Central Coast Council is pleased to present a new exhibition Here and Now celebrating the talents of Central Coast artists who are living with disability.Presented by Studio Gossie, the Here and Now exhibition will be at the Gosford Regional Gallery until 7 January 2024. Studio Gossie is a disability-led inclusive studio at Gosford Regional Gallery that was established to involve a community of artists with a disability.The exhibition celebrates the work of nine Central Coast artists with disability that were selected in this year’s voluntary program to develop their creative practice by engaging in weekly workshops over eight months. The group of artists in the exhibition shining a light on artists with disability include Jacqueline Batty, Jane Forno, Casey Gray, Rachel Keith, Randa Magdi, Angel Muller, Genevieve Murphy, Benjamin Jade and Nerin Whitehouse.Director of Gosford Regional Gallery, Tim Braham said guests should expect to see art that raises awareness of artists with a disability sharing diverse stories, experiences and connections of the community. “The public will be able to see how bold, funny, creative, and provocative artists with disability are which we hope to see will open avenues to them to make a living from art practice.”Council’s Administrator, Rik Hart said the Central Coast is continuously improving the opportunities for people living with a disability to help grow livable communities. “Our venues are an important part of community life with buildings and activities everyone can access,” Mr Hart said.“The Gosford Regional Gallery is a much-loved destination from a range of accessible things to do on the Coast. “Everyone is welcome for social engagement and entertainment through exhibitions, art classes and/or to simply admire the Japanese Edogawa Commemorative Garden.”“The Studio Gossie program has been supported by Museums &

Central Coast Council Water and Sewer is investing $200,000 into new technology which is set to improve water service reliability and enhance water conservation on the Central Coast.The technology decreases disruption of water services for the community by eliminating the need to shut down water mains during large water main valve replacements. Council Director for Water and Sewer Jamie Loader said it is another step forward in improving the customer experience and the efficient management of water resources.“This initiative is part of our long-term plan to deliver on our customer values and environmental commitment with a focus on Council’s Water Quality Program.“A testing phase at Bateau Bay earlier this year proved successful, confirming the decision to invest funds into the equipment needed for the installation of the new technology.

Central Coast Council is tracking ahead of schedule in its budgeted capital works program, having commenced 220 projects out of a total of over 311 projects scheduled for the current financial year.  Central Coast Council Director Infrastructure Services, Boris Bolgoff said it is important to deliver to the community a capital works program the builds new and renews assets. “Most Council services are delivered to the community through the use of assets, and Council manages assets valued at $8.3 billion on behalf of the Central Coast community. 

MEDIA RELEASECentral Coast Council celebrated International Day of People with Disability on 3 December, and is raising local awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by people with a disability, to help create a more accessible and inclusive region.Recently, Council collaborated with local pottery school Centered Ceramics, that offered people with disabilities the opportunity to learn pottery and ceramics in a mainstream commercial studio, and then exhibit their work in a public gallery.The local business learned how to make their premises and programs more accessible to attract customers with different access needs.

Central Coast Council is calling on the community to join them in a discussion about enhancing the diversity of the Central Coast’s night-time economy.The Central Coast Night-Time Economy Discussion Paper has come about following Council’s Economic Development Strategy 2020-2040 and the Central Coast Destination Management Plan 2022-2026, both having actions to explore options to activate the night-time economy in the region.Council’s Unit Manager of Economic Development and Property, Jamie Barclay, said Council wants local hospitality, business, and industry representatives, as well as residents and visitors to the Central Coast, to explore the discussion paper and share their thoughts.“We have prepared the Central Coast Night-Time Economy Discussion Paper with extensive key stakeholder engagement, and it provides a strategic framework with potential projects identified for the development of the night-time economy on the Central Coast,” Mr Barclay said.“The Central Coast currently has a limited and dispersed night-time economy and the discussion paper proposes ways for us to support local businesses to increase after dark operations to deliver more opportunities for employment, tourism, and the local economy.“Night-time economy businesses are more than night clubs.

Central Coast Council Water and Sewer is seeking feedback from residents and businesses (in two phases) on the small urban and rural communities across the Central Coast that do not have access to water and/or sewerage services.

As attention turns to the return of an elected body in September 2024, Council’s annual report for 2022-23 highlights an organisation that is financially stable and is making progress on delivering for the Central Coast community.The report, which was adopted by Administrator Rik Hart at November’s Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday night, is an important document that outlines the achievement of the organisation over the last 12 months.Some of the key highlights of 2022-23 include:•    Successfully delivering a surplus larger than forecast•    The revitalisation and renewal of The Visitors Information Centre at The Entrance, complete with community space and accessible bathrooms•    Successfully secured $800,000 in federal funding to upgrade six local playspaces across the Central Coast•    Delivered an extended events calendar with more than 176,000 attendees and an injection of approximately $21 million into the local economy•    Upgraded 23km of sewer mains and 5.5km of water mains•    Repaired 109,418 potholes•    The Central Coast Regional Complex and Central Coast Stadium was chosen as a team base camp for two highly ranked international teams (Germany and England) ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023TM•    Supported the national Sport4All program as the first local government area to sign up in New South WalesCouncil Chief Executive Officer, David Farmer said it has been a successful 12 months for the organisation.“I am proud of the achievements throughout 2022-23.

Central Coast Council is tracking well with its annual Community Engagement Program with nearly 90 percent of projects having been actioned as forecasted. Council’s Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said that having such a high action rate on forecasted engagement activities shows that Council delivers on what it said it would for the community.“Since July this year we have been consulting with the community on a number of significant projects and we have received hundreds of comments and submissions through our online engagement platform and via face-to-face workshops and information sessions. “It is pleasing to see that we are connecting with more community members with over 21,000 new visitors to our engagement platform Your Voice Our Coast.

Council adopted its Water and Sewer Community Engagement and Education Strategy at its Ordinary Council meeting on 28 November 2023.The Strategy sets out how Water and Sewer will engage, communicate, educate and continue to improve its services, while building trust with customers and the community.Council’s Director of Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said the Strategy is central to enhancing engagement with our customers and the community, which was also a recommendation by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

Council’s 2023-2024 Draft Financial Sustainability Strategy and revised Long-Term Financial Plan (LTFP) were accepted at Council’s ordinary November meeting – signalling Council’s confidence in moving from financial ‘recovery’ to ‘sustainability’.The new Financial Sustainability Strategy (Strategy) identifies high-level actions that Council must take to sustain a positive operating result position, and to maintain an adequate level of unrestricted cash to support operating activities and the required investment in assets.Council CEO David Farmer said Council is moving into an exciting, yet challenging, period as it works to build on the last three years’ successful implementation of restoring Council’s financial position to enable Council to operate, repay emergency loans and meet other financial obligations.“As we have said before, Council is now out of crisis, and so we have some clear air to start implementing the Strategy that isn’t just monitoring, but rather being proactive.”The objectives of the Strategy are to:Set the parameters within which Council agrees to operate to provide financial sustainability, affordability, delivery and value for money, over the short, medium and longer termEnsure Council generates enough revenue, and controls services and infrastructure costs, to produce sufficient cash from operationsEnsure Council maintains sufficient cash (or access to cash) to meet the needs of operations, investments and financingEnsure Council can renew or replace assets to maintain the desired level of service and provide new assets to meet demand for growth in servicesAssist Council to use ratepayers’ money, together with other funding available, to provide core and other prioritised servicesProvide direction and context for decision making in the allocation, management and use of Council’s finite financial resourcesGuide the elected Council and staff in the management of its LTFP and determine financial boundaries for delivery of operational and capital plans.“Our previous strategy looked at the key metrics to manage day to day, but we are now looking 10 years into the future identifying the challenges and then identifying actions to ensure that 2020’s financial crisis cannot happen again.“Community consultation will continue to be an important factor in planning capital works and community needs, and Council will continue to seek funding from external sources, including both state and federal governments.“However, like most other councils our challenge to attain and maintain a sustainable operating position will be to look at ways to balance revenue with expenditure.“Central Coast Council has the unique situation of two of its major income streams currently having expiry deadlines and under the current regime will require applications to IPART to be maintained.