Central Coast Council events are getting bigger and better than ever, and with a packed calendar for the next two years.To help deliver these events, Council is calling for expressions of interest from businesses keen to become an event sponsor.Expressions of Interest are now open for a range of events, and interested parties are invited to view the Sponsorship Prospectus for the 2023-24 period.

Central Coast Council has completed one of its most significant projects recently undertaken – a new landfill cell at Buttonderry Waste Management Facility, costing $9 million.With Council’s existing landfill cell, which was constructed in 2013, reaching its end of life, Council has designed and constructed a new modern engineered landfill cell - approximately five hectares, or seven football fields, in size.Central Coast Council’s Director Infrastructure, Boris Bolgoff, said the new cell will meet the community’s waste disposal needs for approximately the next 4.5 years.“Council’s team, together with our contractors, faced many challenges during the project including Covid-19 impacts to contractor staff, higher than average wet weather and two significant natural disaster events, but have succeeded in delivering the project on time, on budget and meeting expectations.Mr Bolgoff said while the new Cell has enormous capacity and is needed as an important facility for the community, Council also wants the community be aware of alternatives in reducing waste.“Council, through its Resource Management Strategy, wants to educate the community to look at alternative ways of avoiding the generation of waste and to recycle and repurpose wherever possible.“Actions like sorting your waste and putting the right items in the right bins, recycling where possible, using reusable containers, finding other use for items, donating to charity, selling or gift it – there are many quite practical and simple ways of reducing waste in landfill,” Mr Bolgoff said.Council’s Waste and Resource Recovery Unit Manager, Andrew Pearce, said this project was challenging on many levels, with the priority always to ensure the new Cell meets all environmental requirements and community expectations.The works on the project included:The excavation and stockpiling of around 415,000 m3 of soil and rockThe installation of three engineered leachate barrier liners totalling 153,000 m2 designed to protect the environment.

The Gosford waterfront revitalisation concept plan has entered its second month of consultation with several thousand people so far contributing their thoughts and opinions on the design through Central Coast Council’s engagement program.Community consultation opened on 18 October and already the message from the community is clear:

This week, Council unveiled one of its most significant projects recently undertaken:

Central Coast Council have identified twelve regional projects of significance that could benefit from funding over the next three to five years.The 2022 Key Enabling Projects Prospectus tabled at Tuesday’s Ordinary Council Meeting outlines the overall vision and details of projects ranging from infrastructure upgrades through to community sport facilities that will benefit the Coast’s residents for generations to come.With a State Election due in March 2023, this document will be a driving force to help Council advocate for projects that need to secure additional funds. It will also allow the community to learn more about these projects and how much funding is required to make them a reality.Council Administrator Rik Hart said the Key Enabling Projects Prospectus is an important milestone for Council that will allow improved visibility of the organisation’s short to mid-term capital works priorities. “I am particularly delighted that staff have been able to identify priority areas for investment in the northern areas of the Central Coast,” said Mr Hart.“While the prospectus does contain an infrastructure wish-list that will benefit the entire community, it is important that we put in place plans to ensure that areas of population growth will get the benefits they need. “Council will use this prospectus to advocate for projects that we feel will help our community,” he concluded.Chief Executive Officer of Regional Development Australia Central Coast John Mouland is a key supporter of Council’s strategy.“The Central Coast is one of Australia’s fastest growing regions.

Central Coast Council has released its latest Annual Report, which provides a comprehensive account of Council’s performance from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.Administrator Rik Hart said the achievements were a credit to the staff who have delivered high quality services to the community while the organisation faced challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain issues, La Niña wet weather conditions and the Council’s financial situation.“The last 12 months have seen Central Coast Council transition from “fixing the financial problem” to building long term financial sustainability.

Central Coast Council has announced Pacific Link Housing Limited as its partner in the first stage of Council’s Affordable Housing Land Proposal program.  This program is a key initiative from Council’s ground-breaking Central Coast Affordable and Alternative Housing Strategy which was adopted by Council in 2019.The announcement of Pacific Link Housing, the only locally based Tier One Community Housing Provider, as the preferred partner, follows an Expression of Interest process.  Pacific Link Housing will now work with Council on the design and delivery of an affordable housing development on the identified site at Ashton Avenue, The Entrance.Central Coast Council Administrator Rik Hart said the Strategy is a comprehensive plan addressing initiatives across the housing continuum, from homelessness through to home ownership, providing pathways for a range of households, from very low through to moderate incomes.He said the Strategy is structured around three strategic themes:Affordable Housing PartnershipsPlanning Mechanisms and Strategies to Increase the Supply of Affordable and Lower Cost HousingPrevention and Intervention to Reduce Homelessness“Affordable housing comprises various types of housing in both the private and public sector.

The Central Coast is once again being recognised as a leading New South Wales destination, with the exciting announcement that Central Coast Council – Destination Central Coast taking home Silver in the 2022 NSW Tourism Awards held on 17 November at Luna Park, Sydney.This highly respected Silver Award is the second consecutive win for Council’s Marketing and Tourism team in the Local Government Award for Tourism category, with Council taking out Bronze in that same category in the 2021 NSW Tourism Awards.Council’s Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith, said the successful win acknowledges some major milestone achievements this year for Council’s in-house team.“In 2022 we have achieved Australian ECO Destination Certification as well as Outstanding Region in this year's delicious Harvey Norman Produce Awards, and global Top 100 List status two years running.“The Silver Local Government Award for Tourism celebrates the outstanding innovation and resilience of our region's tourism industry, and the progressive steps Council is taking to continually develop and strengthen the Central Coast’s visitor economy.”Presented by NSW Tourism Industry Council and powered by Business NSW, the annual NSW Tourism Awards recognises businesses who exemplify quality tourism, with excellence, leadership and innovation awarded across 25 categories.Other local Central Coast tourism operators were also successful in their respective categories including the Australian Reptile Park at Somersby and NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort at Umina both winning a Silver Award at the ceremony.Glenworth Valley Outdoor Adventures also won the Ground Swell 2022 Commendation Award presented by Take 3 for the Sea, for their significant contributions to visitor litter reduction and environmental stewardship.“Council congratulates these local businesses for their exceptional commitment to delivering visitors and guests a high-quality tourism experience, and as a result achieving this level of recognition.”Council Administrator Rik Hart said these latest wins in the NSW Tourism Awards add to the Central Coast’s growing list of accolades.“Silver Award status highlights the important role Council's staff play in driving the region's visitor economy, tourism industry capability and positive reputation forward, and their commitment and collaboration throughout 2021 and 2022 to achieve state level recognition.“As we come to the end of 2022, all of us at Council are looking forward to continuing to deliver the best tourism services and experiences to our community and visitors alike in 2023 – including going for Gold at next year’s industry awards!”Mr Hart added that with Council proudly taking home the Silver Local Government Award for Tourism 2022, this now adds to the previous finalist and awards achieved in just two years of rebranding the destination, including:NSW Tourism Awards 2021 Bronze Winner, Local Government Award for TourismGreen Destinations Top 100 List finalist in 2021 & 2022Finalist in NSW Top Tourism Town Awards 2021 & 2022‘Outstanding Region’ in 2022 delicious.

Central Coast Council Youth Services have launched a biannual photography competition, Your World Your Way, aimed at young people, aged 12-24, who live, work or study on the Central Coast.

The Little Terns have arrived at The Entrance North to begin nesting and Central Coast Council wants to remind everyone on how they can help protect the endangered species during this critical time.Little Terns migrate from South-east Asia to Australia each year and are protected under both State and Federal threatened species legislation.