Central Coast Council invites you to explore the hidden gems and discover forgotten laneways at Love Lanes Festival, which is back for its fifth year this Friday 8 April. Held in Wyong’s CBD from 4:00pm-9:00pm, Love Lanes Festival is set to showcase Wyong in its best light with four lanes, four stages and one park.This one-day festival is a combination of colours, sounds and smells with the buzz, hype and vibe of an outdoor community street festival, encompassing the theme of 'love'.Guests will enjoy live music, roving entertainment, food and market stalls, a kid’s zone, circus performances and more!Love Lanes was originally planned to take place in February, just two days before Valentine's Day, however, due to the restrictions and COVID implications at the time, this year's event was postponed until April. For more information, view the full program for the 2022 Love Lanes Festival.
Central Coast Council is delivering a jam-packed program of online and face-to-face activities and events throughout the April school holidays, giving Central Coast families plenty of ways to keep young minds entertained and bodies active over the Easter break. Parents, carers and guardians can head to the School Holidays what’s on page on Council’s website to see everything that’s taking place - from heritage tours, live entertainment and escape rooms to sports challenges, Easter crafts and skills workshops, there’s something on offer for all ages, interests and abilities. Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/schoolholidays for the full list of events, details and bookings.What's on at our Town CentresBring the kids down to any of our four town centre locations for a range of fun activities for all ages, as part of Council’s new Social Spaces event.
Council has commenced construction to transform the Visitor Information Centre at The Entrance.The exciting multipurpose facility will deliver the community an interactive visitor centre, new and modern amenities including 24/7 adult accessible change facility (AACF) and event toilets, improved layout and decking, a dedicated space for local makers and creators, a bookable function area and a purpose-built greenroom. Council Director Corporate Affairs and Chief Financial Officer, Natalia Cowley said the upgrade has been designed to provide an interactive facility and accessible amenities for locals and visitors to enjoy. “The Entrance is one of the Coast’s most popular tourist destinations and this project creates an interactive space to better educate and inform visitors about all there is to do and see throughout the region,” Ms Cowley said.“This upgrade will improve toilets and accessibility, while also helping to drive tourism, increase economic spend in the area, and create an exciting year-round space for locals to enjoy.”Council Administrator, Rik Hart said this stage was an exciting milestone for the project.“This interactive experience can showcase all that our region has to offer as a tourism destination and provide positive exposure for our local businesses and tourism providers,” Mr Hart said.“It also provides the opportunity to attract larger-scale events and improved function areas for the community to enjoy, as well as including facilities for all with a 24/7 adult accessible change facility.
Boris Bolgoff, Council Director Infrastructure Services with Inspector Martin Searle, Senior Constable Lee Maraga, and Sergeant Jon Kunicki of NSW Police.Locals and visitors to the Coast will see a heightened focus on speeding across May as NSW Police and Central Coast Council roll out a collaborative road safety initiative.Two clear messages – ‘Every K counts’ and ‘Stop it…Or cop it’ – will be delivered through increased Police presence and enforcement on 50km/hr roads and a Council-led education campaign.Traffic and Highway Patrol Inspector Martin Searle said saving lives and reducing the incidence and severity of speed-related crashes is the main goal.“We want to remind the Central Coast community and visitors to slow down and take care on local roads,” Inspector Searle said.“Speeding continues to be a contributing factor in 49 percent of all fatality crashes that occur on our region’s roads.”“Drivers must observe speed limits at all times and drive to conditions – 'just a bit over' or driving too fast for the road conditions can have consequences for yourself and other road users.” “We are reminding motorists that they can make a difference by making safe choices on our roads – to make road safety a priority and drive to conditions, particularly in built up urban areas with 50km/hr zones where children, the elderly, cyclists and pedestrians can be.”Council Administrator, Rik Hart said it is important to work collaboratively to reduce speeding across the region.“Along with increased presence from NSW Police, Council is focusing on increased messaging aimed at reducing speeds across Central Coast roads this May.”“Education can have a big impact on changing behaviours – we’re encouraging Coasties to drive safely and look out for each other.”The campaign will see enhanced police enforcement across local roads and deliver educational messages to the Central Coast community.ENDS
To support community groups or individuals build skills and confidence in applying for grant funding to deliver their worthwhile projects, events, or initiatives for the community, Council is running a series of free workshops in May and June ahead of the 2022-23 Community Grants Program opening.A series of drop-in sessions, information sessions and workshops will be offered online via zoom and in person at Erina Centre, Erina Fair and at Council’s Wyong Administration Building.The annual ‘Community Events and Place Activation’ and ‘Community Development’ Grant Programs will open 1 June 2022 with $300,000 per program available, to support local community groups and organisations to deliver worthwhile projects, programs and events that strengthen the Central Coast community.
Council has honoured 17 local young people in the first Central Coast Youth Week Awards, for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the local community. Council Unit Manager Leisure Beach Safety and Community Facilities, Phil Cantillon said it is important that we continue to recognise and celebrate our local young people who are doing great things in the community.“It was an honour to be part of the first Central Coast Youth Week Awards presentation night, and I’d like to again congratulate all our award winners and finalists this year,” Mr Cantillon said.“This includes the three local schools awarded in the Nominator category, with each receiving $500 to implement a program or activity that positively benefits students.” Council Administrator, Rik Hart said the awards were developed to acknowledge the contributions of local young people from diverse backgrounds and abilities. “I am delighted to congratulate each of the award winners and nominees in the first Central Coast Youth Week Awards,” Mr Hart said. “Each of our award winners should be extremely proud of being recognised by their community for their achievements and contributions that help make our home a better place. “These talented and ambitious young people are certainly helping to shape the future of our wonderful community and I can’t wait to see what’s next for each of them.”The 2022 Central Coast Youth Week Award winners and finalists in each category include:Luminary Leaders category winnersYouth Entrepreneur of the Year – Winner:
Community feedback sought on draft agreement between First Nations Leaders and CouncilThe draft Central Coast First Nations Accord and draft Acknowledgement of Country will be placed on public exhibition for community review and feedback.The draft Accord is an agreement between First Nations Leaders and Central Coast Council.
Council has closed the Jenny Dixon Beach access after a landslip occurred adjacent to the access point – Council barricades and warning signs have been erected.Council conducted a preliminary hazard risk assessment which revealed the landslip has undermined a section of the concrete foot path, leaving it unsafe for use. Council has issued a warning to residents and visitors to avoid the Jenny Dixon Beach access at Park Street, Norah Head approximately 50m east of the picnic shelters in the main car park due to serious safety risks. Recent heavy rains have soaked the ground and surrounding areas, creating soft and unstable soil.
Major upgrade works are commencing at Woy Woy’s popular Peninsula Leisure Centre to ensure its heating, ventilation and air conditioning system keeps the gym, pool, courts and other areas the correct temperature for the thousands of visitors who use this facility each year.Peninsula Leisure Centre has 2.5million litres of swimming water which is heated and 22.5million cubic metres of air that’s conditioned to create an enjoyable recreation and exercise experience for the 450,000 visits each year.