The critically endangered Wyong Sun Orchid (Thelymitra adorata) may be elusive, but a collaboration between Council and the NSW Government’s Saving Our Species Program is aiming to change that.An Australian first trial for this species has successfully trained scent detection dogs to locate these rare orchids by detecting underground tubers in a minimally invasive way.Using their remarkable sense of smell, three talented Spaniels, Paddy, Sully and Vera, are leading this innovative conservation effort.  In collaboration with On The Scent and The Good Dog, these clever canines were specially trained to detect orchid tubers without relying on the short flowering period when the plants are usually visible.

We are delivering upgrades to key community spaces in The Entrance through The Entrance Revitalisation Project.

We are undertaking a project to renew and improve public toilet facilities at:Jirramba Reserve, Saratoga:

Central Coast Council is inviting the community to help tackle one of Australia’s most damaging invasive species through the Carp to Croc muster event, an exciting fishing event aimed at reducing European Carp populations in our local waterways.European Carp pose a serious threat to local ecosystems, degrading water quality and displacing native species.

Our Community Development and Community Events and Place Activation Grant Programs will open for applications from 1-30 June 2025.These programs will only open once in the 2025-26 financial year. Not sure if you’re eligible or how the process works?

Central Coast Council is dedicated to providing water and sewer services that cater to our community's needs.

More than 100 development industry professionals, along with Councillors and Council staff, attended the ‘Building a strong foundation for the future’ forum at Central Coast Council on Wednesday 19 March.The event offered a forum for Council to better understand the barriers to development and for the industry to better understand Council’s processes, with the event generating helpful insights, ideas and improvement suggestions.Central Coast Council processes the highest volume of planning applications in NSW, with more than 2000 lodged last year.With a rapidly growing community, understanding of both Council's and developer's concerns can help with working together on solutions.Council’s new Development Assessment Improvement Project, outlined at the forum, was well received by attendees, noting that developers have told Council they are frustrated with local and state planning and want more collaboration.Council is committed to recruiting the right people, streamlining systems, and improving our communication and customer service.The forum gave Council an opportunity to show participants how they can also achieve faster processing times by submitting more complete applications.Mayor McKinna said the forum is the first step in a long-term journey. 

Get ready for free family fun under the stars!

The Central Coast is now Ecotourism certified under Ecotourism Australia’s globally recognised ECO Destination Certification and is one of only eleven regions in Australia to hold this recognition in sustainable tourism.This milestone strengthens the Central Coast’s reputation as a leading eco-conscious destination which helps to attract even more visitors each year.The globally recognised program assesses destinations on environmental management, cultural heritage, visitor experience and community benefits.Visitors can immerse themselves in authentic, high-quality experiences inspired by nature that are offered by locally-run businesses dedicated to sustainable tourism and showcasing the natural beauty of the Central Coast.We’ve held an ECO destination status for the past two years and have advanced to the next level of Ecotourism, following an independent audit that was conducted against 105 criteria and interviews with a range of stakeholders.This milestone recognises our ongoing commitment to sustainable tourism, responsible visitor experiences, and the protection of natural and cultural assets in partnership with our community and tourism operators.This achievement reflects a collaborative effort between Council, tourism operators and the community, whose collective aim is to position the region as a top choice for responsible tourism. Being an eco-destination encourages sustainable practices that preserve the beautiful natural assets, national parks and wildlife of the Central Coast, while supporting our local businesses, improving employment opportunities on the coast and growing our visitor economy.To learn more, search 'ecotourism' at lovecentralcoast.com to discover our region's ECO journey and how you can be part of our journey to a greener, more sustainable future.

We are shell-ebrating the safe hatching of several clutches of turtles on their ‘turtle island’ at Springfield Pond Wetland.In a first for the Central Coast, members of the Springfield Residents Association introduced their citizen science project on Thursday 10 October, with the aim to increase survival rates of freshwater turtles and turtle nests.The island was installed by the experts from the 1 Million Turtles community conservation program, in association with the University of Sydney and partner universities and agencies, and collaboration with Central Coast Council.Springfield Wetland was chosen for the turtle island habitat due to its location, proximity to universities and schools, and community interest in the wetland.When female turtles nest on the island, their eggs are safer from foxes which have a devastating impact on turtle populations.The island has helped at least three clutches of eggs through to the adorable hatchling stage!