Central Coast public playspaces, outdoor fitness equipment and skate parks have been closed in line with the latest direction from the Australian Government to reduce the spread of COVID-19.Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced last night new measures in response to COVID-19 which includes the immediate closure of some public facilities including skateparks and outdoor playgrounds, and that public gatherings must not be more than two people, excluding household members.Central Coast Council Director of Environment and Planning, Scott Cox said these drastic measures to close these valued public facilities will greatly impact our children and families, but they are deemed necessary to protect our community’s health during this pandemic.“Council manages over 260 playspaces and 25 skateparks across out region and by their design are places our community come together to socialise but unfortunately that’s what we need to avoid right now,” Mr Cox said.“Public reserves, shared pathways, boat ramps, public wharves and jetties, sportsfields and other outdoor public spaces remain open at this stage, but we urge the community to continue to practice social distancing which includes maintaining a distance of 1.5 metres from others at all times.“Whilst it is not possible to physically close off all playspaces and skateparks, we ask that our community act responsibly and follow the Australian Government direction to help minimise the spread of COVID-19 on the Central Coast.”In response to the evolving situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19), Council is continuing to take measured precautions to ensure staff and community are kept safe. Information supplied by NSW Health and Federal authorities is monitored daily and Council will provide updates to the Central Coast community regularly as information comes to hand.For the latest details and updates from Council in relation to COVID-19 go to centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/covid-19For the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from the Australian Government go to australia.gov.au 

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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.

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;