Central Coast Council is advising water supply customers in The Entrance North of an overnight outage on Sunday 21 May 2017.Council will be carrying out upgrades to the water supply system, in conjunction with programmed road works currently underway on Hutton Road.Properties affected:

Temporary traffic control measures will be in place along a section of The Ridgeway, Lisarow from Sunday 21 May – Thursday 1 June, while Central Coast Council completes essential pavement stabilisation works.The project, being carried out between the intersection at Paroo Road and Tapley Road, will be undertaken at night to minimise the impact on local traffic.Crews will also manage the project schedule to ensure there is minimal impact on nearby residents as a result of these works.Warning signs will be in place to notify motorists of the changed conditions and traffic will be detoured to Fagans Road for the duration of the project.Works will be undertaken between 7pm – 5.30am and crews will be on hand to provide any direction or assistance to motorists or nearby residents.Council would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their patience while these important works are carried out and apologises for any inconvenience.

Berkeley Vale will be a hub of activity when Central Coast Council finishes upgrading recreational facilities to meet the growing needs of the community.Works from Council’s Play Space Strategy and Skate Strategy at Berkeley Vale are on track.

Central Coast Council libraries is hosting a free event that explores the incredible true story of Penguin Bloom – The odd little bird who saved a family on Saturday 10 June at The Art House.Join Linda Mottram in a conversation with husband and wife Cameron and Sam Bloom about their bestselling book and how an unlikely feathered friend ‘Penguin’ the magpie became a family saviour and global sensation.This heart-warming story and stunning collection of photographs provides a remarkable insight to a family’s unique journey to recovery following a tragic event that left Sam paralysed and depressed.Cameron Bloom said Penguin's wild spirit and cheeky personality became a symbol of hope transforming Sam and our family onto a brighter path."Photographing Penguin taught me so much about nature and how important it is to our own wellbeing,” Mr Bloom said.“Penguin’s rescue and the incredible joy and strength she gives Sam and all those who helped her survive demonstrates that, however bleak things seem, compassion, friendship and support can come from unexpected quarters, ensuring there are always better days ahead.“This plucky little magpie reminds us all that, no matter how lost, fragile or damaged we feel, accepting the love of others and loving them in return will help to make us whole.”Penguin Bloom is an extraordinary true story full of hope and courage, featuring Cameron Bloom’s beautiful photography and a captivating narrative by New York Times bestselling author Bradley Trevor Greive.Penguin Bloom has been nominated for an ABIA award, is an international best seller published in 12 countries and is also set to become a major Hollywood film with Reese Witherspoon producing and Naomi Watts starring as Sam."This universal story about the amazing Sam Bloom and her family’s unique friendship with an Australian bird, will touch everyone who reads it.” - Naomi WattsSam and Cameron will be holding a book signing session following the event and a complimentary afternoon tea will be provided.Tickets to this free one off event on Saturday 10 June are available online at www.thearthousewyong.com.au or by calling 02 4335 1485.

Central Coast Council is encouraging residents to get involved in Second Hand Saturday – one of the biggest days of garage sales the Central Coast has seen – being held on Saturday 3 June.Second Hand Saturday encourages residents on the Central Coast to hold a garage sale to sell, swap or give away their pre-loved goods.Council is encouraging residents to get involved and register their garage sale, with free promotion on Council’s website for households participating in Second Hand Saturday.Acting Group Leader of Assets, Infrastructure and Business, Mr Boris Bolgoff, said that Second Hand Saturday was a great way to minimise our impact on the environment.“Reusing and recycling goods is great for the environment and can significantly reduce the number of items that end up in landfill,” said Mr Bolgoff.“There’s no better time than Second Hand Saturday to register your garage sale, help the environment, and find a bargain or two."Second Hand Saturday is open to residents of the Central Coast Council LGA.Residents are encouraged to register using the online booking form located at gosford.nsw.gov.au/secondhandsaturdayFor further information please contact Council on 4325 8222 or 4350 5555 during business hours or email waste@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) in conjunction with Central Coast Council recently completed hazard reduction works in bushland off Hue Hue Road, Jilliby.The work consisted of the prescribed burning of vegetation, minimising bushfire fuel and assisting in reducing the intensity and adverse impact of bushfires in extreme weather conditions.It marks the final stage of Council’s $50,000 upgrade to the Jilliby South Fire Trail and the surrounding area.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the investment was part of a concerted effort to improve access and safety in bushfire prone locations.“A number of issues were raised by residents in regards to the Jilliby South Fire Trail.

National Reconciliation Week celebrations will be launched on the Coast this week with the official opening of the Maliga Indigenous Art Showcase at The Art House, Wyong, on Friday 26 May.Maliga, which means ‘shine’ in Darkinjung, is a Youth Based Art Showcase promoting local Indigenous young people’s multimedia art and craft that reflects their identity and cultural connection to the Central Coast.The fourth annual showcase will be launched at the Art House on Friday 26 May at 10am and includes the presentation of Awards and morning tea.Council Group Leader Connected Communities, Ms Julie Vaughan, said the popularity of the showcase continues to grow each year.“In just four years, Maliga now has more schools involved, giving more Indigenous students a chance to showcase their work,” Ms Vaughan said.“The quality of work the students produce is also increasing and is just amazing.“It’s not just paintings;

Expressions of interest will soon be called for a newly created Central Coast Urban Design Panel to assist Council deliver high quality infrastructure, planning and urban projects.The Panel will consist of up to 6 members in the fields of architecture and urban design to provide independent design review of significant project for both private and public developments across the region.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the Council’s population is projected to reach over 415,000 by 2036 so the time was right to establish an independent panel that would help promote a range of quality housing options for the growing community.“Due to the expected growth in development on the Coast and the need for consistency in quality and design, it is the right time to re-establish an Urban Design Panel on the Central Coast,” Mr Reynolds said.“Having this Panel provides an opportunity to utilise high calibre and relevant expertise that will assist in achieving better design quality of buildings and public domain areas.”“It sends a clear message to the development industry that what we are interested here on the Coast is not just development for development’s sake but quality development for our growing community.”All Development Applications lodged with Council that are 4 storeys or more will be referred to a member of the Panel for review.Council currently charges a fee to developers for external referrals in relation to design and this will be used to pay for the panel’s expertise.Council will also now apply a lapsing period of five years for all development consents on the Coast with the exception of those applications subject to the Gosford Local Environment Plan 2014 bonus provisions.“The former Gosford and Wyong Councils had different default periods for the lapsing of consents, and this new policy ensures consistency across the Coast  - which is definitely what we need as a community and what the development sector needs to proceed,” Mr Reynolds said.“This 5 year period is applied by nearly all councils, as it gives developers of substantial projects time to secure finance and buyers and arrange builders and contractors and to work through the often complex conditions of consent.”“There is an exception to this and it is in respect to the Gosford CBD – where Council will impose a 2 year consent lapsing period to get development moving faster in what is now the regional capital of the Central Coast.”

Council will continue to deliver tourism marketing and industry services for the Central Coast with the assistance of expert external providers.Council recently called for requests for proposals for suitably qualified organisations to deliver these services, receiving fourteen proposals.

Central Coast Council has welcomed the appointment of Ms Lee Shearer to the important role of Co-ordinator General for the Central Coast.Ms Shearer will drive the delivery of the Central Coast Regional Plan and will oversee a Community Consultative Committee of which Central Coast Council will be a key member.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said her appointment was a clear recognition that the State Government is serious about the promises in the Central Coast Regional Plan.“The Regional Plan is all about delivering more jobs, more housing, more infrastructure and more opportunities for our growing community and Council is certainly committed to achieving that,” Mr Reynolds said.“We have already started.  We are moving on priority projects, including aligning our housing development controls, with more consolidated planning underway as well as putting together a priority infrastructure plan that our residents need.“Delivering a sustainable future for the Central Coast will require ongoing funding from both State and Federal Governments as well as Council – that is why this appointment is so crucial as we can start to get key projects moving.“I am keen to meet with the Coordinator-General as soon as possible to share our plans and ensure we work together in the best interests of the Coast and our community.”“This appointment is another clear indication the State Government is committed to seeing the Central Coast emerge as an economic powerhouse.“Together we can capitilise on the strong foundations we have and grow into a well-planned, well-functioning and well-connected region.”Council Group Leader Environment and Planning, Mr Scott Cox, said Council wanted to work closely with the Coordinator-General and the Consultative Committee to ensure the right planning controls are in place so the vision of the Regional Plan is achieved.“We are consolidating our planning controls so there is consistency across the Coast as we want to ensure we can facilitate the right development we want to see here,” Mr Cox said.“The growth in housing, particularly unit style development needs to be where transport connections and opportunities are – in our town centres and tourism hubs and we want to encourage development there.“The mix needs to be right to enable a range of housing options to match household needs but also ensuring the unique environment on the Coast is enhanced and protected.”“The new Coordinator-General role and the Consultative Committee will provide Council with the opportunity to tailor state and local planning controls that will help deliver the promises of the Regional Plan.”