With just 36 days until kick-off in the opening matches of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia &

Five professional and two emerging local creatives have been selected to deliver innovative and contemporary new works as part of Central Coast Council’s ‘Creative Art Central’ program 2022/23.Creative Art Central is an annual commissioning program which offers funds for established and emerging creatives of diverse disciplines living on the Central Coast.

12 months ago the Central Coast became the second only destination in NSW to achieve international recognition as a sustainable destination through Ecotourism Australia’s ECO Destination Certification program – just in time for World Environment Day.Now as one of only seven ECO Destinations in Australia, Council is proud to be home to seven ECO Certified tourism businesses on the Coast, with another 10 local operators having commenced their journey to achieve ECO Certification.

National touring exhibition William Kentridge - I Am Not Me, The Horse Is Not Mine will be travelling to the Central Coast’s Gosford Regional Gallery from 17 June to 27 August 2023.I Am Not Me, The Horse Is Not Mine premiered at the Biennale of Sydney in 2008 and was gifted to the Art Gallery of New South Wales by Anita and Luca Belgiorno-Nettis in 2017.Central Coast Council Regional Gallery Director, Tim Braham said William Kentridge is one of the most powerful voices in art today, with this ambitious moving image installation now the most significant work by the artist in an Australian museum collection. “Emerging as an artist during the apartheid regime in South Africa and grounded in the violent absurdity of that period in his country’s history, William Kentridge’s artworks draw connections between art, ideology, history and memory,” Mr Braham said. “I Am Not Me, The Horse Is Not Mine is a deeply immersive large-scale, eight-screen video installation.

Central Coast beach patrol season came to an official close on Tuesday 25 April 2023, with the 2023/24 season to recommence on Saturday 23 September 2023.The year’s summer season saw over 3.7million visitations on the Coast’s 15 patrolled beaches during Council lifeguard and Surf Life Saving Central Coast patrolling periods.

Central Coast Council Water and Sewer is seeking feedback from Central Coast residents and businesses about Council’s water and sewer services.The community is encouraged to share their feedback in an online survey which will be launched on Council’s website on Monday, 5 June. Council’s Director of Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said community participation will help identify Council’s water and sewer key focus areas moving forward. “Greater participation in the survey will ensure that Council’s water and sewer services and investment are focussed towards the areas that our customers and community values most.“The survey is the third and final phase of the current community consultation, however we will continue to engage with our community into the future. “Phases one and two consisted of face-to-face forums and focus groups.

 Artists from around Australia are invited to submit works to compete for the Central Coast’s major institutional art prize, the annual Gosford Art Prize. The Gosford Regional Gallery is accepting submissions online now until entries close on 24 July 2023 at 4pm.Gosford Art Prize offers an exciting range of opportunities for visual artists working in any art form to showcase their work to a large audience and potentially become an acquisition of the Central Coat's art collection.

Council’s 2023-24 Community Grant Programs are now open, with $900,000 in annual funding available.

Bateau Bay and Kariong Libraries are next in line to offer extended hours access as part of the Library@yourtime program.The extended library service follows the success of this initiative providing additional access at Toukley Library over the past year. The innovative program uses technology to monitor self-access, self-service loans and returns, computers, printing as well as lighting, alarms, and public safety.Central Coast Council Libraries and Education Unit Manager, Beth Burgess said Library@yourtime at Toukley Library has been embraced enthusiastically by library members. “Library@yourtime lets inducted library members have access to the library outside regular staffed hours and compliments our services during staffed hours, where library members can receive help and guidance as required. “As always, our extensive range of free online resources and services, including eBooks, eAudiobooks, homework help, music streaming and more are also available 24/7 via Council’s website,” Ms Burgess said. Participants of Library@yourtime, must be over the age of 18, and meet the terms and conditions of the program, including completing a building and safety induction course.

Opportunity to join reference group for Wrack Management StrategyCentral Coast Council is currently seeking expressions of interest from community members who would like to join a community and stakeholder reference group to help develop a new Tuggerah Lakes Wrack Management Strategy - as part of the development of the Tuggerah Lakes Coastal Management Program (CMP).Wrack is aquatic plant and vegetation material (including seagrass) that is moved about by wind and washed onto foreshores or collects in shallow areas.