Mayor Lisa Matthews said Central Coast Council last night adopted Council’s submission in response to the Minister for Local Government’s Notice of Intention to Issue a Suspension Order.

Council forges ahead with financial recoveryCouncil continues progress towards financial recovery with new financial leadership and identification of $40.5million reduction in the capital works program for 2020/21.Mayor Lisa Matthews said Council’s 100 Day Plan is a solid framework guiding actions towards financial recovery and has been shared with all government stakeholders.“We are getting on with our promise to the community to sort out these serious financial matters,” said Mayor Matthews.“We welcome Council’s new Chief Financial Officer Natalia Cowley starting in her role tomorrow;

Central Coast Council and the Central Coast Aero Club (CCAC) have been meeting to find common ground on the business and operation needs of the Warnervale Aircraft Landing Area (ALA) now and in the future.Mayor Lisa Matthews said Council has had ongoing and productive discussions with the Aero Club about the prospect of future operational possibilities for the Warnervale ALA.“The Warnervale ALA is an important asset that facilitates a wide range of community needs and is critical to creating employment opportunities for the Coast,” Mayor Matthews said.“Council understands that the Aero Club is committed to long-term business prospects at Warnervale ALA and is seeking direction from Council with respect to its future.‘We are happy to engage with the Aero Club in this regard.”Aero Club President, Andrew Smith said that The Central Coast Aero Club looks forward to a long, productive relationship with Council at Warnervale ALA.“At the end of the day, the CCAC wants to continue training Central Coast locals for a career in Aviation, providing scenic joy flights for the Central Coast tourism sector, Charter flights for Central Coast businesses and highly skilled maintenance apprenticeships for our local youth,” Mr Smith said.“We have successfully been doing this for many decades, and these activities align with Council’s goal of keeping the ALA in its current state, of a successful light aircraft airfield which contributes to the community through employment generation, income generation and to retain our status as a proper region.“With the recent news that the repeal of the WAR Act is progressing, CCAC sees that the this as a perfect opportunity for Council and the CCAC to move towards a new partnership, cementing the future of the ALA, and the wishes of the Central Coast community.”Council Director Boris Bolgoff said the Aero Club had been provided with ongoing updates as Council progresses the necessary measures to restore normal operations to Warnervale ALA.“Displaced runway thresholds have been introduced along the runway as we work through the environmental studies and the necessary approvals to be able to trim trees at the northern end of the runway," Mr Bolgoff said.“Council will continue to consult with the Aero Club around operational changes and associated works at the ALA.”More information about the operation of the Warnervale ALA can be found by searching ‘Warnervale’ on Council’s website.

Live performance and theatre is returning to the Coast this November with Laycock Street Community Theatre (Laycock Street Theatre) reopening with shows from three of Australia’s biggest stars.Kate Ceberano, Shane Nicholson and Johnny Manuel (The Voice) will reopen Laycock Street Theatre as part of the NSW Government’s ‘Great Southern Nights’ initiative, which will see established and emerging Australian artists perform at 1,000 gigs across the State.Central Coast Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said Great Southern Nights will reopen the doors to Laycock Street Theatre in spectacular form.“Council welcomes this fantastic NSW Government initiative, which will be delivered through Destination NSW and in partnership with the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA),” Ms Vaughan said.“Great Southern Nights will play a vital role in stimulating the revival of the live music and entertainment sector here on the Coast and we’re thrilled to have secured three performances and to be receiving $5,000 to help host the shows,” Ms Vaughan said.“This series of shows will feature some of the best talent our country has to offer – Kate Ceberano, Shane Nicholson and Johnny Manuel – along with some incredible local talent.“I’d encourage music loving Coasties to secure their seats early as these shows are sure to be popular.”Mayor Lisa Matthews said live performance and theatre will be vital to the Coast’s recovery as COVID-19 restrictions ease.“Our community members and visitors to the Coast love live music and it is so exciting to see the sector springing back to life,” Mayor Matthews said.“Council welcomes this NSW Government initiative that will play an important role in kick-starting the live entertainment economy on the Coast.”Performances at Laycock Street Theatre as part of Great Southern Nights:Kate Ceberano, supported by Joe Kalou – Friday 13 November 2020, 8pm – $70Shane Nicholson, supported by Cass Hopetoun – Friday 20 November 2020, 8pm – $50Johnny Manuel with five piece band from The Voice – Saturday 21 November 2020, 8pm – $50As part of Laycock Street Theatre’s COVID-safe Plan the venue will be operating at 40 percent capacity and all tickets will need to be secured through the Virtual Box Office.To secure tickets to any of the Great Southern Nights performances at Laycock Street Theatre and all upcoming shows please email laycockstreettheatre@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au, clearly specifying the event name, number of tickets requested and a contact phone number.All emails will be placed in a virtual queue and a member of the box office team will call to allocate tickets and take payment in order of ticket requests received.

Mayor Lisa Matthews said Central Coast Council has formally acknowledged the response from Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock, to Council’s financial situation, at an Extraordinary Meeting held today.

Central Coast Council confirmed it will complete staff payroll for the week ending 18 October.This follows confirmation by the State Government Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock today at 1pm that the NSW Government will advance Council $6.2million to meet payroll expenses and overdue payments to suppliers.  An Extraordinary Council Meeting is underway this afternoon.

Central Coast Mayor Lisa Matthews has today taken the extraordinary step of publicly announcing her loss of confidence in Central Coast Council’s CEO Mr Gary Murphy in the wake of revelations about long term, structural problems with the Council’s finances.Councillors and the Mayor have been provided with inadequate information about the financial position of Council and discovered the full extent of the problem only last night when it was revealed that Council would struggle to pay its own staff.“In light of the long-term problems that have been allowed to grow unchecked within the operational division of Council, the only course of action now available is to insist on a new CEO to manage the day to day operations,” Mayor Lisa Matthews said.“It is unforgivable for council staff to be left in a position where they might not be paid and it is unacceptable that the elected Councillors and I were not given information about the precariousness of Council’s finances until yesterday.” 

Council resolved tonight to undertake further urgent actions in response to Council’s serious financial situation.Mayor Lisa Matthews said Council had a serious liquidity issue and the current funds in the bank were quarantined as restricted funds under the Local Government Act.“Council will make urgent representations again to Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock seeking permission for the partial utilisation of restricted funds to make staff payroll for the week ending 18 October 2020,” said Mayor Matthews.“Should the Minister’s approval not be forthcoming, then some 2,157 full time equivalent Council employees may not be paid this week.”“We urgently require a response to Council’s query made on Tuesday 13 October about borrowing from restricted funds.”To date, Council has received no formal response to this request from the Minister.Council has also asked the Acting CEO to urgently seek a commercial loan or overdraft and persist with seeking State Government support with emergency funding for Central Coast Council.Another Extraordinary Council Meeting will be held at 1.30pm tomorrow, Wednesday 21 October.For up to date information about Council’s financial situation, go to the Newspage on Council’s website at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Your Voice Our Coast is an online hub available to our community to provide input and direction into current projects and future initiatives affecting their area and region.

Central Coast residents can tap into the story behind their household water taps during National Water Week which starts today, 19 October.With the third largest urban water supply system in NSW, Central Coast Council supplies water to more than 342,000 people and 135,000 homes and businesses.National Water Week’s theme is ‘Reimagining our water future’, and people of all ages can do just that with a range of webinars, online tours, games, videos, and water saving tips located on the Coast’s popular ‘Love Water’ website.Highlights include:Working with Water game – a digital Sim-city style game where gamers can battle fire, flood, drought and equipment failures to supply water to more than 340,000 thirsty residentswater saving resources including a Plant Finder for gardeners and the Blue House tour for residentskids’ water fun – online water stories, animations and videoswebinar series – including a hosted virtual tour of one of our dams and water treatment plants, along with two gardening workshops to help residents create thriving gardens which use water effectively water calculator to estimate personal household useDIY maintenance guide for residents who have rainwater tankswater audit program to help small businesses save money.To access all the resources and activities, visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/waterweek.Central Coast Council’s Acting Director Water & Sewer, Danielle Hargreaves said National Water Week is a great opportunity to embrace the ‘Love Water’ theme adopted during last year’s drought.“While our water reserves have increased since the drought period, it’s important we all adopt a long-term approach to water security as dry conditions will inevitably return,” Ms Hargreaves said.“Learning about the journey our water makes from rainfall to the tap helps us value this precious resource and makes it easier to adopt simple behaviour changes that help us use water wisely so there is plenty for the future.”Mayor Lisa Matthews said Central Coast residents have told Council they value water security and the Coast’s ability to be resilient with our water.“The ability to access good drinking water is one of life’s essentials, and National Water Week is an opportunity to continue to ‘love water’ by learning about what it takes to produce it and how we can all use it wisely.”Get involved at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/waterweek

Council commits to Action Plan towards financial recoveryCouncil committed tonight to the roadmap towards financial recovery by adopting the final 100 Day Recovery Action Plan.Mayor Lisa Matthews said the Plan was a multi-pronged approach, and key to success would be keeping all stakeholders informed;

Central Coast Council is seeking urgent answers from the Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, and the Office of Local Government to Council’s request for assistance with its serious financial situation.Mayor Lisa Matthews said it appeared that the Minister and the NSW Government were abandoning the Central Coast community and not standing by commitments to appoint an independent financial expert and a Human Resources adviser to ascertain Council’s true financial position.

Central Coast Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Natalia Cowley to the role of Chief Financial Officer.

Council resolved tonight to continue to focus on the finalisation of its 100-Day Action Plan to financial recovery, seek further assistance from the State Government and establish a Finance Committee.

October is Mental Health Month - a time that gives us the opportunity to break down stereotypes and raise awareness about mental health and wellbeing, including thinking about our own mental health and wellbeing and encouraging help seeking behaviours when needed.  This year’s theme ‘Tune In’ means being present, being aware of what’s happening within you and the world around you.

Since reporting the serious financial issues facing Central Coast Council, CEO, Gary Murphy, and senior executives have been undertaking meetings and conferences with key stakeholders over the past two days to build a roadmap to recovery.These discussions have included the Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, and the Office of Local Government.Councillors and staff have been kept informed of the process moving forward, which includes:The establishment of a 100-Day Action Plan to RecoveryThe Office of Local Government has been instructed to provide an independent financial expert and Human Resources adviser to review Council’s financial position and identify possible options as quickly as possibleA forensic audit undertaken of Council’s financesChanges to management spending delegationsCouncil working group established to identify potential savings in capital works and operational services programsThere is no change to our full-time equivalent staff, but a review of contracted and temporary workforce is underway.The financial issues came to light after reviews commissioned by the CEO, despite previous audits and reports indicating that the Council was being prudent in its financial planning, and have led to investigations into:whether there are appropriate financial controls and structures in relation to cashflow management, the absence of which may have contributed to the current financial situationwhether the amalgamation in mid-2016 has caused significant and ongoing impacts which we estimate could be in excess of $100MThe impact of the recent IPART determination will have cost Council close to $100M over three yearsCost-shifting has cost the Council an estimated $45M or more per yearWhile expenditure is under review and measures will be implemented to wind back the deficit, there will be no change to essential services.

Central Coast Council has, following a year of natural disasters and the impact of COVID-19, undertaken a review of the council’s budget which reveals that its budgetary position has deteriorated since the March 2020 result.

It’s that time of year, the weather is warming up and the yellow and red flags are now out at 15 of our beaches!

Live Well Festival will return in 2021 and Central Coast Council is looking for partners to make the event bigger, brighter and better than ever.The challenges of 2020 have emphasised the importance of the ‘Live Well’ message – embrace the abundant healthy living and wellbeing opportunities on the Coast and experience the benefits.Council Unit Manager Community Partnerships, Glenn Cannard said next year’s event will include a week of activities at local health focused businesses in the lead up to the major event day.“We’re planning to come back with a ‘Live Well’ bang in 2021 and are looking to partner with local businesses and groups to deliver a host of fun, and informative and health focused experiences,” Mr Cannard said.“It is the diversity of ‘Live Well’ that makes it such a great festival and in 2021 there will be a week of offerings at local business as we build towards the main festival event.“For Live Well Week we’re looking for workshops and sessions held at local business – anything from yoga to cooking classes, from fitness sessions to workshops on how to improve your wellbeing.“The main Live Well Festival event will be built around four key HUBS – Eat, Move, Think and Love Your Earth.

Central Coast Council has welcomed the release a suite of reports as part of the Terrigal and coastal lagoons audit.The reports detail the scientific investigations, community engagement activities and the remediation actions of Council and the NSW Government as part of the audit thus far.Council’s Acting Director Water and Sewer, Danielle Hargraves said a lot has been achieved since the audit began in January 2019.“Council and our partners at the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and the University of Technology Sydney have been investigating potential pollution sources and monitoring water quality at over 160 sites across Terrigal and the coastal lagoons,” Ms Hargraves said.“As the results of these investigations became apparent, we were able to plan and adjust the program to focus our inspections and remediation on high-risk areas in the catchment.“More than 12km of sewer pipes have already been relined and 11 illegal connections between the sewer and stormwater systems discovered.“The work doesn’t stop here though, further inspections using CCTV and smoke testing are underway.