Thirty-two nations, one dream, one trophy – forever world champions.

Council’s Public Forum trial was concluded following the June 2023 meeting.

Central Coast Council’s Trainee and Apprentice Program (TrApp) is currently seeking eligible students to build their careers with a range of roles on offer in over nine fields.The program offers students an opportunity to complete a nationally recognised qualification as a full-time paid employee at Council in their chosen field – which this year includes new disciplines including Landscape Construction, Horticulture and Painting.Council’s Director of Corporate Services Marissa Racomelara, said this year’s program is the largest TrApp, Undergraduate and Graduate drive Council has undertaken and aims to develop students to become job ready.“We are committed to supporting our residents studying at a vocational level with an opportunity to increase their chances of securing employment,” Ms Racomelara said.“Our TrApp Program aims to educate students, so they are qualified at a high industry standard by developing their practical and professional skills in a safe and supportive environment.“Students that complete the program are armed with workplace development and expert training, so they are more competitive in the job market, and they are also exposed to career opportunities with Council.“Local youth and mature age students looking to start a career or wanting to gain new skills in a range of fields are encouraged to apply for our 2023 program.”Administrator Rik Hart said Council’s TrApp Program has been a success and continues to provide an exciting opportunity particularly for our young people.“This important program offers our community an opportunity to build their careers within Local Government and gain valuable training in their chosen path,” the Administrator said.“Council has an important role to play in providing our youth with employment opportunities and supporting our residents with roles to live and work locally.“I am proud that Council offers opportunities for our community to gain professional experience and become job ready in their chosen career.”Applications for Council’s 2024 TrApp Program are now open – launching just after this year’s World Youth Skills day on 15 July which celebrates the importance of equipping young people with skills for employment.Visit www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/council/about-council/careers/apprenticeships-traineeships-work-experience to view our vacancies, additional information and tips on how to apply.Eligible applicants have until midnight on Sunday 13 August 2023 to apply.ENDS

Community groups and not-for-profit organisations are invited to apply for up to $30,000 in funding for community projects in Summerland Point, Gwandalan, Chain Valley Bay and Mannering Park, as part of the Chain Valley Colliery Community Funding Program.

Central Coast Council is appealing to residents to be careful with what they put in their waste and recycling bins and bulk kerbside clean ups, following several recent incidents where collected household waste has caught fire.

Council will host two Chemical CleanOut events in July and August and is encouraging residents to clear out unwanted hazardous chemicals from around the home and correctly dispose of them for free. Community members can safely drop off their chemicals between 9am-3.30pm daily, on the following dates:Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 July 2023 at Charmhaven Council Depot, Chelmsford Road, CharmhavenSaturday 5 and Sunday 6 August 2023 at Kincumber Waste Management Facility Cullens Road, KincumberItems that can be dropped off include paint tins, pesticides, gas bottles, fire extinguishers, fluorescent globes and tubes, as well as any unknown or unidentified chemicals which are accepted for identification and correct disposal.Only household quantities will be accepted.

Central Coast Council will raise the flag for NAIDOC Week on Monday 3 July with the community invited to mark the occasion at a ceremony and morning tea in Wyong.NAIDOC Week is an important annual event held across Australia from 2-9 July with the aim of celebrating and recognising the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living culture on earth.In 2023 the theme for the week is “For our Elders”, which recognises the role that Elders play in First Nations communities and families.

As the Central Coast gears up to host Germany and England for their team base training camps during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia &

Central Coast Council adopted the 2023-24 Operational Plan at Tuesday night’s Council Meeting.The Operational Plan identifies a focus on maintaining our road networks, caring for community open space, as well as working on improving the response time for development applications.

School holidays start next week, and once again Central Coast Council has lots of free and affordable activities and events. Council Director of Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said our popular school holiday program is delivered from a range of facilities including the Gosford Regional Gallery, libraries, leisure centres and theatres.“This winter we have a mix of activities to entertain and capture the interest all ages – from a supersized gym room, stop motion workshop, glow rooms, art and craft, gaming, indigenous virtual reality and lots more,” Ms Smith said.“One of the highlights of this holiday program is the celebration of NAIDOC week through virtual reality technology, as the Pamagirri group transports viewers (in a full 360-degree view) to Far North Queensland where they will demonstrate songs, legends and art.“Gosford Regional Gallery events often book out fast, and this winter program looks to be no different.

Central Coast Council is calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for three community members to join the Chain Valley Colliery Community Advisory Panel.

The life stories of the famers who call the Central Coast home are set to come alive in a visual spectacular this Saturday for one afternoon only.When These Mountains Speak is an innovative series of pictures and stories that highlight the stories of seven farming families from diverse backgrounds.

Solar and battery systems have been installed at 20 Rural Fire Stations across the Central Coast to ensure services can continue to operate independently should a grid power fail occur during natural disasters.Central Coast Council’s Director Environment and Planning, Dr Alice Howe said the initiative will be of particular importance to the many community members who live in isolated and vulnerable areas across our large Local Government Area, who have previously faced limited access to basic needs such as power and vital emergency services during natural disasters.“The installation of solar and battery systems at local Rural Fire Stations will provide the community with the assurance that they can access emergency services during times of need,” Dr Howe said.Dr Howe said Council has partnered with NSW Public Works to manage this initiative, which is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.“The ability to generate and store renewable energy also provides economic benefits, including savings on the consumption and cost of electricity.”Council Administrator, Rik Hart said this is a great move towards further ensuring that our community and local emergency services are prepared when faced with natural disasters.“It is crucial that our local fire services can maintain operational during a bush fire and these new resources will help to achieve that.

With just 36 days until kick-off in the opening matches of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia &

Central Coast Council's popular Harvest Festival, held over the June long weekend, has once again attracted thousands of people from near and far to experience the Coast's hinterland communities and boost the local economy.This year’s Festival had 32 event hubs run a range of unique events and experiences from farm tours, fruit picking and produce markets to food and wine fairs, and live entertainment.Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said Harvest Festival provides an opportunity for people to take a glimpse behind the farm gate and explore Central Coast rural farming communities and their picturesque villages, whilst supporting local businesses and the economy. "We are delighted to report that an estimated 56,000 attendees enjoyed Harvest Festival over the long weekend, bringing an estimated economic boost of $8.6million to our region," Ms Smith said."Our event hubs reported a successful weekend and received an abundance of positive feedback from participants and visitors, many of which travelled from Sydney and beyond to experience the unique events on offer within our beautiful hinterland.”Council Administrator, Rik Hart said Harvest Festival makes a great contribution to the local economy, whilst highlighting sustainable farming practices and shining a spotlight on the rural side of the Central Coast."For many people, the Central Coast’s abundance of beaches may be the first to come to mind but on the other side of the M1 there’s the natural beauty of our hinterland.

Five professional and two emerging local creatives have been selected to deliver innovative and contemporary new works as part of Central Coast Council’s ‘Creative Art Central’ program 2022/23.Creative Art Central is an annual commissioning program which offers funds for established and emerging creatives of diverse disciplines living on the Central Coast.

National touring exhibition William Kentridge - I Am Not Me, The Horse Is Not Mine will be travelling to the Central Coast’s Gosford Regional Gallery from 17 June to 27 August 2023.I Am Not Me, The Horse Is Not Mine premiered at the Biennale of Sydney in 2008 and was gifted to the Art Gallery of New South Wales by Anita and Luca Belgiorno-Nettis in 2017.Central Coast Council Regional Gallery Director, Tim Braham said William Kentridge is one of the most powerful voices in art today, with this ambitious moving image installation now the most significant work by the artist in an Australian museum collection. “Emerging as an artist during the apartheid regime in South Africa and grounded in the violent absurdity of that period in his country’s history, William Kentridge’s artworks draw connections between art, ideology, history and memory,” Mr Braham said. “I Am Not Me, The Horse Is Not Mine is a deeply immersive large-scale, eight-screen video installation.

 Artists from around Australia are invited to submit works to compete for the Central Coast’s major institutional art prize, the annual Gosford Art Prize. The Gosford Regional Gallery is accepting submissions online now until entries close on 24 July 2023 at 4pm.Gosford Art Prize offers an exciting range of opportunities for visual artists working in any art form to showcase their work to a large audience and potentially become an acquisition of the Central Coat's art collection.

Central Coast beach patrol season came to an official close on Tuesday 25 April 2023, with the 2023/24 season to recommence on Saturday 23 September 2023.The year’s summer season saw over 3.7million visitations on the Coast’s 15 patrolled beaches during Council lifeguard and Surf Life Saving Central Coast patrolling periods.

Central Coast Council Water and Sewer is seeking feedback from Central Coast residents and businesses about Council’s water and sewer services.The community is encouraged to share their feedback in an online survey which will be launched on Council’s website on Monday, 5 June. Council’s Director of Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said community participation will help identify Council’s water and sewer key focus areas moving forward. “Greater participation in the survey will ensure that Council’s water and sewer services and investment are focussed towards the areas that our customers and community values most.“The survey is the third and final phase of the current community consultation, however we will continue to engage with our community into the future. “Phases one and two consisted of face-to-face forums and focus groups.