Central Coast Council is inviting the community to help tackle one of Australia’s most damaging invasive species through the Carp to Croc muster event, an exciting fishing event aimed at reducing European Carp populations in our local waterways.European Carp pose a serious threat to local ecosystems, degrading water quality and displacing native species.
More than 100 development industry professionals, along with Councillors and Council staff, attended the ‘Building a strong foundation for the future’ forum at Central Coast Council on Wednesday 19 March.The event offered a forum for Council to better understand the barriers to development and for the industry to better understand Council’s processes.Central Coast Mayor, Lawrie McKinna said the event generated helpful insights, ideas and improvement suggestions.“It was gratifying that so many industry professionals took time out of their schedules to participate,” Mayor McKinna said.“Our Council processes the highest volume of planning applications in NSW, with more than 2000 lodged last year.“We’re a busy region with a growing community.
Central Coast Council wishes to advise the community that shark nets at eleven patrolled beaches will be removed on 31 March 2025, one month earlier than in previous years.
The Central Coast is now Ecotourism certified under Ecotourism Australia’s globally recognised ECO Destination Certification, and is one of only eleven regions in Australia to hold this recognition in sustainable tourism.Central Coast Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said this milestone strengthens the Central Coast’s reputation as a leading eco-conscious destination which helps to attract even more visitors each year.“The globally recognised program assesses destinations on environmental management, cultural heritage, visitor experience and community benefits,” Ms Smith said.“Visitors have been able to immerse themselves in authentic, high-quality experiences inspired by nature that are offered by locally-run businesses dedicated to sustainable tourism and showcasing the natural beauty of the Central Coast.“We’ve held an ECO destination status for the past two years, and have advanced to the next level of Ecotourism, following an independent audit that was conducted against 105 criteria and interviews with a range of stakeholders.“This milestone recognising our ongoing commitment to sustainable tourism, responsible visitor experiences, and the protection of natural and cultural assets in partnership with our community and tourism operators”.Council Mayor Lawrie McKinna said this achievement reflects a collaborative effort between Council, tourism operators and the community, whose collective aim is to position the region as a top choice for responsible tourism.“Being an eco-destination encourages sustainable practices that preserve the beautiful natural assets, national parks and wildlife of the Central Coast,” Mayor McKinna said.“I strongly believe that being recognised by Ecotourism Australia will help support our local businesses, improve employment opportunities on the coast, and grow our visitor economy.”Visit lovecentralcoast.com/ecotourism to discover our region’s ECO journey and how you can be part of our journey to a greener, more sustainable future.
Central Coast Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Danielle Toase as its new Director Environment and Planning, following an extensive recruitment process.Dr Toase will oversee the Environment and Planning directorate within Council, leading functions such as Development Assessment, Environmental Management and Environmental Compliance.Danielle is an Environment and Planning Executive with a wealth of experience across the corporate, consulting, regulatory, research and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) sectors.Widely recognised as a leader in her field, Danielle’s expertise has led her to publish over 10 academic papers and share her insights as an expert panellist and presenter at conferences across Australia, Europe and the USA.
MEDIA RELEASE The Central Coast had the highest NSW participation rate in the national 2024 second hand-shopping Garage Sale Trail event, with 12,629 locals taking part as a seller or shopper and highlighting a community commitment to re-use rather than waste disposal.Central Coast Council Director Infrastructure Services, Boris Bolgoff said it is great to see the local community embrace sustainability in such a fun way.“During the event held in November 2024, Central Coast locals sold and purchased the most items, re-using a staggering 14 tonnes by opting for pre-loved rather than new and helping to keep more than 26,000 items out of landfill," Mr Bolgoff said.“Local participating sellers collectively made over $138,000 and said that 42 percent of items would have gone to landfill if not sold through Garage Sale Trail. "Additionally, more than half of respondents said they would not have run a sale if it wasn’t for this Council promoted event.“Thank you to all those Coasties that participated in 2024 by hosting a sale or by hopping along its trail to help keep household items out of landfill.”Council Mayor Lawrie McKinna said Council is pleased to participate in this great initiative each year.“The Garage Sale Trail builds in popularity each year and aligns with Council’s efforts to reduce waste, promote recycling and create a greener future for our community,” Mayor McKinna said.“This community-driven event shows how we can all band together to make a significant impact for our region’s environment, and discover a second-hand gem on the way!”To find other ways to reduce, recycle and reuse, search ‘waste and recycle’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
In celebration of International Women's Day this Saturday 8 March 2025, Central Coast Council is proud to recognise the significant contribution of its female lifeguards, aligning with the global theme of ‘Accelerate Action.’With 17 female beach safety staff currently rostered out of a total of 92, Central Coast Council has one of the highest representations of female lifeguards in New South Wales.
Central Coast Council adopted the Central Coast Airport Masterplan at its Ordinary Council meeting on 25 February 2025.The Airport Masterplan was informed through extensive industry and community engagement over the past four years.A key element in the adoption of the Masterplan by Council is the confirmation of the protection of the Porters Creek Wetland and surrounding areas of high ecological value through a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement (BSA), the highest level of environmental protection available in NSW.