Laycock Street Community Theatre is proud to present a brand new Australian play, Diary of a Wombat, based on the multi-award winning picture book by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley.Millions of young people around the world have adored the book, and now finally this iconic work has been adapted for the stage by Monkey Baa, an award-winning theatre company.Featuring stunning puppetry, a live cello score and a brilliant set design in Monkey Baa’s signature style, Diary of a Wombat is suitable for children aged three years and over.Children will be delighted when they meet Mothball, the naughtiest wombat in Australia.Bored with her daily routine, Mothball goes in search of shelter and food, creating chaos in the lives of the humans around her.Doormats, bins and washing lines are no match for this mischievous marsupial.In between a packed schedule of scratching, sleeping and eating, Mothball discovers humans are quite easily trained with a bit of persistence!Director Eva Di Cesare and a team of revered creatives, including Puppetry and Movement Director Alice Osborne (War Horse), Designer Imogen Ross (Hitler’s Daughter) and accomplished composer Oonagh Sherrard (The Tribe) use the magic of puppetry and live music to bring this delightful story to the stage.Jackie French, author of Diary of a Wombat, said "What Monkey Baa has done is extraordinary.
Central Coast Council is celebrating National Youth Week with a wide range of events next week where the next generation of leaders are being encouraged to get involved and be heard.Youth Week is organised by young people, for young people across the country from 31 March to 9 April.Council Group Leader Connected Communities, Ms Julie Vaughan, said young people across the Central Coast are being encouraged to share ideas, show off their talents, join in local events and celebrate their contribution to the community – but most of all have fun!“Too often there is a stigma associated with young people and Youth Week gives them a chance to promote a positive image and showcase themselves,” Ms Vaughan said.“We also have events that will provide support as well as live entertainment, skate comps, art competitions and much much more.”Something new to kick off the calendar for 2017 is the Comedy for a Cause Fundraiser tonight (Friday 31 March) with comedians from the Sydney and Melbourne International Comedy Festival that will have you laughing all night.
Central Coast Council is teaming up with Shredability for another first in skating on the Coast.King of Street is a popular contest held across various skate parks around Australia, and is coming to Bato Yard on Saturday 22 April.This event will take competition skating to a new level as it will start at 2pm and be the first day/night competition.Event organiser and former world champion, Mr Renton Millar, said his team can’t wait to return to Bato Yard for another massive event.“We were just there in February for our elite bowl competition and couldn’t believe the amazing support we received as well as the talented riders who shredded the biggest bowl in the country,” Mr Millar said.“This competition will be just as rad, as Bato has some rare features in the street section that should attract some top riders to the Coast.“It’s also the first time we are hosting an event under lights and I have to say we are super excited about this opportunity.“A special shout out to Central Coast Council for supporting skateboarding with such an amazing facility and great events.The street section of Bato Yard has one of the largest street areas in Australia and can take multiple users as it has three separate riding lines with multiple obstacles.Some of the unique features to the street league facility include a seven stair set with hand rail, a quarter pipe with coping gap troll door – an angled manual pad, a spine and waterfall combo, a three stair set, five rails with varying height and cross sections – advanced access and use, large slider boxes in association with stair cases and obstacles, volcano feature and butterfly hip, as well as assorted ollie boxes, hubbas, ledge and wedge combos, quarter pipes, flat banks and roll ins.There will be four competing categories – Opens, Ladies, Under 16s and Under 12s – with street skating being introduced into the 2020 Olympics, this competition is bound to attract some interest from top name riders as they can use it as preparation.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said Bato Yard was built for local riders and to attract major competitions to the region, just like this one.“The facility is continuing to deliver on its promise to attract world class events and providing important opportunities for residents and visitors alike,” Mr Reynolds said.“It’s certainly becoming well known as one of the premier riding facilities in the region, if not the state.“We have also been working hard to make the facility fully accessible which will have the potential to attract even more events such as wheelchair motorcross (WCMX).“It’s already been tested by one of the country’s top WCMX riders and received great reviews.”There is a $5,000 prize pool for the winners as well as the chance to be named the inaugural Bato Yard King of Street.Register now to register your interest at shredability.com.auA special thank you to the sponsors who are working with Council to help make this event happen:
The former Wyong Council entered into contracts to sell land at Warnervale to Australia China Theme Park Pty Ltd ("ACTP").Those contracts include confidentiality clauses that bind both parties and as such it is not appropriate to comment at this stage.Council has sought an urgent meeting with representatives of ACTP to discuss these contracts.Council will make further announcements when it is appropriate to do so.
Central Coast Council’s annual photographic prize, Exposure, is now open to amateur and emerging photographers.The competition, in its fifth year, is an opportunity for photographers to submit their best images for a chance to share in a total prize pool of $4,400The competition has always been popular with young people and this year, a new award has been introduced for an Emerging Young Talent (aged under 24 years).Council Group Leader, Ms Julie Vaughan, said the entries from the young photographers are growing each and every year and Council wanted to expand on this interest.“Over the years, 10 percent of our finalists were represented by photographers under the age of 24,” Ms Vaughan said.“This year we decided to give more opportunities for our young people by introducing a new award and expanding our annual workshops.“Each year we have workshops for beginner and intermediate photographers, and for the first time we held extra workshops targeted at students run by professional photographers who mentored them and help build on their photography skills.“You can already see some of the students’ work being displayed at Killarney Vale shopping centre and in the Wyong CBD.”The competition is open to all amateur and emerging photographers and entries must represent one of the following categories:Postcards of the Coast – images must be of the Central CoastThrough the Generations – open to any imageThe Natural World – open to any imageA Picture Tells 1,000 Words – open to any imagePrizes will be awarded to First, Second and Third overall winners and Emerging Young Talent as well as a Highly Commended in each category and the People’s Choice Award which will be announced at the end of the exhibition.Council Administrator, Ian Reynolds, said this year’s competition will build on the success of last year.“The competition aims to promote the art of photography and to showcase still-based works,” Mr Reynolds said.“The Coast is becoming well known for its support for the arts and I have great pleasure in encouraging people to enter this competition and boost the profile of the prize.“So give it your best shot!”Entries close at midnight Sunday 23 April and can be submitted online at wyong.nsw.gov.au/exposureA public exhibition will showcase 145 of the highest scoring images at The Art House Wyong from Saturday 10 June to Sunday 25 June.
Council is continuing its commitment to ensure the quality of our local road network, with important upgrade works taking place on The Ridgeway at Lisarow, between Macdonalds Road and Tapley Road.Designed to enhance the safety of this popular route, this project will see substantial earthworks to accommodate a new road alignment and width, construction of street drainage, kerb and gutter, and a new road pavement.The project will also include the installation of guardrail, signage and line marking.With significant realignment and construction works required, it is anticipated this section of road will operate as a single-lane stretch for approximately six months, with the full extent of works expected to take around 15 months to complete.Starting early May, single-lane traffic will be operated by interim traffic signals to ensure the safety of workers on-site and motorists as they travel through the area.
If you plan on heading to the beach, make sure you do it at one of our 15 popular patrolled ocean beaches where you will be in safe hands with our lifeguards (Monday to Friday) and volunteer lifesavers (weekends and public holidays).To cater for the influx of tourists we expect to visit the Coast, our lifeguards will also return to Budgewoi Beach to patrol over the four-day Easter long weekend (Friday 14 to Monday 17 April) from 9am to 5pm, with a focus on the flagged area.There are a few simple rules to help keep you safe on our beaches:
Central Coast Council will be constructing an additional level to the Wilson Road Carpark, Terrigal creating 110 extra parking spaces for the Terrigal CBD.The $2.3 million project will include the installation of a lift within the carpark, CCTV and the provision of additional disabled spaces on each floor – improving the facility’s overall accessibility.Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the project would support continued growth within the Terrigal CBD.“We’re expanding the capacity of Wilson Road Carpark to cater for Terrigal’s ongoing growth as a premier tourist destination,” said Mr Reynolds.“With a range of commercial and residential developments underway, the availability of parking is important – this upgrade project will provide 110 additional spaces and go a long way to improving accessibility in the area.“In addition, we are developing detailed designs for a $2.2 million Terrigal CBD Traffic Flow Improvement project – voted for by the community as part of the Stronger Communities’ Fund Major Projects Program.“This is an exciting time for Terrigal as we prepare for another busy summer season ahead.”Level 3 of the carpark is currently closed.
In the lead up to International Women’s Day, one of Central Coast Council’s Group Leaders has been awarded the NSW Local Government Minister’s Award for Women in Local Government.The Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government celebrate the contribution of women to local government in NSW.