A day out on the water with Tim Conway at Central Coast Ferries and his friendly companion Milo the chocolate Labrador is a day to remember.Tim is a seventh generation ship’s captain whose family has been operating ferry services on Central Coast waters for 25 years.With the opportunity to be on the water every day, well, Tim nails it when he says "there’s something about being on the water – the sights and smells.

Drainage and irrigation upgrade works are underway at a number of popular sporting fields around the Central Coast.Gavenlock Oval, Rogers Park, Chittaway Oval and Baker Park will all have new systems in place by the end of the summer season.Council’s Administrator, Ian Reynolds said the new systems will assist our sporting fields in dealing with extreme weather conditions“The new drainage and irrigation will allow playing surfaces to recover much quicker after rain periods, significantly reducing ground closures and helping to maintain a quality playing surface for the entire season.“It will reduce maintenance costs moving forward and importantly, it will assist with the maintenance of surfaces during long periods of dry weather - with a highly effective and efficient irrigation system.”Works at Gavenlock Oval, Baker Park and Chittaway Oval have been completed in partnership with Central Coast Football - who contributed $140,000 to the projects.Central Coast Football’s Chief Executive Officer, Darren Sprod said the partnership with Council was important for the local football community.“As a major user of council sporting grounds it is important that we partner and invest with council to deliver better facilities for our footballers,” said Mr Sprod.“We have worked with council to have drainage installed at a number of grounds over the past few years and are seeing the benefits in reduced downtime after rain events.”“This year we are investing in Gavenlock Oval, Baker Park and Chittaway Oval to assist council in completing these important works.”Mr Reynolds added that the oval upgrades are an excellent example of Council working with the community to achieve a common goal.“Central Coast Football has been exceptional during the duration of this project and I’d like to thank Darren and his team for their support,” Mr Reynolds said.“The working relationship we have with Central Coast Football is invaluable as we continue to develop and improve sporting infrastructure across the region.”Works have been finalised at Chittaway Oval, while the Rogers Park upgrade is currently underway, with Baker Park scheduled for completion in early February.

Crowne Plaza at Terrigal is the new venue for a public meeting to review potential road works in part of Scenic Highway on Monday 19 December 2016.The public meeting will commence at 5.30pm, will be run by an independent facilitator, and be held at the Forresters Room at the Crowne Plaza.The venue for the public meeting has been changed to better accommodate the number of interested community members expected to attend.

Central Coast Council is delivering key infrastructure projects on time and on budget according to a progress report presented at last week’s Council meeting.Roads, water, drainage and community facilities were the big ticket items in the first ever Central Coast Council Operational Plan, adopted on 29 June 2016 which outlined its annual spend, including management of more than $11 billion of assets.Council’s Administrator Mr Reynolds acknowledged the vision and hard work of the former Councils that have carried over into the new Council with a focus on delivering projects the community need, want and value.“We’ve reached some major milestones, including the opening of Bato Yard skate park in August, which has already attracted three majoring sporting events to the Coast, and the construction of shared pathway to connect locals with this new park,” Mr Reynolds said.“The Art House opening in May – was in fact one of my very first tasks as Administrator here and was the realisation of a long term dream and then plan by the former Wyong Shire Council.“The $8 million redevelopment of Woy Woy Oval grandstand has also added to the sporting infrastructure on the Coast.“An $8.25 million project to install a new odour control system at the Wyong South wastewater treatment plant will help secure the water supply to the growing population in the north of the Coast.”Central Coast Council manages some 2000 kilometres of roads and has completed a wide range of road works since the amalgamation.

A small section of Yarramalong Road in Wyong Creek will be reduced to single-lane to allow for works to be undertaken to stabilise a rock cutting damaged during the storms in June.Retaining Specialists Pty Ltd will be repairing rock face at a site approximately 100 metres west of 1146 Yarramalong Road on behalf of Council starting on Monday 12 December.One lane of the road will be closed, with traffic controls in place.

Summer signals the end of another school year and the start of a big stretch of holidays, when many of our kids like to get out and about and enjoy the extra time with their friends and family.As the Coast is a popular holiday spot, there will be more people at our facilities and on the roads as local children enjoy the outdoors, families get extra visitors and tourists flock to the region.Council is again joining forces with the Little Blue Dinosaur Foundation (LBDF) to help promote its important road safety campaign:

Central Coast Council’s $15 million upgrade to the Wyong South wastewater treatment plant has reached another important milestone.Council’s Manager of Wyong Water Commercial and Planning, Mr Greg Cashin said the new inlet structure was now fully operational.“Wyong South treatment plant receives wastewater from a wide area - spanning from Watanobbi and Wadalba in the north to Ourimbah in the South and to Berkeley Vale and Tumbi Umbi in the east,” said Mr Cashin.“This equates to about 11 million litres of wastewater entering the plant every day.“Transferring the flow of wastewater from the old inlet structure to the new one is no mean feat.

Central Coast Council will hold an Extraordinary Council meeting on Wednesday 21 December to present the financial statements of the former Wyong Shire Council.The meeting will be held at the Central Coast Council Chambers, Hely Street, Wyong at 5pm.The meeting will be open to the public to attend and can be viewed live on Council’s YouTube Channel.

Central Coast businesses, sporting groups and community organisations are rushing to support a new digital promotional campaign for the Central Coast called This is the life.So far over 70 organisations have registered their interest in becoming a partner and helping to tell the Central Coast story.The Central Coast Express Advocate was one of the first to become a Gold Partner to the This is the life campaign.“There is no doubt that the Central Coast is God’s Own Country,” editor Mark Nolan said.“Just the other day I was home after work, walking with my daughter on Umina Beach, watching the sun set over the blue water and enjoying the cool sea breeze, thinking ahh, this is the life.”“We think it’s important to get behind this great initiative and will be sharing positive This is the life stories about the Central Coast in the paper and online.“It’s time all of us Coasties told our friends and family just how great life is in this spectacular region.”Council’s Administrator Ian Reynolds thanked all those organisations who have already signed up to support the campaign.“Now is the perfect time to promote positive perceptions about the Coast and make a strong stand as a region,” Mr Reynolds said.“By all coming together, businesses, sporting groups, community, the arts, the education sector we can help drive positive perceptions of the Central Coast and make it the very best it can be,” Mr Reynolds added.“Since working and living on the Coast I have been amazed by what is on offer here and it’s time we let other people in on these secrets.”Become a Partner - local businesses, educators, sporting and community groups can help spread the word by becoming a campaign partner.

Gosford Regional Gallery will play host to two national exhibitions starting Saturday 10 December, furthering its commitment to attract significant touring exhibitions to the Central Coast.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds said it will be a busy summer period for the gallery.“It’s wonderful to see two fantastic bodies of work on display right in our own backyard,” said Mr Reynolds.“As one of the state’s leading regional galleries, Gosford Regional Gallery has proven time and again that it is an ideal venue to display work of this significance and calibre.“I’d encourage everyone to take the opportunity over the holiday period to see these wonderful exhibitions and support the great work of the gallery.”Behind the Lines presents the humour and nostalgia of 2016’s best political cartoons, while Bare:

Central Coast Council invites members of the community to attend a public meeting at the Cowrie Restaurant, Scenic Highway in Terrigal on Monday 19 December 2016.The public meeting will commence at 5.30pm, will be run by an independent facilitator, and is to consider potential road works in part of Scenic Highway.Council would like to thank the owner of the Cowrie Restaurant, Mr Brett Dengate, for agreeing to host the meeting, and urges interested members of the community to attend.

Central Coast Council Libraries, in partnership with Coast Shelter, are bringing brand new books into the lives of families spending time in temporary accommodation on the Central Coast over Christmas.Finishing on Friday 9 December, this is the last call for residents to give the gift of a brand new book to those in need this holiday season.All Central Coast Council Libraries act as collection points so gift books can be taken to branches located at:

Tickets are available for a Christmas concert at The Art House tomorrow (Friday 2 December) for what is the very first Christmas concert at the new $12.7 million venue.Opened in May, The Art House is slated to be the new premiere arts venue for the Coast, and an array of national performers are on the calendar for 2017, including comedian and television personality Kitty Flanagan and country singer Darren Coggan.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said it was exciting to be able to celebrate Christmas at The Art House.“Christmas is a magical time, especially for children and we’re thrilled there are some wonderful concerts planned to celebrate The Art House’s very first festive season.”Led by Green Point resident Mrs Karina Moss-Hollands, the Concertante Ensemble has been running for more than 10 years and comprises string players from the Sydney Symphony and beyond.Listen in awe as the group performs the magical Christmas Concerto by Corelli.“The Pastoral movement is one of the best known movements of its kind alongside the pastorals from Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio,” Mrs Moss-Hollands said.“One would not expect more glorious music in Heaven!”The Christmas Concerto was commissioned by Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni and published posthumously in 1714 as part of Corellis’ Twelve concerti grossi, Op. 6.The concerto bears the inscription Fatto per la notte di Natale (made for the night of Christmas).Its composition date is uncertain, but there is a record of Corelli having performed a Christmas concerto in 1690 for the enjoyment of his new patron.The program also includes Tchaikovsky’s String Serenade Waltz, Copland’s ‘Hoe Down’, Vivaldi’s Concerto ‘Alla Rustica’ and Schnittke’s fun ‘Polka’ for Strings.On 23 December at The Art Wyong a special production of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Ballet will be performed at 2pm.'Play me a Story...The Nutcracker' combines exquisite violin playing, storytelling, illustrations and dance to tell the much loved story of a tender hearted little girl, Marie, and her favourite toy, a wooden Nutcracker carved to look like a soldier.Tchaikovsky’s famous music has been transcribed for two violins and percussion, and will be performed by violinists Ms Esmeralda Tintner and Mrs Lisa Stewart and percussionist Ms Kerryn Joyce.

Summer has well and truly made its presence on the Coast!

Are you affected?A free workshop is being offered to the 14,000+ Central Coast residents currently utilising solar power systems to find out how they will be affected by the closure of the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme at the end of 2016.Scheduled for Monday 5 December at Woy Woy Community Centre from 5.30pm-7.30pm, the workshop is one of a series being run by the NSW Department of Industry, in collaboration with the Office of Environment and Heritage, with the support of local partners including Central Coast Council.An independent energy expert will provide information to residents receiving a 60c or 20c subsidised feed-in tariff about how they will be affected by the changes, plus advice on what needs to be done in the lead up to the closure.Participants will find out how to get the most value out of solar power systems in homes and businesses after the scheme ends.The workshop will also examine a range of clean energy opportunities including:Understanding different metering arrangements and their benefits;Emerging technologies including battery storage and energy monitoring devices;

A clock has been installed at The Entrance by the local Lions Club in partnership with Central Coast Council.The clock is located in Bayview Mall outside the cinema and was instigated by Council and The Entrance Lions Club to complement the recently upgraded mall area.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said Council is happy to support these great community initiatives to improve the local community.“Council has always supported and worked together on various programs associated with the Lions Clubs across the Coast,” Mr Reynolds said.“Over the last few years, we have supported various Clubs with grants totalling more than $20,000 to support a range of projects such as community events, improvements to facilities and purchase of equipment to expand the range of services supplied by those Clubs and to assist with their volunteer development.“The new clock at The Entrance is a great example of where Council and the local Lions Club are working together to improve the amenity of our local community.The clock was built locally and uses modern technology to stay on time.Recently The Entrance Lions Club’s celebrated their 60th anniversary, making them the oldest Lions club on the Central Coast.Lions Club President, Mr Ken Bulkeley, said it’s a proud achievement.“Next year will see 100 years of Lions Clubs working to assist their communities and we acknowledged this milestone at our anniversary last month,” Mr Bulkeley said.“It’s great to see our ideas come to life and often this is made possible through the support of Council.“The clock is an idea we’ve had for a few years as we knew it would complement the area and become an asset the community can be proud of.”Find out how Council can support your community group by visiting centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Ninja turtles may have made a comeback with the kids lately, but a turtle discovered in Berkeley Vale recently isn’t of the ‘cool’ kind.A Red-eared Slider Turtle was found at a home in Berkley Vale this week, prompting Central Coast Council to renew its call for residents to keep an eye out for these pests.Council’s Noxious Weeds and Pest Species Officer, Mr Paul Marynissen, said the warmer weather means the turtles are on the move.“We have had unconfirmed sightings of Red-eared Sliders from across the Coast, including at Berkeley Vale, Kanwal, Tuggerawong, Hamlyn Terrace and Woongarrah and now one captured by a keen eyed resident in their backyard in Berkeley Vale,” said Mr Marynissen.“With the weather warming up all reptiles, including these turtles, are more active and on the move looking for food, so we are more likely to spot them if they are here.”Council is encouraging the community to keep an eye out for these turtles when they are out enjoying the natural environment, particularly around waterways.“If you spot a turtle in the local environment, look for the distinct red markings over the ears, it’s a sure sign for these aggressive animals,” said Mr Marynissen.“Red-eared Sliders are also distinctive in the way they retract into their shell.

The Wyong Lakes Festival made a big splash across the Coast this month, attracting over 40,000 people to events and activities over the nine days.This is a twenty percent increase in numbers from the inaugural award winning festival held last year.Council’s Grants and Events Coordinator, Ms Ashlee Abbott, was thrilled with the result and said the program had been designed to entertain, educate and delight and proved popular with a whole new audience.“Not only did more people come than last year but more than 90 percent of people we spoke to said they will be back next year,” Ms Abbott said.“That is a great platform to build on and we will continue to grow this festival into one of the premier events for the Central Coast.The events that attracted the biggest crowds were Light up the Lake with headline act Thirsty Merc, the Lighthouse Folk Festival and Long Jetty Street Festival.“It was the first time we staged a folk festival as part of the overall program, the combination of the iconic Norah Head Lighthouse as the backdrop to showcase not only local talented performers, but national performers like Paul Kelly, proved to be an irresistible combination,” Ms Abbott added.“Light up the Lake and Long Jetty Street Festival were definitely the crowd favourites - attracting thousands and thousands of people at each event.“They had the family atmosphere but also had a festival vibe for those looking for a great day out.”Participation rates and spectators were also up at the annual Triathlon and Saltwater Stand Up Paddle Boarding Festival – attracting a wide range of competitors from outside the region.Council’s Administrator Mr Ian Reynolds, said the festival was a great success as it showcased one of the region’s best assets and also had a real community feel.“It makes you realise how lucky we are to have such a beautiful natural environment that we can enjoy and showcase to the world as well,” Mr Reynolds said.“It was a festival for everyone – locals and visitors – that is what made it so special as well as adding that extra financial boost to our local economy and tourism that we can all benefit from.“The festival also had the added bonus of educating our residents and visitors about the nature of our waterways and how we can all work together to improve our unique lakes system.”Planning will start early next year for the annual Festival which will be held from 10-19 November 2017.

There are only 10 days left to give feedback on the draft Norah Head Village Centre Masterplan which is on Public Exhibition until Friday 9 December 2016.“This plan has been developed with input from over 60 residents and stakeholders at two community workshops held in May and June this year,” said Mr Scott Cox, Group Leader, Environment and Planning.“We encourage anyone interested to view the plan and provide feedback by the due date,” Mr Cox said.The plan considers public domain improvements like the provision of car parking, shared pathways and cycleways, street furniture, lighting, signage and landscaping, public amenities and recreational facilities in the Village Centre.The draft masterplan can be viewed at Toukley Library or at Central Coast Council Chambers, 2 Hely Street, Wyong or online at www.haveyoursaycentralcoast.com.au/norah-head-master-planThe community can provide feedback via email ask@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au, via the Have Your Say webpage or by writing to Council at PO Box 20, Wyong NSW 2259.

Central Coast Council’s facilities and services will be closed to the public on Friday 2 December for an award approved Union Picnic Day.This includes the Gosford and Wyong Offices (including Customer Contact), Libraries, Ranger Services, works depots and northern child care centres (Kanwal, Northlakes, Toukley and Wyong).Lifeguard services, Kincumber Transfer Station and Woy Woy and Buttonderry Waste Management Facilities will operate as normal and the following community facilities will be open:Lifeguard servicesPeninsula Leisure CentreSouthern child care centres (Kariong, Niagrara Park, Terrigal and Umina)Laycock Street Community TheatreGosford Regional GalleryGosford Olympic PoolOn Friday, Council will have its on-call and essential services available as required.