Central Coast Council’s first draft Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS), which will play a pivotal role in shaping the region’s future, is now on public exhibition for the community to have their say.The LSPS explains how state and regional plans such as the Central Coast Regional Plan 2036 will be implemented in the Central Coast region.

Central Coast Council is continuing to deliver for the region during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic with a Water Play Park at the Peninsula Leisure Centre (PLC) - one of the exciting new projects now underway.Over $1 million will be invested to deliver the interactive water-based play and education space, which is proudly funded by the NSW Government with $850,000 from the Stronger Country Communities fund and over $200,000 from Council.Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said the water park would be accessible to all Central Coast Community members.“Our community has told us they would like to see the outdoor space within the PLC better utilised and we’ve listened,” Ms Vaughan said.“This new Water Play Park can be enjoyed upon entry to the PLC – we expect it to attract community members from the Peninsula and across the Coast, and of course visitors to our beautiful region.“The design selected is focused on creating a safe, water-based play space that can be accessed by people of all ages and abilities for fun and education.”The nautical themed Water Play Park includes a tipping bucket, interactive (cause and effect) features, shade sail, in-built filtration system and zero depth (for safety and accessibility).Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW, John Barilaro congratulated Central Coast Council on getting shovels in the ground and said the water park would become a treasured asset for people living in or visiting the region.“The NSW Government knows how important it is to support our regional communities with new facilities and better infrastructure and that’s why we funded this important project under the Stronger Country Communities Fund,” Mr Barilaro said.The $400 million Stronger Country Communities Fund is part of the NSW Government’s $1.7 billion Regional Growth Fund, which is being invested in local programs and infrastructure that improve the lives of people living in regional NSW.Mayor Lisa Matthews said the Water Play Park is one of many projects Council will deliver during the current difficult situation.“COVID-19 has changed all our lives in unimaginable ways but Council is getting on with the job of delivering essential services and important projects whilst adhering to State and Federal legislation and physical distancing requirements,” Mayor Matthews said.“We’ve listened to our community and will deliver an exciting new Water Play Park that will contribute to several of the objectives outlined in our Strategic Plan ‘One – Central Coast’ including creating liveable cities and healthy lifestyles for our growing community.”Construction of the Water Play park commenced in April 2020 and is expected to be completed by the end June 2020.

Anzac Day 2020 was like no other we’ve experienced before.

While there have been changes to some Central Coast Council services, essential works continue to be delivered, helping keep locals employed and the Central Coast economy going.Council Chief Executive Officer, Gary Murphy said essential services will continue as the situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19) evolves.“Council is focused on the continued delivery of the essential services needed to support our community now, but we are also continuing with essential works to cater for the future needs of our community when life returns to normal,” Mr Murphy said.“Important maintenance work and projects continue including upgrades to open space and recreation infrastructure, road maintenance and construction, and water and sewer maintenance and upgrades.“Council is also continuing with established projects including the construction of Terrigal Boardwalk, upgrade of the Rock Pool and the Mardi to Warnervale Pipeline, with adjustments made to comply with the latest NSW Health and Government requirements around social distancing and keeping our staff and community safe.”Central Coast Mayor Lisa Matthews said continuing these essential works is important for people and for the local economy.“As Council, we are committed to bettering the lives of our community and creating a smart, green and liveable region with a shared sense of belonging and responsibility,” Mayor Matthews said“We know many people are doing it tough during this time and this is one-way Council is able to help keep locals, Council workers and contractors employed, as well as positively contribute to our economy.”Some current works which continue across the Coast include:Open Space and Recreation InfrastructureProjectLocationAmenities building constructionEDSACC South, Bateau BayAmenities building constructionDon Small Oval, TacomaAmenities building upgradeDuffy's Reserve, TerrigalAmenities building constructionGarnet Adcock Memorial Park, West GosfordLocal playspace softfall renewalPeninsula Recreation Precinct, Umina BeachDistrict Playspace upgradeEmpire Bay Tennis CourtsDistrict Playspace upgradeSusan Fahey Park, CopacabanaDistrict Playspace upgradeWallarah Point Peace Park, GorokanLocal Playspace upgradeLentara Ave, Umina BeachLocal Playspace upgradePinyari Park, KincumberLocal Playspace upgradeGoonak Pde, NararaLocal Playspace upgradeGavenlock Oval, NararaLocal Playspace upgradeTreeline Cl, NararaLocal Playspace upgradeBrisbane Ave, UminaLocal Playspace upgradeWalder Cres, AvocaLocal Playspace upgradeFagan Park, Point ClareReserve upgradeHeazlett Park, AvocaFencing upgradeBlue Haven OvalBoat ramp, jetty and carpark upgradeSouth Tacoma Boat RampBoat ramp upgradeCorrea Bay, Woy WoyCarpark upgradeKoolewong Boat RampAmenities building constructionAdcock Park, West GosfordIrrigation, Drainage and FloodlightingSir Joseph Banks Oval, Bateau BayAncillary Facilities upgradeBerkeley Vale Skate ParkTennis Court upgradeAdelaide Street Tennis Courts, Tumbi UmbiTennis Court upgradeSohier Park, OurimbahTennis Court upgradeEmpire BayDog Park upgradeTuggerah Dog ParkRoad maintenance and constructionProjectLocationRoad stabilising and paving maintenanceWisemans Ferry Road, Kulnura and Chain Valley Bay Road, Chain Valley BayWatermain Relocation and stormwater drainage construction.Davistown Road, SaratogaDavistown Wharf replacement and upgradeDavistownKerb ramps and footpathPark Road, Woy WoyFootpath reconstruction and associated worksOcean Beach Road, Woy WoyFootpath construction and associated worksSurfers Road, James Sea DriveTerrigal / WamberalShared Path ReconstructionSite restoration and asphaltAnzac Parade, WyongFootpath Replacement Community Centrewithin the reserveDebra Anne Avenue, Bateau BayRetaining wall worksWisemans Ferry Road, SomersbyStormwater drainage worksOceano Street, CopacabanaWater and sewer maintenance and upgradesProjectLocationSewer Pump Station upgradeClarke Road, NoravilleWater Treatment Plant major upgradeMardiMardi to Warnervale PipelineVarious suburbs from Mardi to Warnervale (via Watanobbi)Water Mains renewal programCoast-wideSewer Main rehabilitation

As quarterly rate bills land in ratepayers’ letterboxes, Central Coast Council is reminding residents it has put financial hardship measures in place to help support the community during this difficult time.As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Council may provide interest waivers on outstanding accounts until 31 August 2020 for those home owners who have been impacted.

Local government plays a critical role in keeping locals in jobs and keeping the local economy going.

Central Coast Council and NSW Police are coming together to remind the community to slow down and take care on local roads.Road safety remains a priority during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation and throughout May Council will deliver an education campaign encouraging motorists to slow down and Police will enforce speeds on built-up roads across the region.Traffic and Highway Patrol Senior Sergeant, Matt Rees said it was important to look out for each other on Central Coast roads during this difficult time.“This collaborative campaign is focused on saving lives and reducing the incidence and severity of speed-related crashes,” Senior Sergeant Rees said.“Unfortunately, speeding continues to be the biggest killer on our roads and contributes to 46 percent of all fatalities that occur on our region’s roads.“We are asking the community to make road safety a priority and slow down, particularly in built up urban areas with 50km/hr zones where vulnerable road users can be.“Drivers must observe speed limits at all times – even a small increase in speed significantly increases the likelihood of being involved in a serious-injury crash or worse.”Mayor Lisa Matthews said Council is happy to work closely with local Police on this important project.“COVID-19 has changed all of our lives in so many ways but we must not lose sight of the importance of keeping our roads safe, and ultimately our community,” Mayor Matthews said.“Education can have a big impact and across May you will notice an increase in our messaging aimed at reducing speeding, which will work in conjunction with Police operations.“If it is essential for you to head out on the road, please take care and slow down.

Mayor calls for more assistance from NSW Government Central Coast Council Mayor Lisa Matthews is calling on the NSW Government to deliver more financial support to enable Council to continue to operate effectively and provide essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With fine weather forecast for the weekend, Central Coast Council is reminding the community that during the COVID-19 outbreak, the use of beaches is restricted to exercise only,Permitted activities include walking, swimming, fishing, running and surfing.

Commemorating Anzac Day in 2020, we find ourselves functioning quite differently.

The essential services Central Coast Council is continuing to deliver during COVID-19 (Coronavirus) include road maintenance and construction and this week the Central Coast became the first region in Australia to benefit from a revolutionary new technology to construct roads.Council is using a new road stabilising and paving technology to lay foamed bitumen in a way that reduces construction time, increases use of recycled road pavement, reduces greenhouse emissions and delivers a more consistent road surface.Council Director Roads Transport Drainage and Waste, Boris Bolgoff said the exciting new road construction technique will be revolutionary in Australia.“We are very excited to be the first Council in Australia to deliver a range of road construction benefits for our community by using this innovative technique,” Mr Bolgoff said.“Not only does this equipment deliver a superior finished product in less time, it also reuses more of the existing road material and reduces greenhouse emissions.“The technology essentially combines a series of machines into one interconnected production line spanning 50 metres.“Existing damaged road pavement is ripped up, mixed with new bitumen, before being discharged onto a conveyor at the back of the machine.

Central Coast Council has announced that it is likely the closure of some major facilities will stay in place until 30 June as Council continues to respond to Federal and State Government restrictions about the spread of Coronavirus.Chief Executive Officer, Gary Murphy said Council’s priority is the health of staff and the Central Coast community and continuing to deliver essential services.“Our job right now is ensuring we play our part in managing as best we can the spread of COVID-19, and to protect the health and wellbeing of our staff and community.“I want to assure the community that all our essential services are not interrupted, and this includes water and sewer;

Central Coast Mayor Lisa Matthews said commemorating Anzac Day in 2020 will be quite different but how we remember our fallen and pay our respects holds the same value. “We as a community are functioning quite differently at present, whilst how we remember and pay respect to our fallen soldiers has been impacted, our want to acknowledge and commemorate our heroes remains the same,” Mayor Matthews said.“The Australian way is to band together and support one another through a crisis, the significance of Anzac Day and the sacrifices made allows for a time of reflection and puts things into perspective. Formal services across the nation were cancelled on 15 March as a result of gathering restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.  “There are many ways Australians, our local community, can commemorate Anzac Day.

Central Coast Council has signed-up to the options provided by the new Local Government (COVID-19) Splinter Award 2020. This means Council can access other options, including the Job Retention Allowance provided by the Award, to maintain employment for permanent staff whose usual jobs have been impacted by closure of Council facilities, or temporary interruption to some services due to Council responding to government restrictions around managing the spread of Coronavirus.

Council has launched a series of Love Local online guides available at the Visit Central Coast website.Council’s Director Connected Communities Julie Vaughan said the guides were part of Council’s initiatives to actively support Central Coast businesses through this difficult time.“The Love Local guides highlight the creativity of Central Coast businesses to adapt to this changed retail and service industry environment due to the impacts of Coronavirus.

Central Coast Council is continuing to support the community’s learning and recreational needs through this time of uncertainty thanks to the incredible range of free online resources provided through the Library Service.Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said even though the physical branches are closed, the eLibrary remains open 24/7 to help residents connect, relax and learn while practicing social distancing.“We are pleased to announce a new partnership with State Library NSW to provide you access to another eBook platform, indyreadsTM,” Ms Vaughan said.“This is on top of our existing eBook and eAudiobook platforms – BorrowBox and Overdrive – giving library members of all ages access to thousands of Australian and international titles.“We also understand that this may be a difficult time for students and their parents if they have made the shift to home or online learning and need numerous resources to help.“For those needing assistance with research, we provide access to reliable sites that can be referenced for essays and reports for subjects such as Modern History, Ancient History and Geography as well as to help create discussion points for your English papers.“If you get stuck interpreting a question or need help with an assignment, students from Year 3 through to tertiary studies can login to Studiosity, where subject specialists are available anytime to provide real-time advice;

Central Coast Council has undertaken maintenance activities in The Entrance Channel today to reduce the risk to public and infrastructure safety.Council used sand from the shoals within the channel to repair the embankment along Marine Parade as part of its ongoing management of the channel and foreshores at The Entrance.Central Coast Mayor, Lisa Matthews said the work will improve the safety of the beach area for the broader public and protect nearby infrastructure such as Council’s lifeguard tower.“During the February flood event, a large amount of erosion occurred on the southern banks of The Entrance Channel,” said Cr Matthews.“Since then our staff have been working with expert coastal engineers and NSW Government authorities to ensure Council repair for this important work.“Today, Council staff have moved sand from the shoals within the channel with earth moving equipment, to help mitigate risk to the public and redirect tidal flows away from the eroded areas.“These works were the first ‘on ground’ activities of the 2020 dredging program partly funded by the NSW State Government under the ‘Rescuing Our Waterways’ funding package.”Council’s Unit Manager Environmental Management Luke Sulkowski said the work would help preserve the current exchange of water between the estuary and the ocean.“Since the February 2020 flood event, Council staff have observed significant changes in the movement of sand at The Entrance with the sandspit that separates the ocean from the estuary again beginning to grow in size,” said Mr Sulkowski.“The Entrance Channel is a dynamic coastal environment and while the widening and narrowing of the channel is a natural process, these works are in part designed to try and sustain the current flow of water through the northern channel for a longer period of time.”The works undertaken today were completed under guidance and supervision of external expert coastal engineers and form part of a greater program of initiatives that Council is progressing for The Entrance channel in 2020.

Central Coast Council is urging holidaymakers to rethink their travel plans and hold off from visiting the Central Coast during the COVID-19 pandemic.Mayor Lisa Matthews said that everyone is urged to follow government guidelines about non-essential travel and stay home.“In response to current restrictions and government guidelines, anyone considering travelling to our beautiful region is asked to please put your plans on hold for the moment,” Mayor Matthews said.“Now is not the time to visit the Central Coast.

Residents of the Central Coast are being urged to carry out their recreation within government guidelines, particularly on the region’s beaches, as changes are introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.Activities on all Central Coast beaches will now be restricted to exercise only including walking, running and surfing.Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said changes to daily life were necessary.“Last week the surf lifesaving season came to an abrupt end as a necessary way to stop COVID-19 from spreading, and today we are announcing that it is necessary for beach activities to be limited to exercise only,” Mr Crouch said.“We all must play a part in slowing the spread of COVID-19 by following these new restrictions and social distancing rules.“Everyone on the Central Coast needs to be aware that NSW Police will be enforcing these restrictions with on-the-spot fines, particularly during the school holidays.”Central Coast Council Mayor Lisa Matthews said it was important the community adhere to all social restrictions in place.“We all want to stay healthy.

In a bid to respond to the current business climate, a Central Coast COVID-19 Economic Task Force has been established to help local business through this volatile time.Business NSW, Central Coast Council, Central Coast Industry Connect, Central Coast Food Alliance and Regional Development Australia (Central Coast) have joined forces to assess the economic impact of COVID-19 to the Central Coast economy and respond with initiatives aimed at stimulating business investment, maintaining jobs and helping businesses withstand the effects of the pandemic.Central Coast Council Chief Executive Officer, Gary Murphy said they understand the growing stress and impact that the COVID-19 situation is placing our Coast’s business community and Council are dedicating resources, and working with local business groups and government agencies, to develop custom initiatives to lessen the affect locally.“Whilst every region’s economy will be affected at this time, our business community which is made up of small to large businesses across varied sectors, has its own unique issues and impacts that need to be considered,” Mr Murphy said.“Central Coast Council is throwing the full weight of its Economic Development team to this central Task Force, so that we are collectively armed with the right information about the economic shocks to the Coast’s local businesses and can develop customised initiatives and support to help keep our local economy going.“Central Coast is home to a full range of small to large businesses across many sectors, so understanding the array of issues that businesses are experiencing is important to developing initiatives that are bespoke to the Central Coast.”"The first priority for the Central Coast COVID-19 Economic Task Force is to help local business understand how to get through the pandemic and develop projects that stimulate local jobs."A Central Coast COVID-19 Information Portal (centralcoasteconomy.com.au) has been set up and businesses are encouraged to go online to see what relevant information and support is available to them, and are invited to submit questions.Regional Director Central Coast Business NSW, Paula Martin said “Local businesses are confused, scared and unsure of what the next six months has in store for them, so as business leaders of the Central Coast, banding together to help business was a no brainer.“Each entity is bringing to the table their collective knowledge, support and connections - by working together, we can address current challenges and the opportunities at a much faster pace,” Ms Martin said.“With the impacts of this pandemic changing on a daily basis, providing one place for businesses to go to get information that can help them locally will reduce confusion and anxiety,” Ms Martin continued.Central Coast COVID-19 Information Portal is now live at centralcoasteconomy.com.auCentral Coast Council has also developed a Community and Business Support Package and announced a range of new measures to help local businesses and the community through the COVID-19 crisis.