Central Coast Council’s Administrator and CEO held an emergency meeting today with representatives of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) ahead of the planned industrial action by local garbage workers tomorrow.The workers are employed by Remondis which has the contract to supply garbage services to the Central Coast until January 2018.The TWU raised concerns regarding a termination clause in their enterprise agreement with Remondis Australia and wanted assurance their pay and conditions would be protected in any future garbage service collection contract.The Administrator sought a meeting with Remondis management as soon as the meeting was over and one will now take place first thing tomorrow morning.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the meeting with the TWU was amicable and it was unfortunate it had got to the stage where industrial action was being contemplated.“I was pleased to be able to meet with the TWU representatives and hear their concerns first hand and I look forward to meeting with Remondis tomorrow,” Mr Reynolds said.“Our role is to ensure that Council and the community receive the best value for money and the possible waste service from any new contract arrangements.”“My door is always open to those willing to help Council deliver that for our community.”If the strike goes ahead it will affect residents on the Central Coast whose bins are normally picked up on a Thursday morning and there is talk the strike might extend to Friday as well.Residents wanting to know what to do about their bins should check Remondis’ website at www.1coast.com.au  or call them on 1300 126 278.

Central Coast Council has welcomed last week’s announcement by Minister for Major Projects Paul Fletcher and Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks to commit over $2.7 million toward vital road upgrades on The Peninsula, following an election victory.The $2.7 million investment would be shared among traditional trouble-spots including:$1.1 million for Murray Street in Booker Bay$900,000 for Davis Street in Booker Bay$750,000 for Ryans Road in Umina BeachCentral Coast Council’s Administrator Ian Reynolds said that making roads on The Peninsula safer and more accessible would be a real win for the local community.“Council is continually advocating for improvements to road safety across the Central Coast, and this funding would be a real boost to improve the safety and accessibility of traditional trouble spots within our regional network,” Mr Reynolds said.“Residents on The Peninsula will be particularly pleased with local road improvements, as road safety and adequate pedestrian access are key priorities that will only enhance the surrounding business and residential community.“We are happy to see all levels of government addressing the backlog of road upgrades on The Peninsula as a key priority, and council looks forward to further announcements focused on improving Central Coast roads.”Next financial year council will spend over $100 million on local road upgrades. To find out what is planned go to www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au.

One lane of Showground Road in Gosford – at its intersection with Racecourse Road – will be temporarily closed for northbound traffic on Saturday 28 May 2016 from 7am to 6pm while important tree removal works are undertaken.Unfortunately, no access to Showground Road from Racecourse Road will be available during this time.The tree removal works are required to allow the construction of a safe, all-weather concrete footpath that will cater for the large number of pedestrians in this area.Southbound traffic flow on Showground Road will operate under traffic control and delays may be experienced.Warning signs are in place advising of the works and motorists will be required to detour around the work site.

Council meeting schedule adopted Council resolved to amend the Code of Meeting Practice to make it easier for residents from across the Central Coast to attend council meetings.Meetings will be held in the Council Chambers of the Gosford office on the second Wednesday of the month and the Wyong office on the fourth Wednesday of the month.   All meetings will be audio recorded.The Administrator has asked for a report on the potential web casting of future council meetings.Administrator Ian Reynolds said:

National Reconciliation Week provides the focus for a number of significant art exhibitions by international, regional and local artists opening at Central Coast Council’s Gosford Regional Gallery this weekend.Now in its fourteenth year Reconciliation 2016 is Gosford Regional Gallery’s highly popular annual exhibition and art competition.Opening this Saturday 28 May, it provides an opportunity for local Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists to showcase their work and promote reconciliation in a positive and practical way across the community.This year’s prize winners will be announced at 11am this Sunday 29 May at the Gallery’s eagerly anticipated Reconciliation Award Ceremony.The day will also include an Indigenous arts and craft market from 12noon until 3pm, with 20 stalls featuring a variety of Aboriginal artwork, craft and food as well as children’s activities, live music and a bush tucker BBQ.Also opening at the Gallery on Saturday 28 May is a significant solo exhibition, Imagining Victory, by prominent artist Richard Bell.A leading force within contemporary Australian art, Richard Bell’s work confronts issues of race relations.The Imagining Victory exhibition centres on a trilogy of highly acclaimed and provocative video works that reveal how racism can be deeply lodged and passed on to future generations.Tim Braham from Gosford Regional Gallery said the new winter exhibitions address revealing aspects of community identity and participation, as well as reflect the varied aspects of the Gallery’s changing program.“As well as attracting and exhibiting work by leading international artists such as Richard Bell, the Gallery is an important platform for community achievement and connection, demonstrated by popular annual exhibitions such as Reconciliation, which this year features around 100 works of art including painting, sculpture and photography,” Mr Braham said.“A third exhibition entitled Shorelines by Robert Bennetts also opens this Saturday 28 May, whose rich abstract paintings have been inspired by the distinctive landscape of the Central Coast, particularly our region’s dramatic geography of water, land and sky.“Our new program of exhibitions and associated events provide real opportunities for Central Coast residents and visitors to engage with thought-provoking and inspiring exhibitions.“Don’t forget to drop in this Sunday 29 May from 11am to support all participants in the Reconciliation Award Ceremony and enjoy the variety of Indigenous arts and craft market stalls and cultural activities in our Gallery foyer,” Mr Braham added.For more information about these new exhibitions, visit www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/galleries.

A $3.3 million upgrade to Kanangra Drive, Gwandalan will tomorrow be unveiled by Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter & Central Coast, Scot MacDonald, and Roads and Maritime Services (RMS), Regional General Manager, Anna Zycki.The project was recently completed by the former Wyong Shire Council and RMS, to improve the road, which provides the only access from the Pacific Highway in and out of Gwandalan and Summerland Point.“The former Wyong Council invested $1.4 million, along with funding of $1.84 million from the State Government’s NSW Safer Roads Program, to improve the safety of this very important road,” said Central Coast Council Director Infrastructure and Operations, Mr Greg McDonald, who will also be attending the official opening.The upgrade works include widening of the Kanangra Drive lane width to 3.5 metres, provision of up to a two-metre sealed road shoulder, provision of two police enforcement bays, asphalt resurfacing of the road and installation of safety barriers, signs, guide posts, new line marking and reflective pavement markers to improve the safety of the road.The need for the upgrade was identified after 33 crashes were recorded within the past five years to 31 December 2015, one of which resulted in one fatality.“We understand that roads are one of the most important services our residents expect and rely upon,” Mr McDonald added.“As a new Central Coast Council, in addition to works currently being carried out, we plan to invest more than $100 million throughout the 2016/17 financial year alone to ensure our Central Coast roads and drainage are well on the way to meeting the expectations of our community.”

Next week Central Coast Council will be carrying out works to repair erosion damage to a section of the foreshore at Buff Point.As a result, a section of shared pathway between Weston Way, which will be used an access point for council vehicles,  and the footbridge at Edgewater Park, will be closed from 30 May to 30 June 2016.Throughout these works, the section of shared pathway will remain closed to ensure public safety due to truck and excavator movements around the area.Those wishing to use the shared pathway during this time will be required to bypass the works by accessing the below sections of Buff Point Road:Northbound users of the pathway will need to move off the path at Moola Road onto Buff Point Road and re-join the shared pathway at Edgewater Park.Southbound users of the pathway will need to move off the path at Karangal Avenue, Edgewater Park and use Buff Point Road to access Moola Road where the shared pathway can once again be accessed.Council would like thank the community for their patience and cooperation while these works are carried out.  Residents can “report an issue” to council via the Wyong website www.wyong.nsw.gov.au via their smartphone or their PC.

Central Coast Council has welcomed the announcement of $3 million funding for the Tuggerah Lakes Estuary.Council has a long history of working to improve the health of the Tuggerah Lakes system.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds said the funding would build on the work Council was already doing to improve the health of the catchment and reduce pollution.“This financial year alone, we will build 11 gross pollutant traps, four of which received federal funding, on the shores of Tuggerah Lake,” Mr Reynolds said.“This additional funding will allow us to build on the work already done, focus on our foreshores and put some much needed attention into the catchment areas.“We welcome the opportunity to work with all levels of government in improving the health of the Tuggerah Lakes catchment so that future generations can enjoy our amazing estuary.”