A Year of Progress and Achievement

We’ve released our Annual Report for 2024/25 and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved working hand-in-hand with our community.

This year was significant for the Central Coast, with the return of Councillors and the development of our first Councillor-led strategic plans. 

We worked hard on our commitment to sound financial management, and improved our position, delivering a budget surplus. 

We ensured people had a strong voice in the development of plans and projects, and we delivered the actions in our Disability Inclusion Action Plan.

Our community grew even stronger. More than $765,130 was allocated to fund community-led projects, programs and events through our grants programs.

We celebrated together and welcomed visitors. Exciting events, including the Lakes Festival, Chrome Fest and our biggest ever Harvest Festival saw over 236,000 attendees take part. 

People took responsibility for pets. Dogs Day Out attracted 2,800 attendees, and four microchipping days resulted in 816 animals being microchipped.

We all enjoyed upgraded assets. Progress was made on the major Mardi Water Treatment Plant upgrade, and accessibility and safety was enhanced at sportsgrounds, leisure centres and play spaces. 

Residents had more opportunities to lead active healthy lifestyles. The opening of the final stage of the Magenta Shared Pathway, the construction of the Tunkuwallin Skatepark and the completion of the multi-million dollar Peninsula Recreation and Active Lifestyle Precinct created new ways to be active outdoors. 

We got to work on our roads. Crews filled more than 68,700 potholes, resurfaced 44.5km of roads and renewed 28.3km to maintain safety and usability. Councillors listened to the community and allocated an additional $20 million for road renewals and $800,000 for potholes over four years.

We loved our libraries. Over 676,910 visitors, including 9,362 new members, made more than 1,411,600 loans. And significant progress was made on the new Gosford Regional Library, ahead of its official opening on 6 September 2025. 

We protected our environment. A record-breaking Little Tern breeding season at Karagi Point resulted in 228 fledglings – nearly half of NSW’s total. And we achieved Ecotourism Certification, becoming one of only eleven regions nationally recognised.

We planned for the future. The Central Coast Airport Masterplan was adopted following four years of community and industry engagement, and we progressed the Gosford Waterfront project, with Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC) engaging on the concepts.

Our Annual Report outlines many more achievements, and I encourage you to visit Council’s website and view it for yourself. 

Looking forward, we intend to continue to deliver even more community-building projects and quality services for our community, in a financially responsible way. 

I thank Mayor Lawrie McKinna, Councillors and Council staff for their dedication to ensuring the people of the Central Coast can continue to enjoy a great quality of life. 

Acting Mayor John Mouland