Ahead of Youth Homelessness Matters Day on Wednesday 20 April, Council is raising awareness around the need for more affordable housing locally and identifying the misconceptions associated with youth homelessness.  On any given night on the Central Coast, there can be up to 70 people sleeping rough, however, youth homelessness is difficult to measure as many young people are not detected until they present to local support services and often considered as ‘hidden homeless’ – couch surfing or sleeping in a car.  With the cost of purchasing or renting a dwelling on the Central Coast rising rapidly, over 24,000 households* in the region are in housing stress, and this is for people that have a place to call home. Council Acting Director Community and Culture, Glenn Cannard is calling for the community’s support in the development of more affordable housing locally. “To reduce the number of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, we need to be supporting and creating more affordable housing.

Central Coast Council offices and a number of services will be closed over the Easter Long Weekend from Friday 15 to Monday 18 April and on Anzac Day on Monday 25 April.Customer service will be closed on the public holidays (15, 18 and 25 April).

In commemoration of Anzac Day, Central Coast Council is supporting events being held at several locations across the Coast.These services provide community members the opportunity to come together to pay their respects to our fallen service men and women and acknowledge those who fought to defend our country and protect our way of life.Dawn Services, Main Services and Marches will be proceeding at the following locations:Davistown A Dawn Service will be held at Davistown RSL Club, Murna Road, Davistown at 6.00am.Doyalson A Dawn Service will be held at Doyalson-Wyee RSL Club, Pacific Highway, Doyalson at 5.00am with a Main Service commencing from 9.00am.Empire Bay A Main Service will be held at Empire Bay Cenotaph, Sorrento Road, Empire Bay at 11.00am.GosfordBoth ceremonies will take place in Kibble Park, Donnison Street, Gosford.

Central Coast Council is to commence remediation works in Kibble Park, Gosford, with the aim for it to become an improved community activity space.As part of the upgrade, the unique John Flakelar created sculpture, currently part of the decommissioned fountain in Kibble Park, will be relocated to Sensory Park, Narara. Council Administrator, Rik Hart said having the opportunity to upgrade both parks meant we are not only utilising spaces more effectively, but also providing better facilities for the community to enjoy. “The Kibble Park Place Plan identified opportunities for this key central Gosford open space, including making it more accessible, safe and vibrant.”Mr Hart said Council acknowledged there had been some community discussion about the future of the fountain in Kibble Park, which has not operated since 2016. “An assessment of the cost to refurbish the fountain and surrounding degraded area revealed it would not provide good value to the community or use of ratepayers money.

Council welcomed today’s State Government announcement of the University of Newcastle as the preferred partner to deliver a Gosford university campus. Council Administrator, Rik Hart said this was a positive outcome benefitting the community and contributing to the revitalisation of Gosford’s CBD. “This announcement, along with the commitment from the State Government of transforming Council’s former Gosford Administration Building into a TAFE site, contributes to Gosford’s position as an educational hub for the region,” Mr Hart said. Council CEO, David Farmer confirmed there is a Memorandum of Understanding in place with the State Government about the development of the Gosford Administration Building into a TAFE site. “Having more higher education opportunities available for young people living on the Coast is important and the addition of a university campus to Gosford’s CBD is welcome news for the community,” Mr Farmer said. “Council’s own Regional Library, due to start construction by the end of this year, will also complement the growing educational hub in Gosford,” Mr Farmer said. ENDS

Council has commenced construction to transform the Visitor Information Centre at The Entrance.The exciting multipurpose facility will deliver the community an interactive visitor centre, new and modern amenities including 24/7 adult accessible change facility (AACF) and event toilets, improved layout and decking, a dedicated space for local makers and creators, a bookable function area and a purpose-built greenroom. Council Director Corporate Affairs and Chief Financial Officer, Natalia Cowley said the upgrade has been designed to provide an interactive facility and accessible amenities for locals and visitors to enjoy. “The Entrance is one of the Coast’s most popular tourist destinations and this project creates an interactive space to better educate and inform visitors about all there is to do and see throughout the region,” Ms Cowley said.“This upgrade will improve toilets and accessibility, while also helping to drive tourism, increase economic spend in the area, and create an exciting year-round space for locals to enjoy.”Council Administrator, Rik Hart said this stage was an exciting milestone for the project.“This interactive experience can showcase all that our region has to offer as a tourism destination and provide positive exposure for our local businesses and tourism providers,” Mr Hart said.“It also provides the opportunity to attract larger-scale events and improved function areas for the community to enjoy, as well as including facilities for all with a 24/7 adult accessible change facility.

Central Coast Council is delivering a jam-packed program of online and face-to-face activities and events throughout the April school holidays, giving Central Coast families plenty of ways to keep young minds entertained and bodies active over the Easter break. Parents, carers and guardians can head to the School Holidays what’s on page on Council’s website to see everything that’s taking place - from heritage tours, live entertainment and escape rooms to sports challenges, Easter crafts and skills workshops, there’s something on offer for all ages, interests and abilities. Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/schoolholidays for the full list of events, details and bookings.What's on at our Town CentresBring the kids down to any of our four town centre locations for a range of fun activities for all ages, as part of Council’s new Social Spaces event.

Ettalong will come to life this month showcasing original art produced by local artists.

This week marks the commencement of Youth Week 2022!

Central Coast Council invites you to explore the hidden gems and discover forgotten laneways at Love Lanes Festival, which is back for its fifth year this Friday 8 April. Held in Wyong’s CBD from 4:00pm-9:00pm, Love Lanes Festival is set to showcase Wyong in its best light with four lanes, four stages and one park.This one-day festival is a combination of colours, sounds and smells with the buzz, hype and vibe of an outdoor community street festival, encompassing the theme of 'love'.Guests will enjoy live music, roving entertainment, food and market stalls, a kid’s zone, circus performances and more!Love Lanes was originally planned to take place in February, just two days before Valentine's Day, however, due to the restrictions and COVID implications at the time, this year's event was postponed until April. For more information, view the full program for the 2022 Love Lanes Festival.

Council has issued a strong warning to residents and visitors to stay off The Entrance North Beach, north of the Wyuna Street access way and south of The North Entrance Surf Life Saving Club due to serious safety risks.The foreshore of The Entrance Beach was significantly impacted from dangerous surf conditions, strong winds and high tides from last Friday which continued through the weekend.

Council acknowledged the State Government announcement this week about the Greater Sydney Commission developing the Six Cities vision for metropolitan NSW.Council CEO, David Farmer said the inclusion of the Central Coast highlighted the strategic importance of our region.“Bringing the Central Coast into strategic planning alongside Newcastle, Wollongong and Sydney has the prospects of seeing more opportunities open up for funding big game changing infrastructure to benefit the whole region,” Mr Farmer said. “We look forward to working with Elizabeth Mildwater, Greater Sydney Commission’s Chief Executive Officer and Sarah Winter, Greater Sydney Commission’s Executive Director for Central Coast and Macquarie Park to ensure the Central Coast can reach its full potential as part of the overall plan."Council Administrator, Rik Hart said the Greater Sydney Commission recognised that it was important for Council to have a seat at the table in planning and delivering on the strategic vision for the region. “Our community’s voice will be important in the development of the six cities strategic plan as they know what is needed for the Central Coast to thrive and be a dynamic part of the new vision for metropolitan NSW,” Mr Hart said.ENDS  

Council acknowledged that the commitment of both the Federal and State Governments to invest in the Tuggerah-Wyong rail upgrade was good news for the region.  “This funding announcement seems to take the prospect of a high-speed rail link between Newcastle and Sydney a step closer,” said Council’s CEO Mr David Farmer. “Our community stands to benefit from these steps towards improved connectivity, better public transport capacity and infrastructure generating jobs,” Mr Farmer said. Council Administrator, Rik Hart said the announcement showed that positive community outcomes can be achieved when both sides of politics work together. “Delivering essential infrastructure to accommodate the growing Central Coast region and to facilitate good economic outcomes is not a solo enterprise,” Mr Hart said. “The community benefits when all levels of government work together." 

Last weekend Central Coast Council was host to the 2022 National Town Crier Championships.

Four Central Coast town centres will come alive this April and May with ‘Social Spaces’ – a series of pop-up activations aimed at bringing the community together and attracting visitors to Gosford, Wyong, The Entrance and Toukley to create vibrant and engaging spaces.Council Unit Manager Community and Culture, Glenn Canard said this initiative helps boost local businesses and create vibrant spaces in important town centres this autumn.“Social Spaces is all about revealing the hidden treasures and spaces of Gosford, Wyong, Toukley and The Entrance and filling them with community events, pop-up dining experiences, school holiday activities and seasonal entertainment,” Mr Cannard said.“There will be two months of exploring amazing local food, kids’ activities, roving entertainment and more fun activities from Sunday 10 April until Sunday 29 May.”Program highlights:School holiday activities – petting zoo, laser skirmish, mobile games truck, roving easter bunny.Pop up dining experiences – if you enjoy great food, great music, festoon lighting, picnic rugs and great company, then you will enjoy Social Spaces’ pop-up dining experiences.

Council notes the orders of the Land and Environment Court of New South Wales in the matter of Verde Terra v Central Coast Council.

Central Coast Council confirms that no settlement payment has been made by Council in relation to former CEO Gary Murphy’s defamation claim against Council and former Interim Administrator Dick Persson AM. Mr Murphy filed a Notice of Discontinuance of this matter in the District Court of New South Wales on Thursday 24 March.

Council welcomes today’s announcement of additional funding by the State Government towards the Pacific Highway Upgrade through Wyong.Council Administrator, Rik Hart said Council has been a champion for the upgrade of this State road as a catalyst to easing congestion in a key bottleneck area on the Coast.“Our community can feel more confident now that this upgrade will happen,” Mr Hart said.“This is what can be achieved when all levels of government are working together towards meeting their obligations to deliver essential infrastructure for the growing Central Coast region.“I look forward to seeing construction begin in the coming years,” Mr Hart said.More information on the Wyong Pacific Highway upgrade is available online at www.rms.nsw.gov.auENDS

Surf Life Saving Central Coast (SLSCC) plays a significant role in our community.

Audited financial reports for 2020-21 are adoptedCouncil has adopted the 2020-21 audited financial reports for Central Coast Council and the Central Coast Council Water Supply Authority.Council’s consolidated net operating result for the financial year ending 30 June 2021 is a deficit of $70.7M excluding Grants and Contributions for capital purposes.