The severe weather event impacting the Central Coast has brought increased heavy rainfall, damaging winds, dangerous ocean conditions and increased flooding overnight on Monday 4 July and into the morning on Tuesday 5 July 2022.Council is working closely alongside the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES), and is continuing its close monitoring of lakes, waterways, beaches and roads for flooding and storm impacts.Council is urging the community to follow the advice provided by the lead response agency NSW SES and stay informed as this weather event evolves.Major flooding occurring at Hawkesbury RiverThe Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has confirmed major flooding is occurring at Sackville, Lower Portland and Wisemans Ferry at levels higher than the March 2022 flood.

A severe weather event impacting the Central Coast has caused heavy rainfall, localised flooding and dangerous ocean conditions, including minor to moderate flooding in Lower Hawkesbury River area and minor flooding expected at Tuggerah Lakes.Council is working alongside the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES), and is closely monitoring local roads, waterways, beaches, and water and sewer systems with crews on the ground across the Coast.

Central Coast athletes, including previous gold and silver medal winners, from a variety of sporting disciplines are on their way to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart congratulated the athletes, many of whom are graduates of the Central Coast Academy of Sport or who have come through the Academy’s Future Stars program.“We are so proud of these athletes who have dedicated so much of their lives to be the best they can possibly be in their selected sport,” Mr Hart said.Australia will be taking its largest overseas contingent of Commonwealth Games athletes ever to this month’s Birmingham Games.Competing athletes from the Central Coast include backstroke champion Brad Woodward who started swimming at Mingara Swim Club, did Nippers at Shelly Beach, worked as a Council Lifeguard at age 17, and is still a volunteer Surf Lifesaver with Shelly Beach Surf Club. Brad won both silver and gold medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, and at Birmingham will be competing in the 100m and 200m backstroke events.Matthew Dawson from Killarney Vale, a member of the Australian Men’s Hockey Team, the Kookaburras, will be representing Australia again, having also competed at the 2018 Games.

Council is encouraging the community to have their say on the draft Dogs in Open Space Action Plan now on exhibition.The 10-year Action Plan provides a framework for future planning, management and prioritisation of infrastructure, including where dogs are allowed on or off-leash and where they are prohibited.

Council engaged Manly Hydraulics Laboratory to draft the design requirements for terminal protection works at Wamberal Beach to address coastal erosion – which will be placed on public exhibition at yourvoiceourcoast.com from 29 June 2022 to 27 July 2022. The Wamberal Beach Terminal Protection Structure Engineering Design Requirements address key criteria such as engineering, landscaping, environmental and maintenance requirements of property owners.Central Coast Council Director Environment and Planning, Alice Howe said this milestone follows on from the completion of Wamberal Beach Terminal Protection and Sand Nourishment Investigation project, which identified preferred designs for the protection works.“The review of expert technical studies, extensive community consultation and consideration of Council's role in relation to coastal erosion led to the identification of specific criteria for the preferred seawall design,” Dr Howe said.“These criteria state that the infrastructure is to be located as far landward as possible (to reduce interaction with coastal processes and maximise beach width), that the asset is to be located wholly on private property where possible, and constructed, owned and maintained by property owners, the seawall is to have the narrowest footprint (to reduce erosion/beach encroachment), and that the design is to have the least requirement for sand nourishment (both upfront and ongoing).“The draft Design Requirements outline engineering specifications and details such as the minimum footprint, length of construction, material selection, landscaping, and maintenance.“These requirements reflect what the community told us was important in feedback received throughout the three phases of community consultation conducted over the past two years.”Council Administrator, Rik Hart said there are a number properties along Wamberal Beach foreshore that are impacted by beach erosion which need permanent solutions.“Property owners are able to seek development consent to undertake work to protect their assets, however, works must not negatively impact beach access, public amenity, neighbouring properties and the health of our coastlines,” Mr Hart said. “Council is performing its regulatory function as a Local Government to develop planning controls which will enable Wamberal foreshore property owners to undertake approved development to protect their assets whilst the beach public amenity and environment is protected appropriately. “Community consultation has been an integral part of the process to identify long-term solutions to this issue and I encourage ongoing community participation now that the draft requirements are on public exhibition.“The community will continue to have opportunities to provide comment before any work is undertaken.

Last week I had the pleasure of joining Council staff to talk to the community about Woy Woy at the Let’s talk Woy Woy event at the Peninsula Leisure Centre.

Creative Spaces on the Central Coast will showcase works from the Coast’s upcoming and established makers and creators at pop-up retail and workshop spaces in Gosford, Woy Woy, and The Entrance throughout 2022 and beyond.Central Coast Council is honoured to be programming three Council-owned spaces across the Coast, where 30 makers and creators will run a range of creative practices such as workshops, exhibitions, and engaging demonstrations.Creative Spaces will be held across ‘Parkhouse @ Kibble Pop Up Space’ in Gosford, ‘The Container Hub @ The Entrance Pop Up Space’ located in Memorial Park, and the ‘Creative Arena @ Woy Woy Pop Up Space’ located under Woy Woy Stadium.Council Acting Director Corporate Affairs, Krystie Bryant said Creative Spaces is a Council initiative that serves the dual purpose of growing the visitor economy and supporting local makers and creators by connecting them in with local communities.“Council is delighted to be presenting Creative Spaces throughout the remainder of 2022 and beyond, particularly as it’s widely known that our Coast boasts a vibrant community of artists,” Ms Bryant said.“Council is honoured to have curated an engaging program that fills the pop-up spaces with creative workshops, exhibitions, and demonstrations until February 2023 to ensure the greatest benefit for local maker and creators, as well as the wider community.“The creative workshops and exhibitions are both diverse and family-friendly, with programming set to include a range of art classes and community art projects, creative mornings for mums and bubs, workshops using recycled and repurposed items, and a wide range of art and lifestyle exhibitions for photography, sculptures, jewellery, vintage items and more.“The full program is now live, and we encourage all community members to explore the schedule and regularly visit the Creative Spaces to immerse themselves in and support the talent and creative ability of those within their community."Council Administrator, Rik Hart said Council is pleased to confirm the Creative Spaces programming will provide opportunities for local communities to come together.“We are excited to see Creative Spaces provide renewed chances for communities to unite across the Coast,” Mr Hart said.“Following a challenging time for artists, we are looking forward to the program providing local community members and visitors new opportunities to connect, imagine and create with talented makers and artists within their community, and enhancing liveability across the region.“Council is honoured to be providing new opportunities for local creatives to shine by showcasing their skills, art and talents whilst positively contributing to the cultural life and increasing visitation to our beloved Central Coast.”To learn more about each of the creatives set to be involved with Creative Spaces, and view a wider program for 2022-23, visit the dedicated Creative Spaces website.To read more, search ‘Creative Spaces’ on the Central Coast Council website.ENDS

The consolidated Central Coast Local Environmental Plan and Central Coast Development Control Plan will be implemented and effective from 1 August 2022, providing a consistent planning framework for the region and pathway toward a smoother process for development applications and assessment. The new Central Coast Local Environmental Plan 2022 (CCLEP 2022) has been finalised and was notified on the NSW Legislation website on 24 June 2022.

NAIDOC Week takes place from 3 -10 July 2022 and is a significant time for First Nations People to celebrate their history, culture, and achievements.Central Coast Council is honoured to contribute to the celebrations with an official flag raising ceremony.The NAIDOC Week theme for 2022 is ‘Get Up!

We have produced a Delivery Program that has been out for public consultation and incorporates all the changes as a result of IPART’s (Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal) recent decisions to continue the Special Variation for a total of a further 9 years and the regulated water, sewer and stormwater drainage fees and charges for the next 4 years.  Even with these changes, our average rates overall continue to be approximately ten percent less than the neighbouring regions of Lake Macquarie and Newcastle.The Operational Plan for 22-23 reflects expenditure greater than originally forecasted, but this has been able to be accommodated due to the much larger than budgeted, projected surplus for the 21-22 financial year.  This means we are responding to community feedback and have allocated extra resources for planning assessment, local roads and vegetation maintenance.