Skip to main content

Council offices will be closed from Friday 29 March for the Easter long weekend and will reopen 8.30am Tuesday 2 April 2024. Full details of service and facility interruptions.

Administrator Appointment
Mr Rik Hart is the Administrator of Central Coast Council

Administrator Appointment 

Mr Rik Hart is the Administrator for Central Coast Council, appointed by the then Minister for Local Government, the Hon Shelley Hancock MP. Mr Hart’s appointment followed the Minister’s announcement on 26 April 2021 of a formal Public Inquiry into Central Coast Council led by Commissioner Ms Roslyn McCulloch.

The Council was suspended on 30 October 2020 and the formal Public Inquiry led to the postponement of the local government election for Central Coast Council, which was scheduled for September 2021.

On 17 March 2022, Minister for Local Government, the Hon Wendy Tuckerman tabled the report into the Public Inquiry into Central Coast Council, and took action to terminate all suspended Councillors, effective immediately.

On 1 June 2022, Minister for Local Government, the Hon Wendy Tuckerman MP announced the local government election for Central Coast Council (i.e., the return of Councillors) will be held on 14 September 2024. 

Until this time, the Administrator acts as the Council, effectively replacing the role previously performed by the Mayor and Councillors. 

Mr Hart assumed the role of Administrator from Mr Dick Persson AM who had been in the role since October 2020.

For information about the role of an Administrator, please read our Frequently Asked Questions below.

Administrator Community Pop-ups

Throughout 2023 Council Administrator Rik Hart will be out and about at community events to hear from residents about what matters to them.  The pop-ups will be at the following Council events and the date and time will be advised closer to the events.

•    Australia Day Community Event in Gosford (January)
•    Harvest Festival in the Central Coast Hinterland (June)
•    The Lakes Festival held Coast-wide (November)

Administrator’s Reports

Administrator's Messages

from

to

    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – Wishing the Central Coast community a happy and safe Easter long weekend
    The Easter long weekend is fast approaching!
    26/03/2024
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – Registration now open for Candidate Information Session 2
    Council is hosting the second pre-election candidate information session for people who may be interested in becoming a councillor, with registrations now open. On Tuesday 9 April 2024, Council will host the public information session at the Wyong Administration Building, 2 Hely Street, Wyong, NSW 2259. Kicking off at 5.30pm for a 6pm start, the session will provide information, insights and resources for prospective candidates with presentations from guest speakers and local government experts. Session two will cover the following topics:About Central Coast Council – what has been achieved while under Administration, including Council actions in response to the recommendations of the Public InquiryInformation about the constitutional referendum being held on 14 September 2024Navigating the political context of being a councillorInformation on planning an election campaign (budget, marketing, procedural steps etc.) and steps involved in preparing to run for electionA day in the life of a councillor – what to expect once electedLegislative responsibilities and obligations of councillors and what it means to be part of the governing bodyA brief overview of Council’s leadership structure and information about how councillors can appropriately interact with Council staff. To register for pre-election candidate information session two, follow this link:
    20/03/2024
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – Central Coast wins international tourism award
    Our beautiful Central Coast region has won first place in the global Green Destinations Story Awards at the world’s leading travel trade show, ITB Berlin! ITB Berlin is a peak body in the international tourism industry, and these annual awards are presented to the most inspiring sustainable tourism initiatives submitted across six categories.
    12/03/2024
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – Council tracking well this financial year
    Central Coast Council has performed well throughout the first half of this year, with quarter two (Q2) results reported to Council at the 26 February 2024 Council Meeting. Council has now commenced setting aside funds – $1.4M each month – to enable the final pay down of the remaining emergency loan in November 2025.
    05/03/2024
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – $40M funding injected into renewing the Central Coast road network
    I’m delighted to announce that Council has received $40 million for the Central Coast Road Upgrades project, a major and welcome funding injection into our 2,200km road network. The Federal Government has provided this funding package which will see the delivery of 46 individual projects to be carried out over a four-year period, from 2024 to 2027.Projects have been grouped into two programs:
    27/02/2024
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – Seniors Festival back with a bang this March!
    The Central Coast Seniors Festival is back this year from 11 – 24 March 2024!Council has planned a full calendar of events, with a variety of exciting activities across the Coast which embrace and recognise the important contributions seniors play in our community.Local services and resources available to seniors will be on show at the annual Seniors Expo on Thursday 21 March at Wyong Racecourse, with a variety of stallholders from businesses, services, and community groups around the Central Coast.
    20/02/2024
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – Council undertakes pre-emptive works on The Entrance Channel
    It was great to meet community members, Council experts and the Member for The Entrance, Mr David Mehan MP, on site at The Entrance Channel this week to discuss Council’s next stage of works at The Entrance Channel. On 20 February, Council will undertake pre-emptive works at the channel to ensure it is in an appropriate ‘flood ready’ stage, by establishing a pilot channel that can be connected to the ocean should a flood event occur and intervention triggers are activated. Council is constantly monitoring the channel condition through real-time data including remote cameras, satellite imagery, and gauges monitoring tidal range within the estuary, as well as forecasts of catchment inflows and lake heights.
    13/02/2024
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – Celebrate the magic of Wyong at Love Lanes Festival
    Wyong’s Love Lanes Festival is back this Saturday 10 February 2024 with the historic laneways of Wyong set to come to life! From 4pm-9pm Wyong’s laneways, town park and streets will be packed with entertainment and offerings from our local businesses and much-loved organisations;
    06/02/2024
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – Australia Day Awards Ceremony announced
    I was delighted to attend the 2024 Australia Day Awards ceremony last week, where an outstanding group of Central Coast citizens were awarded for their incredible contributions to the community. These annual awards are a way for Council and the wider community to celebrate and recognise individuals and organisations who have positively impacted the community. Our 2024 ‘Citizen of the Year’ was 18-year-old Matthew Blakemore, who was awarded for his advocacy and awareness-raising about the needs of young people with a disability.
    29/01/2024
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – Kicking off 2024
    Happy New Year, Central Coast community.
    24/01/2024
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – 2023 End of Year Wrap-up
    As the year draws to a close, I’d like to take the opportunity to look back on the last 12 months and celebrate some of this year’s significant milestones. It’s been an incredibly busy year here at Council, and staff have worked very hard to deliver an enormous amount of work for the betterment of the Central Coast community. Here are just some of the highlights from 2023.
    19/12/2023
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – CAPEX program delivery on time and on schedule
    As we edge closer to the end of 2023, we also approach the halfway mark of the current financial year.Reflecting on our progress for the first six months of 2023-2024, I’m pleased to report that Central Coast Council is on schedule in its budgeted capital works program, with a high commencement rate for total projects scheduled for the current financial year.
    13/12/2023
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – North Avoca Paths project completed in time for summer
    Council has completed the North Avoca Paths project, which has delivered a safer network of footpaths for locals and visitors walking, cycling or driving between three busy streets in North Avoca. The new pathways in View Street, Tramway Road and Elgata Avenue will provide increased connectivity and accessibility, while promoting active lifestyles which are important for community health and wellbeing.
    06/12/2023
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – 16 Days of Activism campaign against domestic and family violence
    Central Coast Council is once again working with community leaders to initiate important conversations around domestic and family violence. The Central Coast consistently has one of the highest number of incidences of family and domestic violence compared to any other local government area* and is an issue we must all address head-on.
    28/11/2023
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – Attending the 2023 LGNSW Annual Conference
    It was great to attend this year’s LGNSW Annual Conference from 12 – 14 November alongside Council’s CEO, David Farmer recently. The conference saw a high turnout of council representatives converging in Rosehill, NSW, where Councillors from all over the state debated and voted on key industry matters, and observed presentations by Members of Parliament (MPs), panellists, and other speakers. It’s clear that the key challenges for councils are largely consistent across the state.
    21/11/2023
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – A golden hat trick for Central Coast tourism
    The Central Coast has achieved a golden hat trick in the NSW state tourism awards!The Coast has cemented its place as a leading destination of choice in NSW, and it’s no wonder to locals that our beautiful beaches, stunning hinterland, unique town centres and leading hospitality offerings have received these accolades on the big stage. The Coast won three gold awards at the 2023 NSW Tourism Awards, powered by Business NSW and presented in partnership with the NSW Government and Destination NSW:Destination Central Coast managed by Central Coast Council won the Local Government Award for Tourism categoryThe Australian Reptile Park won the Major Tourist Attractions categoryCrowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific won the Business Event Venues category. The highly respected Gold Award is the third podium win for Council’s Marketing and Tourism team in the Local Government Award for Tourism category, with Council taking out Silver and Bronze in 2022 and 2021 respectively. I’d like to say a huge congratulations to the Council Marketing and Tourism team for their incredible achievements, and extend this congratulations to the Australian Reptile Park and Crowne Plaza Terrigal Pacific for their role in providing outstanding experiences for locals and visitors alike.Rik Hart, Administrator 
    14/11/2023
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – Council continues to support the Coast’s Surf Life Savers
    Central Coast Council has presented a cheque for $116,000 to Surf Life Saving Central Coast (SLSCC) as part of their sponsorship partnership with us.
    08/11/2023
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – Council finances stable for second consecutive year with tick of approval from Audit Office of NSW
    Council’s final 2022-2023 financial year (FY22-23) results were presented at the October Council meeting last night and showed that Council has sustained its stable financial position for a second consecutive year. The Audit Office of New South Wales conducted their formal review of Council’s consolidated financial statements and provided Council with an unqualified opinion – which means a ‘clean report’ was provided for Central Coast Council’s finances for FY22-23.
    01/11/2023
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – Enhancing safety perceptions across Gosford CBD
    How safe do you feel moving about Gosford CBD of a day or at night? Earlier this year, thousands of women, girls, and gender diverse people participated in the citizen-led engagement project Safer Cities:
    25/10/2023
    Administrator's Message
    Administrator’s message – Pre-election Candidate Information Session on this week
    Are you interested in becoming a councillor and representing your community?
    17/10/2023
Frequently Asked Questions
  • Yes. Engaging our community is a core responsibly of local government and this ongoing dialogue with our community will continue. For more information about community consultation at Central Coast Council, please visit yourvoiceourcoast.com

  • On 26 April 2021 the then Minister for Local Government, the Hon Shelley Hancock MP announced a formal Public Inquiry into Central Coast Council to be led by Commissioner Ms Roslyn McCulloch. This followed a suspension order of the Central Coast Council issued by the Minister on 30 October 2020.

  • The Administrator constitutes the Council and must perform all the functions, powers and duties of the Council, which must be treated as if they were performed by the Council. The Administrator effectively acts as the Mayor and the Councillors. This means the Administrator conducts the Council Meetings and undertakes the administrative, civic and ceremonial functions of the governing body.

  • Councillors were terminated from office on 17 March 2022. Prior to this, while Councillors were suspended from 30 October 2020 until 17 March 2022, Councillors were not entitled to exercise the functions of civic office or receive any fee or other remuneration. Councillors who are suspended or terminated have the same rights as any other member of the public.

  • The administration period will continue until the Central Coast Council election on 14 September 2024. Central Coast Council has been in administration since 30 October 2020.

  • On 17 March 2022, the Minister for Local Government, the Hon Wendy Tuckerman MP, tabled the report into the Public Inquiry of Central Coast Council.

    Commissioner Roslyn McCullouch made eight recommendations, including that an Administrator be appointed to serve until the Central Coast Council (CCC) election.

  • The status of Central Coast Council being under administration is the decision of the Minister for Local Government, the Hon Wendy Tuckerman MP.  The Minister gave reasons for this decision in their media release on 1 June 2022, which can be accessed on the Office of Local Government’s website here: www.olg.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/ministerial-releases/certainty-for-central-coast-council-poll/

  • The Administrator is here for residents to contact and engage with. The role acts as the Council and undertakes the responsibilities of the Mayor and Councillors representing the interests of residents and our communities. You can contact the Administrator by:

    Email -  theadministrator@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

    Post - PO Box 20, Wyong NSW 2259 or PO Box 21, Gosford NSW 2250

Stay up to date
Sign-up for weekly news, events and important information.