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.

Central Coast Council’s 2024 Australia Day Award Winners have been announced, with 18-year-old Matthew Blakemore, named as ‘Citizen of the Year.’Council Director of Community and Recreation, Melanie Smith said the annual awards are a way for Council and the wider community to celebrate and recognise individuals and organisations who enrich our community. “The recipient of the 2024 Citizen of the Year award, Matthew Blakemore embodies the word ‘community’, and strives to build greater awareness around the needs of young people with a disability,” Ms Smith said.“Matthew’s contributions extend beyond the Central Coast community, with Matthew appointed to the Research Board of the University of Technology Sydney to help ensure that research on young people is relevant, contemporary, accessible and inclusive.

Happy New Year, Central Coast community.

🚘 WEEKLY ROAD WORKS UPDATE Every week, we are committed to enhancing and maintaining our roads.

Central Coast Council Water and Sewer is seeking feedback regarding potential water and/or sewer connections from people who occupy, own, or operate a business from an ‘unserviced property’ on the Central Coast.The second phase of consultation follows an earlier consultation phase which was open to customers who are connected to Council’s water and/or sewerage services on the Central Coast.Council Director for Water and Sewer Jamie Loader said the community consultation ensures that Council develops knowledge and customer interest for including connection of ‘unserviced properties’ into future plans.“There are approximately 7,500 ‘unserviced properties’ that are not connected to the Council water and sewer network.

The following is an excerpt from a report entitled ‘Council and State Road projects including Natural Disaster funding’ (item 2.4) included in the Agenda of Ordinary Council Meeting for 23 January 2024.Report purposeThis report is provided to advise of the Australian and New South Wales Government grant funding committed to Central Coast Council in relation to management of the local and regional road network and associated delivery methodologies as well as noting some capital works identified for the state road network being undertaken by Transport for New South Wales.

Central Coast Council Water and Sewer is seeking feedback regarding potential water and/or sewer connections from people who occupy, own, or operate a business from an ‘unserviced property’ on the Central Coast.The second phase of consultation follows an earlier consultation phase which was open to customers who are connected to Council’s water and/or sewerage services on the Central Coast.Council Director for Water and Sewer Jamie Loader said the community consultation ensures that Council develops knowledge and customer interest for including connection of ‘unserviced properties’ into future plans.“There are approximately 7,500 ‘unserviced properties’ that are not connected to the Council water and sewer network.

Central Coast Council offices will be closed on Friday 26 January for the Australia Day public holiday, and re-opening Monday 29 January 2024.Some of Council’s services and facilities will be closed or have changes, however essential services will continue to operate.An after-hours service is available on 02 4306 7900 to call in any urgent reports (such as water main breaks or sewer issues, and urgent road safety issues such as fallen trees over roads).Non-emergency enquiries, requests, reports or formal feedback can be submitted through our online Customer Service Centre 24/7 and these will be progressed from Monday 29 January 2024.