and help their communities,” said Mayor Matthews.

Central Coast Council has faced increased costs and at the same is experiencing declining revenue as more and more ratepayers are forced into financial hardship.   Council is seeking additional assistance measures from the State Government including retaining significant development developer contributions and support for the cost of conducting Local Planning Panels; increasing financial assistance grants payments; allowing Council to retain the waste levy; pensioner rebates to be paid back to Council, and a change current policy with regard to restricted fund and infrastructure spending.  

“The situation of COVID-19 is evolving daily and we are unfortunately seeing impacts on our community escalating,’ said Mayor Matthews.

“Local government works at the grassroots level and sees firsthand the massive impacts on families, young people, small businesses and our local economy as they navigate this new world.  It is critical that Central Coast Council receives adequate funding and resources to coordinate and deliver services as we navigate through, and recover from, natural disasters and the new challenges presented by COVID-19,” said Mayor Matthews.

More than half Council Services continue during COVID-19 crisis

To date, more than 50 per cent of Central Coast Council’s services have continued without interruption during the COVID-19 epidemic. Of the 962 services Council provides, many others have only experienced partial interruptions. Just 134 services have been significantly interrupted.

Essential services have been maintained and the following services have been interrupted to varying degrees:  provision of lifeguard services; leisure facilities; seniors’ facilities; art gallery; libraries; theatres; public events; Central Coast Stadium and holiday parks.

The information was contained in a report tabled at last night’s Council meeting which highlighted the impact on Council from the pandemic and associated community lockdown.

Council continues to monitor the financial impact to both its financial position and the wider community. It has resolved to stall debt recovery actions and signed up to the Splinter Award to enable it to access options to maintain employment for permanent staff whose jobs have been impacted by work closures. An Economic Task Force has been established to respond to local business impacts.

The exhibition of the 2020/21 Operational Plan has also been extended to allow consultation on the likely impacts on next year’s budget.

Council is working closely with NSW Police and continues to receive regular updates and participate in regular interagency meetings with NSW Health which is the lead agency during the pandemic.

Council confirms Working Together Staying Strong grant program 

Central Coast Council has endorsed the creation of a new grant program to assist community groups and organisations providing critical support services in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Working Together Staying Strong grant program provides up to $10,000 per project in combined funding and in-kind Council services to applicants. A total of $300,000 is available within this program.  Not-for-profit and community groups across the Central Coast are encouraged to apply particularly those with projects that directly support the physical health and mental well-being, social connection and the safety of vulnerable and at-risk groups.

It is a time limited quick response program and is expected to continue until September 2020.

Mayor Lisa Matthews said the Central Coast is already experiencing the social impact of the outbreak, and that this grant will provide immediate support to those frontline services who are currently facing increased demand and/or operational difficulties supporting those who are vulnerable and at risk.

“This grant program is a practical way of supporting and strengthening our front-line service providers to support our community members who are worst hit by this crisis,” said Mayor Matthews.

“I would urge all eligible groups to apply as soon as possible as this support will be vital in re-establishing a sense of community in the post-covid world.”

All information regarding the program can be found at: www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/funding

Council establishes a Social Impact Taskforce

Due to the unprecedented COVID-19 Pandemic, and in acknowledgment of its widespread social impacts on the Central Coast community, Council has committed to the establishment of Social Impact Taskforce for at least the next 6 months.

The taskforce will include a councillor from each of the wards and its main responsibilities will be to:

• Consider the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our Central Coast Community
• Increase communication and clarify roles between organisations, agencies and all levels of government
• Identify and monitor key measures of community wellbeing for the Central Coast

The Taskforce will also have key staff members among its ranks and is scheduled to deliver a report on its activities before Council in October 2020.  The Taskforce complements the work of the already established COVID-19 Economic Task Force that is focussed on helping local businesses.  

Local projects receive community support grants

Six Central Coast organisations have been recommended for funding in the February round of the Community Support Grant program.  The Community Support Grant Program is an ongoing program that provides up to $5,000 per project per financial year in combined funding and in-kind Council services.

A pool of $16,564 is available to be divided up between February’s successful applicants, with funding conditional on projects being able to be delivered within community health guidelines set out for the Covid-19 outbreak.

Mayor Lisa Matthews said it’s important that Council continues to support the local community.

“The Community Support Grants are an opportunity for not-for-profit and community organisations to get support for projects that have a positive benefit for the Central Coast community,” Mayor Matthews said.

“Despite COVID-19, I would encourage all eligible groups to continue to apply for funding from Council and I congratulate these recipients on their successful applications.”

Council will continue to work with all grant funded projects over the next few months, further acknowledging that COVID-19 is having an impact on the delivery schedule for some events, and some events and activities recommended for funding may not proceed as planned.

The Community Support Grants Successful Applicants for February 2020 are: 

• Surf Lifesaving Central Coast Inc. - SLSCC Pool Rescue Development Program - $2,445
• Rotary Club of Brisbane Water - Communications equipment for club operations - $3,023
• The Entrance Neighbourhood Centre Inc. - Community welfare relief hall hire - $2,000
• The Fathers Table - Outreach community support; partial subsidy on rent of Council premises - $5,000
• The Entrance District Baptist Church - Coffee machine to facilitate group connection - $2,200
• Lions Club of Wyong Inc. - Replacement fridge / freezer after recent floods - $1,896

Central Coast Developers Contributions Plan Adopted

Council has resolved to adopt the Central Coast Section 7.12 Developer Contribution Plan following a period of public consultation.

Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, public submissions were received following the exhibition of the amended former Wyong Shire Council section 7.11 contribution plan and Central Coast Section 7.12 Contribution Plan.

Council placed the draft Plan on public exhibition during November – December 2019 during which time several submissions were received from the public.There are financial benefits that will flow from the Plan’s formal adoption as well as the additional effect of helping to fund future community infrastructure that are consistent with the Council’s Community Strategic Plan.

Draft Local Strategic Planning Statement to go on display

Council’s first draft Local Strategic Planning Statement will go on public exhibition early May after Council resolved to commence a 28 day public exhibition and consultation on the document.

The Local Strategic Planning Statement explains how state and regional plans, such as the Central Coast Regional Plan 2036, will be implemented in the Central Coast region. The statement also identifies the challenges that the local area will face over the next 20 years and look at how the existing controls in the Local Environmental Plans (LEP’s) and the draft Central Coast LEP as well as the existing and draft Development Control Plans may need to change to meet the community's needs - now and in the future.

Mayor Lisa Matthews said the statement is an important document that will shape the future of the Central Coast and is urging the community to have their say.

“The Plan aims to balance the social, environmental and economic outcomes for the region over the next 20 years by directing our growth to existing centres, along growth corridors and within planned precincts.  There are a total of 82 short, medium and long term actions to support the region’s planning priorities, and as a Council we’re committed to achieving sustainable growth for the Central Coast.”

The community is encouraged to participate in the consultation stage by having their say online.

Council resolves to explore dredging options

 Council has resolved to continue with its local dredging program following an update on the recent mitigation work at The Entrance Channel which saw a number of planning tasks, and the initial sand berm modification and channel maintenance completed.

 Council also committed to dredging Ettalong (between Little Box Head and Half-Tide Rocks) in accordance with the ‘Rescuing Our Waterways’ funding agreement already in place.

 Mayor Lisa Matthews said the dredging, particularly at The Entrance Channel continues to be important to the community and a priority of Council.

 "Our residents rightly want to know what is happening with dredging on the Central Coast, and what plans Council and the NSW Government have for managing these important waterways.  Council staff will continue to explore the options for the community, including the possibility of purchasing our own dredging equipment, to ensure Council continues to meet dredging requirements and can make recommendations for future management," Mayor Matthews said.