As Bike Week steers into NSW, Central Coast Council celebrates with a collection of events from 17 to 25 September 2016.Zali, the Road Safety Zebra, is running a colouring-in competition and is also looking for your best bike safety tip.
Kings and queens of the garden variety were crowned at Central Coast Council’s 2016 Garden Competition presentation evening on Thursday 15 September.The top gardens and gardeners were recognised across 13 categories at the ceremony held at the Laycock Street Community Theatre.There was not a leaf out of place as judging took place over a number of days in August, to reveal the best of the bunch in the former Gosford City Council local government area.The excellent design and wonderful outlook in John and Lesley Cleary’s garden won the judge over for the title of ‘Champion Residential Garden, Over 1,000 Square Metres’.Alva Bell took out the ‘Champion Residential Garden, Under 1,000 Square Metres’, where the judge noted that the pretty and colourful garden was obviously tended to with constant care.Woy Woy Peninsula Community Gardens took out one of the ‘Best Eco Friendly Garden’ awards for a wonderful community garden that showed passion and dedication.
Treadmills, exercise bikes and weights will be available around the clock when the Peninsula Leisure Centre’s gym starts operating 24/7 from this Saturday 13 August 2016.The move to 24/7 access comes on the back of strong feedback from gym members, especially during Central Coast Council’s recent culture surveys.Manager of Culture Phil Cantillon said the extended hours are a great example of how Council is adapting its services to meet the community’s changing lifestyle.“With health and fitness such a big part of our residents’ lives these days, it’s important we provide them with as much access as possible to the Peninsula Leisure Centre’s facilities,” Mr Cantillon said.“Opening the Centre’s gym 24 hours a day, 365 days a year means that our members can run, ride or lift their way to an active and healthy lifestyle whenever suits them.“Last year we invested $200,000 to upgrade the centre’s gym equipment, so we’re keen to see our members give it more of a workout any time of the day or night.”Any Peninsula Leisure Centre member who can currently access the gym can get a 24/7 access pass by simply completing a form and paying $25.“We are very conscious of our members’ safety and a number of security measures are in place,” Mr Cantillon added.“CCTV cameras will monitor the premises after hours, motion sensors and duress buttons have been installed, and only those members with access cards will be able to access the gym from the Blackwall Road entrance after hours.”For more information about the Peninsula Leisure Centre’s services and facilities, visit www.gosford.nsw.gov.au or call 4325 8123.
Central Coast Council is doing its part to help promote positive parenting by presenting a Mindful Parenting session at Lake Haven Library on 18 August at 6pm.This information session will arm parents with ideas and strategies to combat everyday frustrations parents often experience.Council’s Section Manager Library Services, Ms Andrea Edwards, said this amazing session is aimed to help strengthen parent’s relationships with their children and give more positive choices on how to respond to their children’s needs.“Parenting has to be the most challenging job in the world and parents can use all the help they can get,” said Ms Edwards.“Council is proud to present Pam Northcote from Universal Spirit to discuss the most significant role we may ever play in our lives.“This program is filled with strategies to support parents to be a reflective and mindful parent.“So come along to pick up some fantastic parenting tips, you will be glad you did.”Bookings are essential and can be made in person at Lake Haven Library or by calling 4350 1570.
Council Grants Deliver a Stronger Central Coast Community Central Coast Council is providing 21 local community organisations with just over $30,000 in funding in its latest round of grants under its Community Subsidy and Neighbourhood Activation Program.Funding has been allocated to three groups from the Community Subsidy Program - Country Women’s Association, Wyong Family History Group and Toukley Art Society, to provide assistance and support to the Central Coast community.In April, the former Wyong Shire Council launched a new grant program called the Neighbourhood Activation Program designed to benefit grassroots programs that in the past may not have qualified for other grant programs.Administrator Reynolds said council received a positive response and a large number of applications for the program, targeted at local neighbourhood projects undertaken by one street or a small volunteer group.“This was about finding projects that bring neighbours together to make a real difference in their local area,” Mr Reynolds said.“It is about empowering communities to take control of their own destiny and be proud of their local area.“It is fantastic that council can provide these grants to help make that happen.”18 grassroots programs have received funding including San Remo Tidy Towns establishing a graffiti removal group, a drop-in centre at Gwandalan and a luncheon for the homeless in Wyong.Community and sporting groups are also encouraged to apply for the $1 million in grants on offer under the NSW Government’s Stronger Community Fund.This grant program has been made possible as part of $10 million made available to merged councils.
New shot put circles at West Gosford’s Adcock Park, a music program for people with a disability and the Gosford Language Festival are just some of the 97 successful community initiatives awarded around $375,000 as part of Central Coast Council’s latest grant programs.Council’s Administrator Ian Reynolds congratulated the successful recipients at a special celebration last night.“The variety of community-oriented projects that this latest funding will help local groups, associations and other organisations deliver for the Central Coast is truly remarkable,” Mr Reynolds said.“From upgrades at Wyoming’s Youth Skills Centre and Somersby’s School of the Arts Hall, through to resurfacing the tennis court at Empire Bay and a bushfire preparation event in Mangrove Mountain, these initiatives will improve the lives and wellbeing of our residents and visitors.“We know that community groups are the heart and soul of the region, which is why our grant programs give us a great chance to develop partnerships that provide real social, economic and other benefits,” he said.The latest grants cover a number of council’s key funding program areas including community development and facilities, heritage, recreation, and Indigenous culture.“Last night it was very pleasing to see so many local community groups come together to celebrate their successful grants as well as share ideas and form valuable networks that I’m sure will lead to even more opportunities and initiatives,” Mr Reynolds added.“But for now, I’m especially looking forward to seeing these latest 97 projects and initiatives come to fruition.”
Central Coast Council Libraries are continuing to inspire a love of learning and reading in the community by presenting local author, Chris Monaghan at Bateau Bay Library this month.Chris is a retired Terrigal High School teacher whose love of history has inspired his three popular novels:
Part of Leagues Club Field in Gosford’s city centre has been temporarily closed while Central Coast Council completes important sewerage network upgrades.At this stage, the upgrades are expected to be completed in November 2016.
Central Coast Council is the target of yet another senseless vandalism act forcing the closure of another sporting oval, disadvantaging local families and visitors.Sporting and community groups may be forced to delay events at Sohier Oval, Ourimbah as vandals have joyrided on the oval’s wet grounds destroying the surface.Council is calling on the community to help apprehend these vandals and is putting up a $20,000 reward for information.Council’s Section Manager of Parks and Sports fields, Mr Keith Ollier said, both of the grounds at the Sohier sporting fields have had extensive damage to the turf and because of the uneven surface it isn’t safe for the public to use the fields in its current state.“Both fields will need repairs, levelling out the surface of the ground, placing topsoil and fixing barriers before the oval can be opened, costing Council a further $3000,” said Mr Ollier.“Vandalism across the Central Coast is rife at the moment.“Money spent on repairing damage this month alone has climbed to $30,000.“These mindless attacks cost rate payers money, cost our staff time and disrupt the public from using our facilities.”Other facilities that have been vandalised recently include;Palmdale median stripsLisarow High School sporting fieldsNorthlakes sporting fieldsCouncil’s Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said he is concerned Council’s facilities are being targeted and is calling on the community to help.“I would like to call upon any community member who witnesses acts of vandalism to report it to the Police so we can stop vandalism in its tracks,” said Mr Reynolds.“Vandalism is an issue of community concern that takes away much needed financial support from other services Council can deliver for the Central Coast.“We want to reduce the level of vandalism in our community so that more money can be invested in projects our community need, want and value.”Anyone with information of these incidents is encouraged to report it to the Police.