Council is urging the community to remain vigilant as major flooding remains within the Tuggerah Lakes and Hawkesbury River regions, despite rainfall easing Thursday morning after heavy downpours overnight.

The severe weather event driven by a powerful east coast low which drenched the Central Coast this week has begun moving off the coast, easing rainfall and allowing impacted residents to turn their sights toward the recovery and clean-up effort. Council is leading the recovery efforts and working closely alongside Resilience NSW to support the community through this clean-up, while continuing its work alongside the NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) and other emergency agencies to support those still isolated or evacuated.Despite rainfall easing, flooding remains current at multiple locations around Tuggerah Lakes and the Lower Hawkesbury River.

Flood-affected residents on the Central Coast continue to recover following the recent weather and flooding event.Council would like to remind local impacted residents of the support available to assist them during their recovery.

Central Coast Council congratulates the management and board at The Art House for winning both the Excellence in Large Business and Wyong Business of Year Award at the Wyong Business (Chamber of Commerce) 2022 Annual Business Awards event recently – providing recognition of the high quality of programs and services delivered and valuable contribution this arts and cultural hub delivers for our community. The Art House Executive Director, Anne-Marie Heath said it is an honour to receive these awards for excellence from the local business community.“Our team is very proud and grateful to receive Business Wyong’s Excellence in Large Business Award, but most of all we were completely surprised and excited to have also received the main award of Business of the Year!” Ms Heath said.“It is very rewarding that The Art House is recognised for its service to the community as an arts organisation but as also for our business operations.“These awards are reflective of the wonderful Art House staff and their contribution and commitment in ensuring the Art House is shining in every moment, and the great support of the Board.”Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart said The Art House is an exciting performing arts centre which brings world-class performances to local audiences and attracts visitors to our region.“The success of The Art House creates a ripple effect of economic benefits for our community with the provision of local jobs, which leads to more local business spending, and support to surrounding hospitality businesses from audiences that come from near and far,” Mr Hart said. “The management and staff of The Art House provide excellence in service and programming that matches the architectural distinction of the venue, and I’m delighted for the team on their well-deserved wins.”The Art House is owned by Council and managed by an independent not-for-profit entity with an independent board of directors.

The consolidated Central Coast Local Environmental Plan 2022 (CCLEP 2022) and Central Coast Development Control Plan 2022 (CCDCP 2022) have come into effect today, 1 August 2022. The consolidated CCLEP and CCDCP provide a consistent planning framework for the region, which leads to greater efficiencies in preparing and assessing development applications - benefiting the Central Coast community, investors and Council staff.

In recognition of the challenges residents with flood impacted properties on the Central Coast are facing, Council is offering an extra two months (with no accrued interest) to pay their first 2022/23 rate instalment.Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart said the deferral is being offered to residents with properties listed under the SES rapid damage assessment.“We anticipate this offer will benefit around 1000 property owners on the Central Coast who have been directly impacted by the recent floods in July 2022," Mr Hart said.“It has been an extremely challenging time for many on the Coast, particularly for those who the SES has recognised as having significant damage to their properties.

A silver lining to the recent heavy rainfall received on the Central Coast has meant that our dam levels have reached a record breaking high – with the Upper Mooney Dam and Mangrove Creek Dam at full capacity and Mardi Dam at 83.2%.

Council’s Asset Sales Program exceeds target, reaching $62 million in sales Council has reached a key milestone in its Asset Sales Program with the sale of two parcels of land at Doyalson and Bateau Bay, increasing total land asset sales to over $62 million.The land at Doyalson consisting of four lots sold for a combined $5.5 million (excluding GST), which matched the independent valuation price, while the land at Bateau Bay sold for $1.83 million (excluding GST), which exceeded the independent valuation price by $1.28 million. Council Administrator, Rik Hart said these sales exceed the targets in Council’s Financial Recovery Plan and help bolster Council’s financial sustainability into the future. “The sale of underperforming land assets, or assets which are surplus to current or future needs, has been a foundational pillar of Council’s financial recovery and strengthens Council’s financial sustainability into the future,” Mr Hart said.“Council has undertaken due diligence in all sales, including the review of sites against Council resolutions and historical records, abiding by all legislative requirements, and conducting extensive community consultation to ensure the community has had the chance to be part of the decision-making process.“The purchasers of these land assets are bound by all zoning and usage requirements, including any applicable environmental zoning. “Council remains committed to being transparent with the community throughout its Asset Sales Program, and I encourage people to review the in-depth information on Council’s website.”The following land has been sold and will be removed from Council’s land register:A) 200 Thompson Vale Road, Doyalson (Lot 762 DP 746526)    740 Thompson Vale Road, Doyalson (Lot 78 DP 755245)    740 Thompson Vale Road, Doyalson (Lot 32 DP 586913)    1550 Thompson Vale Road, Doyalson (Lot 31 DP 586913)B) 10A Cynthia Street, Bateau Bay (Lot 17 DP 262327)For more information about the Asset Sales Program including detailed frequently asked questions (FAQs), search ‘Financial Recovery Plan’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au. Community feedback sought on draft Flying of Flags policy and Street Banner Poles policy and guidelines for community useCouncil is seeking feedback on the Draft Flying of Flags Policy, Draft Street Banner Policy, and Draft Street Banner Guidelines, which will be placed on public exhibition online at yourvoiceourcoast.com between 27 July and 23 August 2022.Council Administrator, Rik Hart said these draft policies were developed in response to community interest and we are now encouraging further feedback from the whole community during the public exhibition period.“Council proudly flies the Australian Flag and has a firm commitment to ensuring our national flag flies continually and appropriately while complying with the State and Federal Government protocols, and in accordance with the Australian Flags Booklet publication of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Premiers Department of New South Wales publication ‘Flags and Emblems of NSW’.

The public exhibition period for the Draft Design Requirements for Terminal Protection Works at Wamberal Beach to address coastal erosion closes on 27 July 2022.

Central Coast dam levels have reached a record breaking high – with the Upper Mooney Dam and Mangrove Creek Dam at full capacity due to ongoing heavy rainfall.Central Coast Council Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said this is the first time Mangrove Creek Dam has reached full capacity since construction was completed in 1982.“This storage increase places the Central Coast water supply in a secure position for years to come,” Mr Loader said.“While the overflow from the Mangrove Creek Dam will contribute to the level of the already flooded rivers, it is a relatively low rate and small in comparison to existing catchment flows.