Central Coast Council will host a second Developers Forum to help get development moving on the Central Coast.The forum will be held on Tuesday 23 May at 5.30 in the AJ Taylor Function Room at the Wyong Office in Hely Street, Wyong.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said this second forum will continue the conversation with the development sector about how to best deliver housing and infrastructure for the growing Central Coast community and provide an opportunity for developers who were unable to attend the first forum to discuss development issues directly with Council .“We need to ensure our planning controls and policies deliver the development we want – sustainable and innovative – and that developers are able to build,” Mr Reynolds said.“We need to have developers on board with our real and exciting plans to activate our town centres and public spaces and to make the Coast the very best it can be.”Council Group Leader Environment and Planning, Mr Scott Cox, said work was underway to prepare one consolidated Local Environment Plan (LEP) to guide future development on the Coast and the input of developers was vital to the process.“As Central Coast Council celebrates its first birthday this week, we continue to move closer to our ultimate goal of finding a consistent approach that will help improve our local environment and encourage investment, create new jobs and quality housing for our growing population,” Mr Cox said.“Creating diversity in housing is crucial as we need to provide 41,500 additional houses by 2036 to meet the population increase on the Coast.“This is also a priority of the State Government who have set a benchmark of 40 days for Councils to turn Housing DAs around.“We is aiming to beat this standard, so Council is not standing in the way of new housing and we can get sustainable development in this area moving faster.”To register interest in attending the forum go to www.developersccc.eventbrite.com.au

Central Coast Council has welcomed the confirmation of funding for key projects for the region in last night’s Federal Budget.Funding has been confirmed for a regional performing arts centre and the regional library at Gosford, a skate park for Wamberal as well as $7.2 million in local road upgrades.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said it was pleasing to see promises made at the last Federal Election confirmed in this budget and particularly welcomed the extra funding for the Medical School and Research Institute at Gosford.“This extra funding for the Medical School will enhance the reputation of Gosford and the Central Coast as a leader in innovation in medical research and education,” Mr Reynolds said.“It will also be a driver for the rejuvenation Gosford as the regional capital and will have huge flow-on effects to the local economy delivering jobs and opportunities for our community, in addition to the direct benefits to health care on the Coast.Council is doing its part to help rejuvenate the Gosford CBD with changes to planning controls underway and confirming sites for the Regional Performing Arts Centre and Regional Library in Gosford.“Council can now move with confidence to the scoping and planning stages for these projects now we know this Federal government funding has been confirmed,” Mr Reynolds added.Mr Reynolds said that he understood that the budget re-introduced indexation for Financial Assistance Grants to Local Government, which is welcomed, and established a Regional Growth Fund for major projects supporting long-term economic growth in regions undergoing structural adjustment.“We look forward to discussing opportunities to use this Fund to address growth challenges on the Coast as it transforms into the future,” Mr Reynolds said.Council is in the process of finalising its own budget for next year with increased funding for funding for roads and drainage, water and sewer and open space and recreation and is pleased there is funding on the table from the Federal Government  for these priority areas.“One of our key priorities is maintaining our 2,200km of roads.  As we don’t have the budget to do it all, this injection of $7.2 million from the Federal Government is particularly welcome,” Mr Reynolds said.“We are committed to working closely with our federal and state counterparts to ensure we can continue to deliver the services our growing community need, want and value.”Council’s Budget and Operational Plan for 2017-18 will be revealed at an Extraordinary Meeting to be held on Monday 15 May at the Wyong Chambers at 5.30pm, just over one year on from the establishment of the Central Coast Council.

Lake Haven Library is getting a makeover, with improvements such as a new service desk, self-service reservation station, a ‘Popular Reads’ section and an expansion of community space at the venue.The $120,000 upgrade will also include installation of a stand up internet bar, featuring two express internet stations with quick search facilities, and the 12 existing public internet stations will be relocated and housed in purpose-built computer furnishings.In addition, new catalogues will be built into shelving, promoting accessibility for all library patrons.In order for these important improvements to be carried out, Lake Haven Library will be closed from Wednesday 17 to Wednesday 31 May.During this time, patrons are encouraged to access Council’s online library services or visit alternate library branches, with the closest being Toukley or Tuggerah Libraries.

Work is well underway on the upgrade of a popular fishing platform at North Entrance.Terilbah fishing platform is located on the northern side of The Entrance Bridge in a reserve along the edge of Tuggerah Lakes.The platform was in need of repair and these works will help us to stop the erosion of the bank and surrounding areas, and prolong the life of the platform.Works include the construction of a revetment wall to stabilise the foreshore on either side of the fishing platform.We will also be stabilising the ground under the existing paved section in addition to replacing of the decking timbers on the actual platform.To carry out these works safely, we have closed the platform and surrounding area to the public – but you can still access the play space and fish along the bank of the lake, north of the works, or on the southern side at The Entrance.The new look platform is expected to be open in July.