Central Coast Council is considering the best way to manage flooding in the Wyong River catchment area and is calling on residents and businesses to share their experiences so a permanent floodplain management plan can be put in place.The catchment area includes a number of residential, industrial and commercial areas including Wyong, Tacoma, Mardi, Yarramalong, Cedar Brush Creek and Dooralong as well as the Tuggerah Straight Industrial area.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the ultimate aim of the management plan is to reduce the impact of flooding in the local community.“The community is more aware than ever of the risk of flooding as we have experienced a number of east coast lows in recent times,” Mr Reynolds said.“By understanding the potential risks of flooding in the area, we can better prepare the community to minimize flood damage and avoid possible loss of life.“Flooding can place a significant financial burden on the community so we must be proactive in understanding the impacts in key catchment areas such as Wyong River.“I urge all residents and businesses in this area to share their experiences so we can put the right plan in place to protect the community from future flooding.”A community information session will be held at Council’s Wyong Office on Tuesday 4 October from 6.30pm to 7.30pm. Staff and Council’s consultants will be available to answer any questions about the study and flooding issues in the catchment area more generally.Local residents and businesses in the area will receive a questionnaire in the mail shortly or can share their experiences online at www.wyongriver.fprms.com.au
Central Coast Council’s own Misbah Khan was crowned the Newcastle Professional Engineer of the Year at the recent Engineering Excellence Awards.These Awards, sponsored by Engineering Australia, celebrate and recognise engineering accomplishments of individuals and companies Australia wide.Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds said, this recognition highlights the standard of talent working at Council and the innovative ways staff are delivering original and creative projects for the community.“Misbah is Council’s Senior Asset Systems Engineer and was recognised for his research in improving road assets allowing Council to improve the sustainability of our roads,” Mr Reynolds said.“Winning the Newcastle division of Engineer of the Year is well deserved by Misbah and is a prestigious achievement.“The $3.6 million Mooney Mooney Raw Water Pump Station power supply project was also recognised at the awards night as one of 13 finalists for engineering excellence.“This innovative project supplies water to the Somersby Water Treatment Plant that services our community in conjunction with Mardi Water Treatment Plant at Wyong.“These innovations in engineering are helping us deliver the essential infrastructure our growing community needs.“We are proud of the quality of excellent staff that have contributed to this success and it is awards like these that recognise the home grown talent we have here on the Coast.”Misbah Khan has also been nominated for the Australian Professional Engineer Award 2016, held in November this year.
Central Coast Council welcomes today’s announcement for a NSW Government grant to promote responsible pet ownership on the Coast.The NSW Government introduced the Responsible Pet Ownership Grants scheme in 2014 to target programs that encourage owners to microchip, register and desex their pets.Member for Terrigal, Mr Adam Crouch, said the funding boost will help Council provide important programs for pet owners on the Coast who need it most.“The scheme helps promote projects that encourage responsible pet ownership and aims to reduce the euthanasia rates and dog attacks,” Mr Crouch said.“Pet dogs and cats are important family members of many households across NSW and it is vital we support our community to promote responsible pet ownership.“The Baird-Government is committed to improving the positive benefits of pet ownership while strengthening safety and education in our local neighbourhoods.”Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said this funding will assist Council to implement new services that help local pet owners.“Council wants our residents to be responsible pet owners and this funding will help deliver that.” Mr Reynolds said.“Microchipping helps reunite pets with owners and comes at a cost for owners.
Talented artists from around the country have been recognised in this year’s Gosford Art Prize and Gosford Ceramic Prize.Winners were announced at the Gosford Regional Gallery exhibition opening on Friday 23 September.The popular competition received 566 entries submitted by over 420 artists, with over 70 percent of artists from the Central Coast.Team Leader at Gosford Regional Gallery, Tim Braham, said the receipt of artworks for the annual competition is both a frantic and thrilling time for the Gallery.“The Gosford Art Prize and Gosford Ceramics Prize is a genuine demonstration of a wealth of talent, skill and artistic diversity in our community,” said Mr Braham.“In total, 141 works were selected for the final exhibition.
An internationally recognised public art installation is set to call the Central Coast home on Friday 30 September.The interactive artwork titled ‘IMAG_NE’ will put imaginations into overdrive as visitors to the sculpture picture themselves as the missing piece.Based on the game of Scrabble, 'IMAG_NE' features large letter pieces which spell out the word I-M-A-G-I-N-E, with a space where the second “I” would be - inviting the community to interact with the sculpture to complete the word.Created by Australian visual artist and creative producer, Emma Anna, the artwork originally exhibited at Bondi’s famous Sculpture by the Sea in 2008, and has since featured around the world including at Denmark’s inaugural Sculpture by the Sea in 2009.Central Coast Council’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the moving sculpture purchased in April 2016, will exhibit at a range of locations and popular destinations on the Coast.“We are thrilled to present the sculpture to the community as it moves around the region,” said Mr Reynolds.“It is a great opportunity to promote our beautiful landscapes and environment.“I encourage everyone to visit the artwork and make the most of the great photo opportunities it will create across our beautiful vista.”The artwork will be unveiled to the public on Friday 30 September, at the Gosford waterfront (opposite Central Coast Stadium), where it will be located for up to three months.The artwork will then move around the Central Coast and feature in locations including Terrigal and Norah Head.
NSW Premier Mike Baird is on the Central Coast today to announce a new aircraft manufacturing facility that will establish in the region and create a new aerospace industry and subindustries in Australia.Premier Baird said that Amphibian Aerospace Industries will relocate its off-shore manufacturing to the Central Coast and become the first transport category aircraft manufacturer to set up in Australia since the 1940s.It will create 240 direct jobs in aircraft manufacturing, as well as thousands of indirect jobs in auxiliary industries like parts supply, instrumentation, interior fitouts and avionics.“This is a great day for the Central Coast – this announcement means thousands of jobs for the region with a significant flow on to the Central Coast economy,” Premier Baird said.“The decision by AAI to locate here is a testament that NSW is Australia’s prime location for business growth and investment.”Council Administrator Ian Reynolds said the announcement was the culmination of over 12 months of negotiations between AAI and Central Coast Council staff.“Bringing jobs to this region and enabling employment growth are some of the key priorities of Central Coast Council.
Central Coast Council is holding a series of free green living workshops to help you live sustainably and reduce your environmental impact around the home.Learn from experts in their field on how to compost, setup an organic garden, use Australian bush flower essences, eat sustainable food, keep backyard chickens and clean your house without chemicals.To celebrate National Recycle Week, from Monday 7 until Friday 13 November, Council also has a range of workshops that focus on recycling around the home including in the kitchen, your backyard and even in your wardrobe.In addition, a variety of workshops will be on offer as part of the Wyong Lakes Festival from Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 November.Council’s Environmental Education Officer, Anni Griffiths, said there are workshops to suit all households.“Regardless of what size your backyard is or whether you live in a unit, we have a range of workshops to suit everyone’s lifestyle and sustainability goals,” said Ms Griffiths.“By making small changes you can easily live a greener lifestyle.
Coast Olympians and Paralympians to be honoured with Civic ReceptionCouncil will host a Civic Reception next month to honour the Olympians and Paralympians from the Central Coast who represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Games.Four athletes from the Coast made their Olympic debuts in Rio including Matt Dawson in the men’s hockey team, Jesse Parahi in Rugby 7s and Lachlan Tame and Riley Fitzsimmons in canoeing.Five Paralympians represented Australia in Rio - Liesl Tesch in sailing, Dylan Littlehales in canoeing, Rae Anderson in athletics with Matt Formston and Nick Yallouris in the cycling team.Administrator Mr Ian Reynolds said the athletes were great ambassadors for the Central Coast and the community was proud of what they have achieved.“These athletes have taken on the best on the world’s biggest sporting stage and have done themselves, and our region, proud,” Mr Reynolds said.“To be the best takes a lot of time and sacrifice - but it is worth it when you get to represent your country in a sport you love.”“We are proud of how these athletes have performed in Rio and are delighted to have them as sporting ambassadors for our great region.”The athletes and their families will be invited to a civic reception to be held within the next month.Monthly Council meetings go live onlineCentral Coast Council meetings will now be held monthly and broadcast live to a potential audience of 331,000 residents.Council will utilise new technology and install fixed cameras in both the Gosford and Wyong Chambers to allow residents to see what is discussed and decided at a council meeting.Council’s Administrator said the community has shown this is something they want as often due to distance and time constraints they cannot always attend Council meetings themselves.‘Like residents, I am looking forward to having the option available. It is an open and transparent way to show how Council works,” Mr Reynolds said.“Unfortunately, many people don’t understand how local government works which limits their opportunities to be involved.“I hope that once the community can see the proceedings without having to attend, there will be a greater understanding of the governance of Council and how decisions are made.Council meetings will be held on the fourth Wednesday of every month from January to November inclusive and continue to alternate between Gosford and Wyong.The next Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 26 October in the Gosford Chambers in Mann Street.Council shelves Gosford Land Sale Strategy Council has abandoned plans to reclassify a number of land parcels under the Land Sale Strategy of the former Gosford Council.In late 2015, the former Gosford Council resolved to reclassify a number of identified parcels of public land from "community" to "operational".