An Extraordinary Meeting of Council is being held this Thursday 7 December to present the Draft Financial Reports for the period from the date of amalgamation to 30 June 2017.The draft Financial Reports are available on Council’s website and comply with the Local Government Act 1993, Local Government (General) Regulation 2005, Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016, the Office of Local Government prescribed Code of Accounting Practice and Financial Reporting and relevant accounting standards.  The draft Financial Reports can be found under Council meeting at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au.The draft Financial Reports for the 13.5 month statutory reporting period reflect a total income from Continuing Operations of $723.7 million, including $90.3 million of capital grants and contributions, operating expenses of $568.0 million and a net operating surplus of $65.4 million before grants and contributions provided for capital purposes and gain on local government amalgamation.  Council received a total of $11 million in one off operational grants being $10 million as part of the New Council Implementation Fund and $1 million from the Stronger Communities Fund for a community grant program.  Council also received in June 2017 $12.5 million in Financial Assistance Grants for the 2017-18 financial year.  Accounting standards require Council to recognise this income in the year received.  Council’s operating surplus before grants and contributions provided for capital purposes, gain on local government amalgamation and additional income received in the 2016-17 statutory reporting period is $41.9 million.The $6.7 billion gain on local government amalgamation reflects the net value of assets and liabilities transferred from the former Councils to Central Coast Council at the date of amalgamation.

Central Coast Council has installed water tanks in strategic rural locations across the region to help better serve the community during the fire season.Council Director Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Mike Dowling said that the installation of the water tanks would reduce turnaround times for fire trucks during an emergency.“Council is working closely with the Rural Fire Service to identify high risk locations without access to the town water supply, so that we can help better serve these communities during an emergency,” said Mr Dowling.“Residents in Dooralong and Holgate can now be confident that the local Rural Fire Brigades have better access to water for firefighting purposes with two 35,000 litre tanks in operation in both of these communities.“We often take for granted access to water during emergencies, however for the fire fighters in these communities it can take more than 30 minutes to leave a fire, refill and return before continuing the fight.“These tanks provide enough water for 23 firefighting tanker loads of water and will reduce the turnaround time significantly.”Council will also be commissioning water tanks at Mount Elliot and the northern end of Holgate before the end of the season.

Central Coast Council’s $15 million upgrade to the Wyong South Sewage Treatment Plant is complete.Council’s Director, Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Mike Dowling, said the upgrades to this essential service would benefit residents now and into the future.“Wyong South Treatment Plant receives the equivalent of around four and a half Olympic size swimming pools of sewage every day, and this will increase as our community grows,” said Mr Dowling.“Undertaking this upgrade ensures the treatment plant will be able to handle this growth without compromising the quality of water returned to the environment.“The plant uses organic materials to remove the majority of odours from the inlet works in a newly constructed hybrid bio trickling filter system.

The financial reports for Central Coast Council from amalgamation until 30 June 2017 have been referred to external audit following tonight’s Extraordinary Central Coast Council meeting.Council’s total income for the 13.5 month statutory reporting period is $723.7 million, including $90.3 million of capital grants and contributions and operating expenses of $568.0 million.

Council is seeking community input in how Council meetings should run with a revised Code of Meeting Practice now on exhibition.

With the summer holiday season upon us, Central Coast Council is reminding residents to dispose of their litter in bins provided and make sure they only camp in designated camping areas.Council Manager, Environment and Certification, Mr Jamie Loader, said that whilst Christmas is a time of good cheer, the incidences of dumped rubbish and illegal camping increase during this time, and we want everyone to avoid the fines that apply to those who don’t do the right thing.“The festive season means more parties, more family get-togethers, more food than you’d usually eat … and, sadly, more waste dumped than at any other time of the year,” said Mr Loader.“If you are getting together with your family and friends at one of the Coast’s great locations, like our parks, reserves, beaches, or rock platforms, make sure you clean up after you leave and if bins are full or unavailable, take your rubbish with you.“Council is also reminding the camping community to make sure they only set up camp in areas designated for overnight camping.“Illegal camping can be disruptive to the use of public spaces by the community and in some cases, potentially dangerous.“Specific camping areas are set up with amenities, provision of bins for rubbish and lighting – that way campers are safe and the community retain full access to public space throughout the holiday period.”Council rangers will be out in force this holiday period targeting littering and illegal camping hotspots including Picnic Point at The Entrance, Karagi Reserve at North Entrance, Jenny Dixon Reserve at Norah Head, Avoca Rock Platform and Gosford and Woy Woy Waterfronts.

From February 1, Council will partner with Cleanaway Pty Ltd to deliver essential waste services across the Central Coast.For most residents, there will be no impact or disruption to the current service.We will continue to offer general waste, recycling and green waste collection services as well as six free kerbside bulk waste collection services per year.What does this mean for you?For most residences, there will be little or no disruption to your current service.However, streamlining our routing across the former Central Coast local government areas will mean a change to the bin collection day for some residences.Letter notifications are being sent to all affected residences whose bin collection day will change.

With only six weeks to go, the countdown is on for the Queen’s Baton Relay and Central Coast Council would like to acknowledge the community representing the Coast on the world stage.The Queen’s Baton Relay recognises the achievements and aspirations of Australians from all walks of life, from youngsters to some of Australia’s most accomplished legends, such as the Coast’s local hero and Central Coast Citizen of the Year, Lester Pearson.Lester will be joined by 16 other batonbearers nominated by their peers, including:Rae Anderson, WamberalMargaret Beardslee, Killarney ValeMary Betts, JindaleeBenjamin Brown, Bateau BayGraeme Carroll, Woy WoyAngela Deacon, DavistownChristopher Dodd, SpringfieldDimity Douglas, LisarowSara Evans, Hamlyn TerraceStuart Hayward, AlisonMaria McConville, Green PointJamie Pittman, ShortlandKallan Strong, WadalbaPeter Thomson, ErinaTeigan Van Roosmalen, Bateau BayPhil Walker, Blue BayThe Baton will start its journey in Australia on 25 December, 100 days before the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony on 4 April 2018.The Baton will make its way to the Central Coast on Saturday 3 February 2018 when it runs through Gosford town centre, starting at Laycock Street Theatre and visiting Central Coast Stadium and the picturesque waterfront along the way.To celebrate its arrival, and commemorate this momentous occasion, Central Coast Council will host a free family fun day at the stadium with activities and entertainment for everyone.Find out more about this historic event for the Central Coast by visiting centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/QBR2018

Central Coast Council’s motion calling on the NSW Department of Planning to create a new zone to protect conservation lands has been unanimously endorsed at the 2017 Local Government Conference.

Central Coast Council has adopted the Norah Head Village Centre Masterplan which will guide public domain improvement works in the Village Centre as one of the key actions of the Toukley Planning Strategy.