Quarterly budget report confirms deficit reduction of $7.7M Council has provided the 2020-21 Q2 Business Report, which covers the progress of the operational plan actions, targets and financial performance for the period 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2020.Remedial actions to reduce Council’s operating deficit continue including a structural reduction in operating expenditure, reducing capital expenditure, secured bank loans, generating additional income and moving to sell underperforming assets.Council Administrator Dick Persson AM assured the community budget savings were continuing to be made, while delivering essential infrastructure and services to the region.“Good news is all our hard work to find savings and rein in spending is working with the deficit reduced by $7.7M,” Mr Persson said.“We are also recovering faster than expected from COVID with an extra $3.3M in income from our Holiday Parks, Leisure Centres and child care centres.“This is in addition to a reduction of $4.4million in operational expenditure, with reduction of materials, contracts and other expenses as a result of stringent expenditure control.“The capital works program has been reduced by $53.3M to $170M a year with priority given to essential services and delivering projects over several years.“However, despite all this great work, Council’s projected financial position at 30 June 2021 will still be unsatisfactory with a current forecasted loss of $107.4M.“So the hard work will continue to find the savings and deliver a balanced budget for next financial year.

The Kincumber Waste Management Facility was closed to the public in 2020 in response to COVID-19.

The success or otherwise of any Council depends on several key factors.One is the role of the CEO [or the General Manager].

While heading to the beach in the summertime is a way of life for many Coasties, for residents and visitors who are older and less mobile or who live with a disability, a trip to the beach can be challenging.As part of Council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan (2017-2021), Council is committed to ensuring people with disabilities are fully included and participate in all aspects of community life.

Council is calling on community members that have an idea for a business venture, which will make a difference to our community, to attend an information session for this year’s Social Enterprise Launch Pad Program.Council’s Director of Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said the annual Social Enterprise Launch Pad Program supports the development of innovative new enterprise models within the region and helps to turn community focused business ideas into a reality.“The free program, which has been running since 2012, provides a step-by-step guide to research, plan, seek funding and establish a social enterprise that benefits our community – whether it be social, environmental or creative,” Ms Vaughan said.“This year’s development program will be delivered in a partnership between Council, Business Centre and Community Compass as a series of workshops and one-on-one mentoring sessions from April to July 2021.“I’m pleased to hear of the successes that previous participants have had since undertaking the program and the positive contributions their social enterprise ventures have made to the Central Coast community.

How can you swap your water habits this summer?With all the rain lately, have you thought about how it could be used around the home?By swapping drinking water for rainwater in the right places, you can take advantage of all this rain by maximising the benefits of your rainwater tank and reduce your water usage.Try using rainwater to:flush your loowash your clothes top up your poolwater your garden.Don't forget to make sure your rainwater tank is connected, and switched to rainwater for the toilet and washing machine.There's some other great ways to swap and get the most out of your garden:choose drought-hardy plants instead of thirsty ones that require a lot of wateringcatch water in a bucket while waiting for the shower to find the right temperature and save it for your plants.Check out our Love water site for a great guide to maintaining your rainwater tank and other waterwise tips.Share your #SummerSwaps with us on Instagram. Have you thought about incorporating some sustainable swaps into your routine this summer?Why not switch up your shopping routine with some alternatives that are good for your wallet and the environment.Change up your back to school shopping list:Try reusable beeswax wraps instead of clingwrap or seal up bags for the kids lunchesChoose refillable pens and pencilsReuse last year’s lunchbox and schoolbag – do you really need a new one every year?There are plenty of easy bathroom swaps such as:Using a reusable safety razor instead of plastic disposable onesUsing an electric toothbrush with a replaceable head piece or swapping your manual plastic brush for a bamboo oneSwapping your bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body wash for bar alternativesReduce waste and keep the kitchen clean by:Purchasing bamboo handled and natural bristled dish scrubbers instead of plastic onesUsing biodegradable or washable kitchen cloths instead of paper towel or antibacterial wipesTrying bars of dish soap instead of constantly purchasing plastic bottles of detergentBe more water savvy, try:Choosing drought-hardy plants instead of thirsty ones that require a lot of watering.

Central Coast Council is calling on the community to have their say on two draft Floodplain Risk Management Plans and Studies now open for public comment.The two documents, one for the Northern Lakes catchment and the other covering the Davistown/Empire Bay catchments, have drawn on community response and floodplain risk management studies, to offer options that will help mitigate the risk of future flooding events.Council has also commenced the initial stages of the Floodplain Risk Management Study for the Woy Woy catchment and asking community members to provide suggestions on how they would like to see flooding issues addressed.Council’s Director of Environment and Planning, Scott Cox, said that the plans focus on reducing the impact of flooding to residents and businesses within these catchments.“Our flood planning team and expert consultants look at a range of factors to evaluate a flood mitigation measures specific to each catchment,” Mr Cox said.“The plans also take into consideration feedback from consultation with the affected communities, and now is the time for these communities to make sure we have covered their areas of concern and that they understand the implications of the recommendations made.“For residents and business in the Woy Woy peninsula catchment, we are drawing on a number of historic plans to begin this process, we want them to help us understand the flooding impacts from a local point of view and encourage them to complete the survey.”Council Administrator, Dick Persson AM said Council was providing several ways for the community to get involved, and he encouraged them to do so.“There are COVID-safe drop in sessions scheduled for the residents in all of these catchments as well as opportunity for virtual one-on-one meetings for the Northern Lakes and Davistown/Empire Bay catchments” Mr Persson said.“I highly recommend the residents take the time to read the documents and have a conversation with our staff about what it will mean for them.”Bookings are essential for all events.

In surveying the community recently about a proposed rate rise, many suggested alternatives be considered.