Ahead of Youth Homelessness Matters Day on Wednesday 20 April, Council is raising awareness around the need for more affordable housing locally and identifying the misconceptions associated with youth homelessness.  On any given night on the Central Coast, there can be up to 70 people sleeping rough, however, youth homelessness is difficult to measure as many young people are not detected until they present to local support services and often considered as ‘hidden homeless’ – couch surfing or sleeping in a car.  With the cost of purchasing or renting a dwelling on the Central Coast rising rapidly, over 24,000 households* in the region are in housing stress, and this is for people that have a place to call home. Council Acting Director Community and Culture, Glenn Cannard is calling for the community’s support in the development of more affordable housing locally. “To reduce the number of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, we need to be supporting and creating more affordable housing.

Central Coast Council offices and a number of services will be closed over the Easter Long Weekend from Friday 15 to Monday 18 April and on Anzac Day on Monday 25 April.Customer service will be closed on the public holidays (15, 18 and 25 April).

In commemoration of Anzac Day, Central Coast Council is supporting events being held at several locations across the Coast.These services provide community members the opportunity to come together to pay their respects to our fallen service men and women and acknowledge those who fought to defend our country and protect our way of life.Dawn Services, Main Services and Marches will be proceeding at the following locations:Davistown A Dawn Service will be held at Davistown RSL Club, Murna Road, Davistown at 6.00am.Doyalson A Dawn Service will be held at Doyalson-Wyee RSL Club, Pacific Highway, Doyalson at 5.00am with a Main Service commencing from 9.00am.Empire Bay A Main Service will be held at Empire Bay Cenotaph, Sorrento Road, Empire Bay at 11.00am.GosfordBoth ceremonies will take place in Kibble Park, Donnison Street, Gosford.

Central Coast Council is to commence remediation works in Kibble Park, Gosford, with the aim for it to become an improved community activity space.As part of the upgrade, the unique John Flakelar created sculpture, currently part of the decommissioned fountain in Kibble Park, will be relocated to Sensory Park, Narara. Council Administrator, Rik Hart said having the opportunity to upgrade both parks meant we are not only utilising spaces more effectively, but also providing better facilities for the community to enjoy. “The Kibble Park Place Plan identified opportunities for this key central Gosford open space, including making it more accessible, safe and vibrant.”Mr Hart said Council acknowledged there had been some community discussion about the future of the fountain in Kibble Park, which has not operated since 2016. “An assessment of the cost to refurbish the fountain and surrounding degraded area revealed it would not provide good value to the community or use of ratepayers money.

Council welcomed today’s State Government announcement of the University of Newcastle as the preferred partner to deliver a Gosford university campus. Council Administrator, Rik Hart said this was a positive outcome benefitting the community and contributing to the revitalisation of Gosford’s CBD. “This announcement, along with the commitment from the State Government of transforming Council’s former Gosford Administration Building into a TAFE site, contributes to Gosford’s position as an educational hub for the region,” Mr Hart said. Council CEO, David Farmer confirmed there is a Memorandum of Understanding in place with the State Government about the development of the Gosford Administration Building into a TAFE site. “Having more higher education opportunities available for young people living on the Coast is important and the addition of a university campus to Gosford’s CBD is welcome news for the community,” Mr Farmer said. “Council’s own Regional Library, due to start construction by the end of this year, will also complement the growing educational hub in Gosford,” Mr Farmer said. ENDS

Ettalong will come to life this month showcasing original art produced by local artists.

Central Coast Council and its waste collections contractor Cleanaway are temporarily pausing the bulk waste collection service for six weeks due to significant staff shortages caused by COVID-19. The change to services is effective immediately and the online bulk waste booking system has been temporarily disabled.

Central Coast Council is continuing to closely monitor roads, lakes, waterways and beaches for potential flooding and storm impacts as heavy rainfall and unpredictable weather lash the Coast. Council is encouraging the community to remain vigilant and continue taking extra safety precautions during the current weather event.Waterways and beachesAt 1:15pm today, Tuggerah Lake was recorded at 0.64m following a 2.0m high tide.

Council is continuing its constant and close monitoring of lakes, waterways, beaches and roads for potential flooding and storm impacts, and is urging the community to get prepared as more heavy rainfall is forecast.The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has advised an east coast low (ECL) currently over the Mid North Coast is moving south toward the Central Coast region.

Central Coast has continued to receive heavy rainfall and strong winds today and are predicted to continue through to tomorrow.