The NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has confirmed all 20 recently merged Councils, including the Central Coast, will continue.

The idea of holding plebiscites in merged Councils has also been abandoned by the Government.

Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the announcement was welcome news and provided the community and Council with the certainty needed to continue working together to make the Coast and its Council the best they can be.

“Our staff have been working extremely hard over the past nine months to transform the Council as well as continue great service delivery to our community. The results are starting to show,” Mr Reynolds said.

“The merger is delivering savings and benefits for the Coast now and will continue to do so over the longer term.

“Over ninety percent of our staff live on the Coast, so they are personally invested in seeing our area thrive and prosper. The Cabinet decision today ensures their hard work can continue to deliver benefits for our community.

“By working smarter, we’re finding more money that can be put back into frontline services and improved infrastructure.

“I thank each and every one of our staff on this magnificent achievement.”

Mr Reynolds said that Central Coast Council was here to stay.

“The State Government has made it clear they are committed to the new councils and there will be no de-amalgamation,” Mr Reynolds said.

Central Coast Council launched a tourism campaign called ‘This is the Life’ that promotes the region by encouraging residents and businesses to share their stories of Central Coast on social media.

“This would not have happened if Central Coast Council had not been established,” Mr Reynolds said.

Other achievements of Central Coast Council include:

• Council has reduced processing times for residential Development Applications down to an average of 25 days - well below the State Government benchmark of 40 days
• Council has saved $700,000 in insurance costs alone this year as a result of better negotiating power because of the amalgamation. This principle will flow on to other areas as well
• Council is digitising library books, audio books and magazines, which will be available via a new app in December 2017
• Council is webcasting its meetings across the new Council area
• Allowing residents to vote for projects they want to see delivered in their local areas
• Adoption of an Engagement Strategy including establishing an online Have Your Say engagement platform to allow residents to directly engage with Council on all initiatives.

“Residents of the Central Coast can rest assured that when the reins are handed over to the new Councillors later this year, their Council will be in good shape,” Mr Reynolds said.

At the Council meeting on February 22 the Administrator will announce the projects that will receive funding under the NSW State Government’s Stronger Communities Fund the community voted for just prior to Christmas. This will see an injection of over $9 million in major new infrastructure projects delivering significant social and economic benefits across the Central Coast.