We are so fortunate on the Central Coast to have so much habitat for wildlife.

Families across the Central Coast now have even more places to play, connect and enjoy the outdoors, with Central Coast Council delivering a new district-level playspace in Tuggerawong and completing 13 local playspace renewals across the region.These projects are part of Council’s 2024-25 playspace renewal schedule, which forms part of a 20-year program to sustainably manage the lifecycle of more than 270 playspaces across the region.Central Coast Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said the program focuses on creating safe, inclusive and innovative playspaces that promote active and healthy lifestyles.“These playspaces offer much more than equipment, they create spaces where children and families can connect, explore and learn together,” Ms Smith said.“Each playspace is designed to provide a whole-of-park experience, with features suited to a wide range of ages, abilities and play preferences.”The new district-level playspace at Tuggerawong has transformed the former community hall site into a vibrant space for all ages.

Ecological restoration works are starting at 65 Sydney Avenue, Umina Beach, which is located south of Umina Oval, to help strengthen the endangered Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland (UCSW) as part of Pacific Link Housing’s condition of consent for a new affordable housing development in Woy Woy. The works were identified as part of one of the conditions of consent and involve salvaging the soil and biomass from what will be removed from the development site and translocate it to a suitable location along with compensatory plantings before Pacific Link Housing can commence construction on the development site located at 18 MacLeay Avenue Woy Woy to build affordable housing.

Council is delivering a mental health awareness campaign combining sport, creativity, and the community, to encourage open conversations and reduce stigma around seeking help. A vibrant mural has been unveiled on the Melbourne Ave sports amenities building at the Peninsula Recreation and Active Lifestyle Precinct in Umina.