Eleven young Coasties took the stage for the 2022 Discovered Grand Final at The Hub Erina recently, with Sybella McKay (19 years) taking out first place in the Open Division and Ehryn Bala (12 years) in the Kids DivisionCouncil Unit Manager Leisure Beach Safety and Community Facilities, Phil Cantillon said the Discovered competition is a great opportunity to recognise young Central Coast talent.“I’d like to congratulate all contestants who performed in the grand final event, offering an exciting vocal display for those in attendance,” Mr Cantillon said.“Central Coast Council developed the Discovered vocal program and competition with the aim of contributing to the wellbeing of young local singers, whilst helping to build their confidence and allow them to do what they love whilst feeling inspired and challenged.“Now in its tenth series, the Discovered competition has engaged over 600 aspiring young singers since its inception, with some going on to perform in Australia’s Got Talent, The Voice, and Australian Idol.

Central Coast Council presented Surf Life Saving Central Coast (SLSCC) with a $116,000 cheque yesterday at Toowoon Bay Surf Life Saving Club.

The nomination period for the 2023 Australia Day Awards has been extended – enabling more local people to be acknowledged for their community work.Central Coast Council is encouraging locals to recognise individuals and groups who help make the Coast a better place to live, work and play, by nominating them for the 2023 Australia Day Awards.Central Coast Council Director of Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said extending the closing date of Australia Day Award Nominations has been done to ensure extra time for individuals who contribute to our community.“We appreciate that with the recent inclement weather, many community members have been busy looking after every-day things, including supporting those in need and may not have had time to nominate their peers,” said Ms Smith.“In extending the nomination period from the 23 October to the 30 October we are hoping to provide the community with sufficient opportunity to nominate someone they know.“This might be individuals who are leaders in the community, or who work quietly behind the scenes, to make the Central Coast a great place to live.”Nominations for the 2023 Australia Day close Sunday 30 October 2022 at 5pm.The 2023 Award categories are:Community Group AwardRecognises the important and inspirational work of a community organisation, in community services, well-being and community safety.Community Life AwardRecognises an individual that has made a valuable contribution to the community through the fields of sports, arts, culture, or environment.Volunteer AwardAn individual volunteer who has made a significant long-term commitment to volunteer work within the community.

The Central Coast community is invited to help shape the future of the Gosford waterfront, with the first phase of community consultation now open. Council has adopted a concept plan for the Gosford waterfront – a starting point for the community’s input, and it’s now time for people to submit their ideas, feedback and opinions. Council is inviting the community to help shape the future of the Gosford waterfront by:Viewing the interactive concept plansReading the frequently asked questionsRegistering for a virtual or face-to-face drop-in information sessionContributing to and joining the conversation on the interactive concept plan and sharing ideas, suggestions and opinionsProviding feedback via the online feedback formThe feedback Council receives through this initial consultation phase and subsequent phases will inform the next level of detail for the project, which is a detailed masterplan down the track.This exciting project presents a major opportunity to unlock Gosford, and the Central Coast’s full potential and I encourage everyone to get involved to help shape the future of this region.Community consultation is open from 18 October to 1 December 2022.

The Central Coast community is being invited to help shape the future of the Gosford waterfront and have its say on the exciting revitalisation project set to boost liveability and economic growth across the entire region.The Central Coast Council has adopted a concept plan for the Gosford waterfront, a starting point for the community’s input, with the plan now on public exhibition for community members to submit their ideas, feedback and opinions.Council worked with key stakeholders to develop the concept plan including the Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council, Greater Cities Commission, Crown Lands, TAFE and The University of Newcastle.  Council also integrated existing research and information collected through various projects including the Gosford Challenge, Gosford Our City, Our Destiny Masterplan and Gosford Urban Design Framework.Now Central Coast Council is encouraging the community to provide their input to the concept plan and its various components.Central Coast CEO, David Farmer said the re-imagining of the Gosford waterfront is a long-term project that will stimulate significant employment and economic activity through the planning, development and operational phases.“Gosford is recognised as the Central Coast’s principal city in the NSW Government’s Greater Cities Plan.

Central Coast Council’s Director Environment and Planning, Alice Howe, said the annual report is an important resource to help Council manage water quality at swimming sites across the region. “We all know what a challenging year it has been weather-wise, so it is pleasing that despite this 13 out of 15 ocean beaches (86%) rated as Good or Very Good for water quality.

In the lead up to the 11 October 2022 Ordinary Council Meeting, there were a number of agenda items which received significant media interest, resulting in national media coverage on these matters.It is not uncommon for Council meetings to generate interest from the media and community, which I note is a good thing, as it shows engagement with the local government decision-making process. However, what was unfortunate about the media coverage in the lead up to the 11 October Council meeting was the blatant misinformation shared about Council’s position on flying the Australian Flag.

Central Coast Council has adopted the Northern Lakes Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan, and the Davistown and Empire Bay Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan.Council’s Environment and Planning Director, Dr Alice Howe said these studies and plans recommend options to better manage existing and future flood risk.“These studies and plans aim to build community resilience to flooding and include flood mitigation works, emergency management plans, flood warning processes, flood education programs, land use planning, and suitable design of infrastructure and buildings,” Dr Howe said.“Extensive community consultation took place with residents and businesses within the areas subject to flooding between 2019-2022.

 The Wamberal Beach Terminal Protection Structure Engineering Design Requirements, which outlines minimum engineering specifications and details for coastal erosion protection works in the Wamberal embayment, has been finalised and adopted following a review of 247 formal submissions received during recent community consultation on the draft document.Council’s Director of Environment and Planning, Alice Howe said this decision is a science-based outcome responding to independent evidence and designed to give residents the ability to protect their property whilst maintaining public amenity and enjoyment of the beach.“These minimum engineering requirements support a whole-of-embayment solution based on extensive technical studies and input from the community.

The Central Coast Lakes Festival is back in full swing this November, with the region’s magnificent waterways set to take centre stage.The 10-day festival will see over 30 events and activities taking place at 13 different locations across the region.

Central Coast Council is calling on the community to view the proposed improvements to one of its popular recreational facilities to make it more accessible to its users.The planned upgrades to improve accessibility into Niagara Park Stadium will include formalising the carpark, a new driveway and pathway to access the facility as well as a refresh to the building’s façade to encourage patronage to the area.Council’s Administrator, Rik Hart, said the community is invited to view the proposals and concepts online and share their input.“Niagara Park Stadium is a key community asset that caters for a range of users in our community and across the state, including sporting events for people with a disability,” Mr Hart said.“Improving the accessibility and safety to access the popular facility will benefit everyone – visitors, competitors and party-goers alike.”These improvements have been made possible thanks to an $850,000 grant from the Round Four Stronger Country Community Fund.Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch was pleased to be able to support this upgrade through round four of the NSW Governments Stronger Country Community Fund. “Niagara Park Stadium is a key asset in our region.

Council is seeking expressions of interest from the community to join the Access and Inclusion Reference Group (AIRG), to support the implementation of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2021-2025 (DIAP).

With the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting significant rainfall of up to 80mm into the weekend, Central Coast Council is urging residents to prepare their property and to be ready for potential flash flooding at low lying areas or roads that are typically impacted.Based on the forecasting we are not expecting water levels to reach the minor flood level at Tuggerah Lakes;

The official bushfire and storm season has begun and Central Coast Council is again encouraging our local community to ‘Get Ready’ and understand their risk of storms, floods, bushfires and other emergencies and prepare now for future events.Council Director of Environment and Planning, Dr Alice Howe said we are no strangers to emergency events and extreme weather on the Central Coast.“We have experienced a wide range of emergency events in recent years – from severe bushfires, storms, coastal erosion, repeated heavy rainfall and flooding, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr Howe said."We know that severe weather and other emergency events will continue to be a part of our lives on the Central Coast, especially as we continue to experience La Niña climate conditions which can bring above average rainfall, severe and frequent storms, and a hot, humid summer season.

The Central Coast once again represents New South Wales on the international stage in the 2022 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories list.We’re extremely proud to announce the 2022 Top 100 List spotlights the Central Coast as one of Australia’s two Finalist destinations in the international competition, unveiled by Green Destinations in Athens on 27 September.The Central Coast is the only Australian destination to achieve Finalist status in both 2021 and 2022, showcasing its commitment to sustainability.As a newly certified ECO Destination, Central Coast Council’s winning story submitted by its Marketing & Tourism team focuses on the two-year ‘ECO journey’ supported by Ecotourism Australia as both a rewarding business tool and sustainability tool.Top 100 judges praised the Central Coast region’s winning Good Practice Story under the ‘Business & Marketing’ category, titled ‘People Power:

I was pleased to endorse the allocation of more than $550,000 in grant funding to community programs and events at the 27 September 2022 Council meeting. A total of $279,172.82 was allocated through Central Coast Council’s Community Events and Place Activation Grant Program, while $289,860.51 was allocated through the Community Development Grant Program.Each of these programs are run annually and exist to support the community to deliver a range of events, activities, programs and more, which provide significant benefit for the wider community. A total of 46 applications were successful, and I look forward to seeing these events and programs come to life across the region.In addition to these annual grant programs, Council also runs its Community Support Grant Program, which allocates funds monthly to community activities which require a small amount of funding (up to $5,000) and/or in-kind support.

Twelve of the Central Coast’s best young singers will take the stage in the Discovered Grand Final on Friday 14 October, with locals invited to come down and support the development of local up-and-coming singers.Celebrating its milestone tenth series, the Discovered professional development program for singers aged 7 to 24 years has attracted over 600 entrants since it began in 2011.

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on 27 September 2022, Council resolved to adopt a preferred concept for revitalisation of the Gosford Waterfront, commence community engagement to inform development of a draft Gosford Waterfront Masterplan and seek NSW Government funding to progress this important renewal project to an investment decision.Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart, said the time is right to make Gosford an iconic waterfront city, better connecting Sydney to the Central Coast and enhancing opportunities for people to live and work on the Central Coast.“Revitalisation of the Gosford Waterfront is the Central Coast’s key enabling project.  It reimagines the waterfront as not only a major opportunity for the city’s renewal, but a chance for Gosford City to join the great waterfronts of the world.“The waterfront is a place for people.  With this development it will become a vibrant urban foreshore with entertainment, maritime services, tourism and residential living, and a net increase in the public domain.“From every angle, whether it be looking at the water, or looking back toward the CBD, the waterfront precinct will bring Gosford together through growing residency, and visitor attractions stimulating economic and job growth.”Central Coast Council’s Chief Executive Officer, David Farmer, said as Council moves forward with its financial recovery, there is a sense of confidence and positivity from government and business in partnering with Council in the vision for Gosford as a whole.“Several major government and non-government projects proposed to revitalise Gosford City are approved or are working their way through the planning process.“Gosford is recognised as the Central Coast’s principal city in the NSW Government’s Greater Cities Plan.

 At the 27 September ordinary council meeting, Council approved the recommendation to allocate $279,172.82 for the Community Events and Place Activation Grant Program and $289,860.51 for the Community Development Grant Program.

Revitalisation of the Gosford Waterfront presents a major opportunity to unlock Gosford and the Central Coast’s full potential, and the time is right to progress this vision.A reimagined Gosford Waterfront will see the amount of public space significantly increased with a vibrant urban foreshore featuring entertainment, maritime services, tourism and residential living which will stimulate local economic and job growth.While Gosford has been the subject of many plans over the years, we have never had a greater opportunity to act than we do right now.