Magpie breeding season is about to begin and Central Coast Council is reminding the community to take precautions around places where magpies nest.Native birds, such as Australian magpies, are highly protective of their eggs, nest and young and will often swoop at unsuspecting passers-by if they feel threatened.Council’s Section Manager Parks and Sportfields, Mr Keith Ollier, said magpies are usually friendly but become very protective and even aggressive during the breeding season which runs until the end of September.“Magpies produce 3 to 5 eggs in early-to-mid August and females sit on the eggs for about 20 days,” Mr Ollier said.“It is during this time that fast moving objects such as people and bikes and anyone really who moves directly towards their nests are perceived as threats and are likely to be swooped.“Dog walkers and prams are also a common target.“Swooping may seem frightening to us, however we need to appreciate it is a natural instinct for a magpie to protect their territory and offspring.“Other native birds that are also common culprits on the Coast include plover, butcher birds and kookaburras, but even invasive species like Indian Mynas can attack at this time of the year.“Don’t try to scare off the bird.  Wildlife is protected and there are serious penalties for taking, harassing or injuring native wildlife.  Taking this action can sometimes lead to a more serious and sustained attack as well.“Our advice is to try to avoid nesting areas where possible, even taking a detour from your normal path.  Most magpies only swoop within about 50 metres of their nest.Tips for surviving the magpie swooping season include:Avoid the swoop area, try walking or riding in a different direction.Cyclists should wear a helmet.

Time is running out for Central Coast community groups and other local, eligible organisations to apply for grants worth up to $50,000 from the NSW Government’s Stronger Communities Fund.Applications for the first round of grants close on Friday 26 August 2016.Well over 100 community groups and other organisations attended the series of information presentations and drop-in sessions, held by Council during late July and early August across the Central Coast, to find out more about the funding program and how to apply.Given the great turnout at these sessions, Council is expecting plenty of great applications that aim to deliver much needed community oriented projects and initiatives.Some of the types of projects community groups can apply to potentially get funding for include:Infrastructure – Projects that aim to upgrade, develop or improve a neighbourhood’s community infrastructure.Social – Projects that create, diversify or enhance participation in the community, or provide benefits that address an identified community need.Environmental – Projects that address environmental issues and concerns within a neighbourhood or contribute to environmental education and awareness.Accessibility – Projects that enhance and improve access options for the community, either through transport, disability access or connectivity.Sports development – Projects that contribute to the development of sporting groups or are designed to enhance participation in sporting activities.Economic – Projects that strengthen and enhance the existing local business community, provide opportunities for new enterprises and entrepreneurs, or provide vocational training and job creation outcomes.Art and culture – Projects that provide opportunities for creative community participation, new collaborative partnerships, investigation and research into local culture and history and/or creative placemaking.As part of the $10 million provided to the newly formed Central Coast Council under the Stronger Communities Fund, $1 million has been earmarked for local community group grants over the next three years.So whether it’s the local junior sporting club, neighbourhood centre or men’s shed, Council is encouraging as many sporting, cultural, environment and other groups to apply for funding that will help them ensure the Central Coast remains a vibrant, socially inclusive and modern place for residents and visitors.A Stronger Communities Fund Assessment Panel will be set up to assess and recommend projects for funding.To be successful for funding, community projects must meet the following criteria:Deliver social, cultural, economic or environmental benefits to the local community.Address an identified community priority.Be well defined with a clear budget.Demonstrate that any ongoing or recurrent costs of the project can be met by the community group once grant funding has been expended.Demonstrate the capacity to manage funds and deliver the project.Council is looking forward to working collaboratively with local community groups through the Stronger Communities Fund to enhance Central Coast residents’ lives, by bringing as many community development projects as possible to fruition.To lodge an application, go to:

Animal welfare on the Central Coast has been given a boost with Council investing $100,000 in upgrading facilities at its animal care facility in Charmhaven.

Central Coast Council’s Laycock Street Community Theatre beat Star City, Hope Estate, South Sydney Juniors and two other major Sydney clubs to win the Best Technical Support Award at last night’s Australian Entertainment ‘MO’ Awards.The ‘MO’ Awards are known world-wide as one of the most respected trophies in Australian show business.Council’s Arts and Entertainment Coordinator Chris King, along with the Theatre’s Operations Team Leader Dean Harrington, proudly accepted the award at a star-studded ceremony in Sydney.“We’re thrilled with the win, which recognised Laycock Street Community Theatre as providing the highest standard of technical support in lighting and sound across the industry,” Mr King said.“Given the very tough competition we were up against, our talented team is especially honoured that their expertise and hard work has been acknowledged as part of these awards.“We always knew Laycock Street Community Theatre had one of the best technical teams in the country and this award, which is one of the highest honours the Australian entertainment industry presents, certainly confirms it,” he said.Last year Council invested $150,000 on a new state-of-the-art sound system at Laycock Street Community Theatre.“The Theatre’s sound equipment now matches the sound quality found in many of Australia’s top entertainment venues,” Mr King added.Laycock Street Community Theatre hosts over 250 performances each year across a wide variety of genres from musicals, rock concerts, dramas and comedy acts through to corporate events, film presentations and many other community events.For full details of the Theatre’s upcoming program, visit www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/theatres

Now you can enjoy a lot more from a visit to Gosford Regional Gallery with the launch of visitor-friendly multimedia tours.The bespoke tours lead visitors from one area of the Gallery or Japanese Garden to another, and provide additional information as well as behind the scenes content and videos about current artworks, artists and Garden features.Central Coast Council’s Arts and Culture Coordinator Chris King said the Gallery had been working hard to increase opportunities for visitors to engage with its changing exhibition program.“Our intuitive multimedia tours are designed to strengthen engagement through interactive experiences,” Mr King said.“Visitors can delve in and out of the tours at their leisure, and tailor the information to suit their own interests or the available time they have to experience what is on offer.“The multimedia tours are an ideal way for us to use current technology to connect with visitors and ensure the Gallery remains relevant and inclusive.“It also means there is greater accessibility to our exhibitions for people with disabilities, which is an area we are keen to develop further,” he said.Gosford Regional Gallery is one of the first regional galleries in Australia to adopt multimedia tours and devices.Visitors can also download content directly onto their own phone or mobile device using the free Gallery and Garden Tour App from the Appstore or Googleplay.“Downloading the Gosford Regional Gallery App using our free onsite Wi-Fi means that visitors can continue learning about the artworks and artists even when they have left the Gallery,” Mr King added.“The current tours and App feature exclusive interviews with artist Jocelyn Maughan and reveal personal stories and explanations about her current exhibition An Artist Survey, which is on at the Gallery until 4 September 2016.”The Gosford Regional Gallery App is free to download and the Gallery now offers free onsite Wi-Fi.

Don’t forget to wear purple to The Hub Erina this Friday night when Central Coast Council, the NSW Police Force’s Brisbane Waters Local Area Command, and local arts company Jopuka Productions celebrate Wear it Purple Day 2016.Wear it Purple Day aims to let young people everywhere know they have the right to be proud of who they are – and sex, sexuality or gender identity does not change this.The free event at The Hub Erina youth entertainment venue this Friday 26 August 2016 starts at 7pm and will feature vocal performances, a film screening and other activities.A cabaret style show by Jopuka Productions – the Central Coast’s first ever independent youth arts company – will be a highlight of the evening.Located in Erina Fair, The Hub Erina is run by Central Coast Council’s Youth Services and provides a platform for young people to showcase their passion and talent.For more information, please visit www.thehuberina.com

New drainage to reduce recovery time for local sporting fields  Field closures due to wet weather could become a thing of the past after council upgrades the drainage at two local sporting fields.Gavenlock Oval is often closed following a rain event due to its location near Narara Creek and poor natural drainage.

With over 1.3 million people in NSW living with disability, Central Coast Council is continuing to improve accessibility so all residents and visitors can enjoy the region’s unique natural environment, services and facilities.From accessible events and amenities through to beach wheelchair access and other social or economic opportunities, Council is working hard to remove the barriers people with a disability face each and every day.We still have a long way to go, but we can all play a positive role in making it easier for people with disability to live and work on – as well as visit – the Central Coast.

Artists from around Australia are urged to enter the 2016 Gosford Art Prize and Gosford Ceramic Prize, with entries closing in just over two weeks.Now in its 17th year, the annual program offers eligible artists a chance to win over $24,000 in total prizes.Entries close Monday 12 September 2016.

Central Coast Council has congratulated the winners and all the finalists in the 2016 Central Coast Business Excellence Awards announced on Saturday evening at Mingara.“We’re proud to sponsor these awards and it is clear from the quality of Central Coast businesses recognised tonight that excellence and business go hand in hand on the Central Coast,” Council Administrator Ian Reynolds said.“Excellence in business involves focusing on results, thirsting for innovation, cultivating a positive reputation and overcoming resistance,” Mr Reynolds said.“The hard work and diligence of these business operators and owners has helped shape the Central Coast as a key New South Wales growth centre.”Mr Reynolds said the newly amalgamated Central Coast Council is now one of the largest Councils in NSW, with a strong regional voice.