Skip to main content
Mayor McKinna

Mayor Lawrie Mckinna was elected as Mayor of Central Coast Council in October 2024 for a term of two years.

He is committed to working hard to ensure council delivers on community priorities.
 

Persistence, teamwork and community are key themes for Mayor of The Central Coast, Lawrie McKinna. 

Lawrie was born in Galston, on the West Coast of Scotland, and when he was two-and-a-half, his family moved to Australia. He lived in Sydney for two years then moved to Auckland, New Zealand, before returning to Scotland when he was five. At school, Lawrie was obsessed with football. He began his sporting career as a striker with Galston United, then was striker with junior side Darvel before signing with local professional club, Kilmarnock, in 1982. 

Lawrie moved to Australia in 1986 and went on to play for several clubs in the National Soccer League and state leagues. His coaching career began in 1992 as Assistant Manager with Blacktown City. In 1995 he was a player/manager for Hills United before going on to hold the Assistant Coach role with Sydney Olympic, Sydney United and Parramatta Power Football Clubs. 

In 2002, Lawrie’s management career took off with Northern Spirit and he won the National Soccer League ‘Coach of the Year’ Award after taking the team to their first finals campaign in three years. He has also coached Chinese Super League Club Chengdu and China League One side Chongging Lifan. Lawrie is credited with establishing the region’s first A-League sporting team, the Central Coast Mariners, who he coached to two grand finals, as well as winning a minor premiership and pre-season cup. He served as Head Coach from 2005 to 2010 and Director of Football for the Central Coast Mariners, winning the A-League ‘Coach of the Year’ Award during the 2005/2006 season, and became the Mariner’s Ambassador in 2014. In June 2016, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Newcastle Jets and was in the role until 2021. Lawrie is well known in football and business circles. He served as Chair of Regional Development Australia Central Coast from January 2021 to 22 October 2024 and is currently on the Board of Directors at Sydney Olympic Football club, formally the CEO from January 2022 to December 2024.

Lawrie’s political career began when he became a Councillor for the City of Gosford in 2012. He was elected Mayor and served until the amalgamation of Gosford and Wyong in 2016. Lawrie led Team Central Coast in the 2024 Council elections and is now Mayor of The Central Coast for the next two years. He is honoured to have been elected Mayor and is delighted to be serving the community he loves once again. 

Lawrie and his wife Christine have been married for 44 years, have two sons and two grandsons and have lived on the Central Coast for 20 years. He describes making the decision to move his wife and two young boys to Australia to play football as one of the toughest, but most fortunate, of his life. Lawrie believes that he’s learned a thing or two about teamwork over his career. He’s keen to use his team-building skills to lead the new Council as they work together to serve the community. 

    Mayor
    Business owners share their insights
    A remarkable 227 business owners participated in Council’s first Business Retention and Expansion survey, sharing their experiences, challenges, and priorities.Business Retention and Expansion programs provide a way for us to hear from business owners and understand their challenges so we can help them grow, create jobs and stay on the Central Coast. I’m pleased to announce that the  Business Retention and Expansion Insights Report 
    21/07/2025
    Mayor
    Volunteers are the force behind National Tree Day
    We’re hosting two community planting events this National Tree Day, Sunday 27 July, and everyone is invited to help plant trees and shrubs and enjoy free community festivities. But did you know about the work that goes on behind the scenes to prepare for National Tree Day? Each month, a volunteer seed collecting group gathers seeds and cuttings from local bushland and coastal reserves for use at Council’s Erina Nursery.Nursery volunteer groups then work alongside environmental officers to sort the seeds and store them in the nursery’s seed bank.
    21/07/2025
    Mayor
    Carmen and Jane are Community Champions
    I met Carmen Cooper and Jane Hillyard not long after they’d opened their not-for-profit shop, Bowerbird Recycling, in William Street Plaza, Gosford.These incredible women have a vision to create a world where everyone thrives, and a mission to help make life more comfortable for people whose budget doesn’t extend to creating a cosy and welcoming space in their home.  Through Bowerbird Recycling, volunteers collect pre-loved items of clothing, homewares and furniture that are new, near new or in excellent condition.They then visit families in need, see what items they lack and return with goods that will transform their place into a home. The pair’s motto is ‘helping, creating, restoring’ and they’re now using their passion and skills in interior design and property styling to ensure those who need it most have surroundings where they can feel relaxed and restored - all while promoting sustainability and reducing waste.   If people don’t have anything to donate, they can still help vulnerable women and children by sponsoring a care pack of kitchen essentials or pamper items. Our Central Coast Community Champion initiative honours people who, through exceptional effort and commitment, make a difference to the lives of others. I’m sure you’ll agree that Carmen and Jane are very worthy Community Champions, and they have our gratitude and appreciation.If you know of a Community Champion, please tell me about them at themayor@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
    16/07/2025
    Mayor
    We’ve put roadworks on the map
    We recently engaged with residents about our strategic plans, and people sent us a strong message – roads are our top priority. In March, we released our 10-year Road Renewal Program.
    07/07/2025
    Mayor
    Join us to celebrate NAIDOC Week
    You’re invited to celebrate NAIDOC Week with us at our annual flag raising ceremony and free community breakfast from 9.30am on Monday 7 July 2025, outside Council at 2 Hely St, Wyong.NAIDOC Week runs from 6 to 13 July and 2025 marks the significant milestone of 50 years honouring and elevating Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience.
    01/07/2025
    Mayor
    New projects, new perspectives
    What a pleasure it was to meet people and discuss our plans, projects, and budget for this term of Council. I’d like to thank everyone who came to one of our ‘Let’s Talk’ sessions to meet with Councillors and Council teams, view the plans and give feedback.
    24/06/2025
    Mayor
    Thanks for your feedback
    We’ve been out and about in the community, talking to people about our plans for the future. These included our 10-year Community Strategic Plan, four-year Delivery Program, one-year Operational Plan and resourcing strategies.Thank you to everyone who visited our pop-up information sessions to see for themselves what’s being proposed for their local area, and for the whole coast.
    23/06/2025
    Mayor
    New maker space will inspire
    I’m excited that Council is partnering with the University of Newcastle to develop a new ‘maker space’ at the Gosford Regional Library.A maker space is a supportive community hub designed to inspire exploration, creativity, ideas sharing and self-directed learning. University experts will collaborate with Council to create a state-of-the-art space within the library, equipped with 3D printing machines, virtual reality goggles, sewing and Cricut machines, that will encourage skills development, critical thinking and experimentation.
    16/06/2025
    Mayor
    Our June Community Champion - Billy Isaacs
    Our newest Community Champion is 12-year-old Billy Isaacs.
    12/06/2025
    Mayor
    Proudly Australian citizens
    Our community welcomed 160 of Australia’s newest citizens at a Citizenship Ceremony on 11 June at The Art House, Wyong.More than36 different countries were represented by the people taking the citizenship pledge, including Nepal, the Philippines, Canada, the UK, New Zealand, India and many more.At the ceremony, we heard from guest speaker Victoria Lobregat.
    11/06/2025
    Mayor
    Crisis help thank you
    Our community has endured so much with the recent severe weather event.
    03/06/2025
    Mayor
    Hinterland highlights at Harvest Festival
    We’re truly fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the world that stretches from the mountains to the sea.
    02/06/2025
    Mayor
    Key to the Coast for Mariners
    In a fairy-tale ending to the 2024-25 season, our Central Coast Mariners women’s team became the Ninja A-League champions after an incredible grand final win against Melbourne Victory. I watched the live stream of the game from AAMI Park at Industree Stadium surrounded by excited fans, and the atmosphere was electric! This team has achieved so much after re-joining the competition just two years ago.
    26/05/2025
    Mayor
    Our May Community Champion - Paula Hardwick
    On behalf of our community, I’d like to recognise Paula Hardwick for her significant efforts in helping others by acknowledging her as a Central Coast Community Champion. Paula is s ‘Super Volunteer’.
    22/05/2025
    Mayor
    Volunteers - Connecting Communities
    National Volunteer Week runs from 19 to 25 May and celebrates the power of volunteering to bring people together.
    20/05/2025
    Mayor
    Drive so others survive
    National Road Safety Week 2025, which runs this week, is an important reminder that we all have a role to play in helping to reduce the number of serious injuries and fatalities on our roads.The week also coincides with the United Nations Global Road Safety Week.Every year, approximately 1200 people are killed and another 40,000 are seriously injured on Australian roads.
    12/05/2025
    Mayor
    Have your say on our big plans
    We’re seeking your feedback on the big plans that will shape our community. All Councils in NSW must prepare long and short-term plans showing their projects and activities each year and place these draft plans on exhibition for people to have their say. Our draft plans reflect the priorities of residents, ensure people have an active role in shaping their future, assign resources to services and activities, and show how we’ll report progress. The 10-year Community Strategic Plan describes our community’s vision for the future, with goals and actions to guide our planning.The four-year Delivery Program sets out our priorities and the one-year Operational Plan outlines the specific activities and projects to be delivered in the year ahead. Council’s resourcing strategies, including the four-year draft Workforce Management Strategy 2025-2029, 10-year draft Asset Management Strategy 2025-2035 and 10-year draft Long-Term Financial Plan, plus our Fees and Charges for 2025-26, describe how we can achieve the community’s goals through time, money, assets, and people. The development of our draft Long-Term Financial Plan required careful consideration and the plan we’re presenting for your feedback takes a responsible approach to managing our resources and sets us up for a financially sustainable future. It’s been gratifying to produce a Delivery Program with input from Councillors.
    05/05/2025
    Mayor
    Community Champions Lachlan Hobman and Elijah Rea
    Our community is fortunate to have people who, through perseverance and resilience, inspire others. Lachlan Hobman and Elijah Rea, both winners in our 2025 Central Coast Youth Week Awards, are young men who through their own lived experiences have become mentors and advocates for others. After living in alternative care arrangements since he was 11 years old, Lachlan is now a youth advocate with the Create Foundation and supports other young people through the challenges of living out of home.
    28/04/2025
    Mayor
    Have your say on future water & sewer service improvements
    We recently asked people about their water and sewer service and learned that quality and reliability are important priorities.Your feedback is now needed to guide the next steps in our water and sewer pricing journey.You are invited to have a say on how we balance future water and sewer service improvements with costs, reliability, and service quality.Your feedback will help shape Council’s submission to the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) who will set the prices for water and sewerage services that will come into effect from 1 July 2026.You can pop-in to one of our stalls across the Central Coast from now to Sunday 11 May 2025 and have your say.Council staff will be at the Erina Fair (outside Erina Library) on 29 April 2025 from 9am to 2pm, Westfields Tuggerah on 1 May 2025 from 2pm to 7pm, Bateau Bay Square on 3 May 2025 from 9am to 2pm, Deepwater Plaza Woy Woy on 6 May 2025 from 11am to 4pm, and Lake Munmorah Shopping Centre on 8 May 2025 from 1pm to 6pm.To learn more about our future water and sewer service options, visit the Your Voice Our Coast. Mayor Lawrie McKinna
    22/04/2025
    Mayor
    Putting our community first
    Federal funding is vital for our community and we’re joining Councils across Australia in calling for a greater commitment to increased funding for local government in this year’s federal election.We’re getting behind the Australian Local Government Association’s ‘Put Our Communities First’ campaign that has a goal of securing more federal funds to help local governments deliver national priorities. We’re supporting five national funding priorities.
    14/04/2025
Contact Mayor McKinna
Useful Links
Stay up to date
Sign-up for weekly news, events and important information.