Over $111.373million in additional funding for the Central Coast

Council’s proactive approach to sourcing additional revenue opportunities through grant funding, as well as the advocacy for State and Federal election commitments, has secured a total of $111,373,070 for the Central Coast community during the financial year 2019/20.

These funds help support the delivery of Council services across numerous areas, with the below major categories to receive funding:

• Urban infrastructure - roads - $76.9M
• Sport and recreation – sporting facilities - $8.63M
• Urban infrastructure - water & sewer - $6.85M
• Environment – coastal $6.02M
• Environment – emergency management - $5.02M
• Urban infrastructure – footpaths - $ 4.5M
• Urban infrastructure – other $ 2.77M

Mayor Lisa Matthews said Council has received grant funding from both the Australian ($92.02M) and NSW ($19.36M) Governments.

“With the impacts of the bushfires and COVID-19, many grant programs have been postponed, however Council has continued advocacy for future funding on projects that are ‘shovel ready’ and could support our community’s recovery,” Mayor Matthews said.

“There has also been a new Grant Finder tool that has already proved to be a valuable resource to support local businesses and community groups with more than 1,300 unique visitors and 272 registered users to the site since the launch in May.

“Council is thankful to both the NSW and Australian Government for their support in funding which has enabled us to deliver vital projects in our region. We will continue to find opportunities for savings and actively seek additional revenue opportunities through grant funding and other means to support our community and keep our local economy going.”

Council gives Gosford Regional Library the green light

Plans for the highly-anticipated Gosford Regional Library have received the green light from Council with designs now complete and a development application to be lodged with the NSW Department of Planning within days.

The proposed development will be located on Council-owned land at 123A Donnison Street and will feature a range of community spaces and facilities over four levels.

Plans include a dedicated library space, Council customer service centre, library administration, meeting rooms, flexible function spaces, maker/creator spaces and collaboration and innovation spaces.

Mayor Lisa Matthews said the Gosford Regional Library is set to become a central meeting point for locals and visitors alike, creating a true drawcard to the city centre.

“With connectivity to the surrounding iconic views of Presidents Hill, Rumbalara and Kibble Park, Gosford Regional Library will create a civic presence in the heart of Gosford and will act as a destination space that people are drawn to,” Mayor Matthews said.

“Libraries are at the heart of creating liveable, connected and sustainable cities and that is what we want to see for the Gosford CBD." 

Fast DA turnaround times keeps housing moving on the Central Coast

The median turnaround time for determining development applications (DAs) on the Central Coast is just 34 days, delivering more housing and opportunities for the community.

716 development applications have been approved in just the last quarter (April to June 2020) and 11,025 new dwellings since the start of the Central Coast Regional Plan in 2016.

Mayor Lisa Matthews said the Central Coast had been identified by the State Government as a growing region and needed to accommodate 75,000 people and 41,500 new homes by 2036.

“It is great to see that we are on track to deliver the housing our growing community needs now and in the future,” Mayor Matthews said.

“This is a real tick of approval and shows that the Central Coast is an area worth investing in.

“We are investing too in the services and facilities to create the jobs and opportunities this growing community needs.

“We are pleased to be working with the State Government to deliver on the promise that is the Central Coast Regional Plan.”

Development applications can now be lodged online through the State Government’s ePlanning portal. Council was one of the first in NSW to sign up to the new system on 1 July and it is expected to streamline processes and approvals even further. From 31 December this year, all applications must be completed through this portal.

Soap dispensers to be installed in toilet blocks

Toilet dispensers will be installed in all Council-run public toilet blocks across the Coast, where possible and within available funding.

Vandal guards will be installed on 20 dispensers in blocks considered to be at risk of vandalism.

Mayor Lisa Matthews said in making the decision, Council had weighed up the health benefits of soap being available to help reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 against the high cost posed by vandalism and the risk of people being injured if they fell on spilt soap.

“Previously, we haven’t installed soap dispensers because Councils usually experience very high rates of vandalism in public toilets, even with soap dispensers and equipment which are considered vandal-proof,” Mayor Matthews said.

“There is also a significant risk of falls and injuries if soap lands on the floor, causing a slip hazard.

“However, we know that washing your hands with soap reduces the risk of spreading COVID-19, and we need to do all we can to reduce community transmission of the virus.”

To reduce the risk of slip hazards, the dispensers will be installed directly over washbasins.

Consolidated policies to be placed on exhibition: Open space leasing, tree vandalism, keeping of animals and smoke-free outdoor areas

Council will place five draft consolidated policies on public exhibition for community comments and revoke outdated policies from the former Wyong and Gosford Councils.

This forms part of the ongoing program to review 68 policies from Council’s Environment and Planning Directorate in order to consolidate all policies adopted by the former Councils prior to their amalgamation.

During the review process, where policies are found to have ongoing relevance, they are being updated and consolidated to ensure a single policy exists for the Central Coast Local Government Area and where policies are determined to be no longer relevant or obsolete, they are recommended for revocation.

The following draft policies are to be placed on public exhibition for a 42-day period to provide the community with an opportunity to review and submit comments:

• Temporary Licensing of a Trade or Business on Open Space Areas Policy
• Events on Open Space Areas Policy
• Tree Vandalism Management Policy
• Keeping of Animals Policy
• Smoke-free Outdoor Public Places Policy

The following policies will now be revoked:

• Incentives for Iconic Development on Key Sites Policy
• Policy Determining Development Applications Subject to Significant Public Objection

Mayor Lisa Matthews said this marks another leap forward in delivering consistent policy direction across the region in all areas of Council business.

“Council staff have been working hard since the amalgamation of the two former Councils, to review and develop consolidated policies for the one Central Coast region, whilst also delivering on essential services and facilities for the community,” Mayor Matthews said.

“This undertaking not only ensures responsible, transparent and fair governance but also creates a policy framework which is contemporary and relevant.”

New memorial plaque at Mazlin Reserve

Council has approved an application to place a memorial plaque at the southern end of Mazlin Reserve, Norah Head near the intersection of Bungary Road and Maitland Street.

The plaque is in memory of the Royal Australian Navy Search and Rescue ships’ crews which lost their lives whilst providing service to Australia during times of peace and war.

Policy set for how Councillors represent community interest on Planning Panel

Council has drafted a policy which provides guidance on how Councillors may engage with development applications (DAs) that are required to be determined by the Central Coast Local Planning Panel. 

Recent amendments to the Panel's Operational Guidelines provide Councillors with the ability to make written submissions up to 72 hours before a Panel meeting on any matter being considered at the meeting

Council also resolved to progress the development of a Central Coast "Approved Submissions Policy", in accordance with the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment's "Local Planning Panels Submissions Policy Approval Guide", thereby providing an additional way for DAs to be determined by the Panel.