The inaugural Sustainable Future Festival will be held at Mingara Recreation Club from 11 to 13 November, offering a sea of sustainability designed to celebrate all things waste related.Forming part of The Lakes Festival, this new event offers something for everyone with a jam-packed program full of environmentally friendly educational activities, displays and competitions.Central Coast Council Director Infrastructure Services, Boris Bolgoff said this exciting new event aims to educate and inspire Central Coast residents on how to live more sustainably.“Council is thrilled to partner with its waste collection contractor Cleanaway, to deliver an event that not only brings community members together to learn about all things sustainability, but also offers handy tips and tricks on how we can all minimise our carbon footprint and keep our region’s coastline as beautiful as ever,” Mr Bolgoff said.“This festival will also see a special guest appearance from former ‘The Block’ stars and Central Coast locals, Kyal and Kara on Saturday 12 November.

Central Coast Council is now inviting community members wanting to take an active role in local affairs to apply for a position on one of several Council advisory committees for 2023.Applications are now open for community stakeholder representatives on the following committees:Social Inclusion Advisory CommitteePedestrian Access and Mobility Advisory Committee (PAMP)Mangrove Mountain and Spencer Advisory CommitteeHeritage Advisory CommitteeSuccessful applicants should have a genuine passion for their selected topic, a willingness to engage with a diverse group of people and be available to attend an advisory group meeting in December and quarterly committee meetings next year.Due to the voluntary nature of the position, community representatives won’t receive fees or costs for their time.Council Administrator, Rik Hart said a community position on an advisory committee is a unique way for residents to have their say.“Council uses advisory groups to help inform the direction of policies and it’s important that we hear from as many different voices as possible.“We know from our regular engagement programs that residents can offer excellent perspectives and I would encourage anyone who has a lived experience, or a particular passion for one of these topic areas to submit an expression of interest,” Mr Hart said.Applications for all community advisory positions close at midnight on Sunday 13 November.Find out more and apply now

Central Coast Council has adopted the Northern Lakes Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan, and the Davistown and Empire Bay Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan.Council’s Environment and Planning Director, Dr Alice Howe said these studies and plans recommend options to better manage existing and future flood risk.“These studies and plans aim to build community resilience to flooding and include flood mitigation works, emergency management plans, flood warning processes, flood education programs, land use planning, and suitable design of infrastructure and buildings,” Dr Howe said.“Extensive community consultation took place with residents and businesses within the areas subject to flooding between 2019-2022.

Central Coast Council has welcomed the opportunity to join with other stakeholders in discussing flood mitigation and preparedness, at the meeting convened on 23 August at Wyong.  The meeting provided for a productive dialogue between the SES, as the combat agency responsible for flood events, NSW Police, Council, and the Central Coast’s state MPs so that we can improve our joint approach to flood preparedness.Central Coast Council Director Environment and Planning, Dr Alice Howe, said the meeting was also an opportunity to clarify future actions Council is already, or will be, undertaking.“Central Coast Council has received funding from the NSW Government to review and update the 2014 Tuggerah Lakes Flood Study (which will inform an updated Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan).  This project is now underway and will allow for an updated understanding of flood risk and behaviour within the Tuggerah Lakes floodplain in order to better identify and mitigate flood risk.  The updated study will be able to take into account intensified development within the catchment since the last study.

Central Coast Council is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Gosford Art Prize, with $28,000 in prize money awarded to artists from across the Central Coast and beyond.This year 133 finalist artworks were selected for exhibition by a panel who aimed to include a variety of styles, content and techniques.

Get ready to once again enjoy American classic cars, vintage glamour and the sound of rock ‘n’ roll as the Central Coast Council’s annual ChromeFest returns in-person to The Entrance, October 21 to 23!After two years of being online due to the pandemic, excitement is building from car enthusiasts across Australia, local businesses and the community in general as the three-day tribute to hot-rods and everything 1950s and 60s event takes shape.Council Unit Manager Community and Culture, Glenn Cannard said festival attendees can once again bask in the beauty of hundreds of show cars on display.“When you combine classic chrome with rock ‘n’ roll, vintage glamour and the beauty of The Entrance, you have quite a weekend on your hands,” Mr Cannard said.“Whether you’re a car enthusiast or not, you won’t be able to resist lining the streets to watch the classic cars cruise through The Entrance.Mr Cannard said registrations are now open for eligible cars to be part of the spectacular, and encourages bookings for accommodation for participating car owners, general car enthusiasts and visitors to the Central Coast, to be made early.“In the past the ChromeFest weekend has attracted over 50,000 visitors, so planning ahead is important.“We invite locals and visitors to partake in a fun weekend that offers something for everyone – Show N’ Shine, vintage glamour fashion parade, retro market stalls, three outdoor stages with live entertainment, The Entrance Hotel Hub, roving entertainment, live caricature drawings, a walk down memory lane, paint and chrome workshops, the new speciality car zone plus more!Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart, said ChromeFest has become one of the Central Coast’s most successful events.“Not only does ChromeFest inject a great deal of money into our local economy –over $14 million in 2019 – it reintroduces tourists to The Entrance and surrounds, which has so much to offer!“ChromeFest has always been a huge and very successful event, and given that due to the pandemic, car enthusiasts have had to cool their heels by attending ‘on-line’ for the last two years – we expect this year’s ‘in-person’ event to bigger than ever.”ChromeFest 2022 highlights include:iconic car displaysretro market stallsthree outdoor stages boasting undercover dancefloors and live entertainmentvintage glamour fashion paradeNSW Pin Up Pageant Grand finalKittens & Chrome one on one hair and make upPaint N Chromesoaking up the atmosphere of this nostalgic event at outstanding cafes, restaurants and bars throughout The Entrance.ChromeFest is a free three-day event – Friday 21 October to Sunday 23 October – held at The Entrance and presented by Central Coast Council, with support from a range of sponsors.Road closures will be in place during the event.

The Central Coast’s reputation as a gourmet foodie destination continues to grow with the Central Coast named ‘Outstanding Region’ in this year's delicious Harvey Norman Produce Awards. The Award announced on 18 August, is the latest in a string of achievements by Central Coast Council and the Destination Central Coast team that are elevating the region nationally and globally as a world-class destination to live, work and play. Spokesperson for Destination Central Coast and Council Director, Melanie Smith said it was thrilling that the work the team has been doing to support and grow the visitor economy is being recognised at such high levels, particularly in the food, wine and gourmet experiences sector. “In a relatively short period of time since bringing the function of tourism marketing and management in-house in July 2020, Council has developed a powerful Destination Central Coast brand that has united our industry, elevated our tourism offering and is turning heads. “This latest accolade puts the spotlight on our brilliant producers, restaurateurs and our foodie industry, which the team have been focusing on growing and developing. “From research we knew that food and gourmet experiences was the second biggest reason for travel and yet the traveller perception for the Central Coast was that our food and wine offerings were ‘stuck in the 70s’ with 0 percent of survey respondents believing they could have a quality food experience in region. “We knew this wasn’t a true reflection of the Central Coast industry, considering we had several Hatted restaurants and many casual dining options that wouldn’t be out of place in Surry Hills.

To raise awareness about the experiences of people with invisible disabilities, Council has joined the ‘Think Outside the Chair’ movement;

Council has joined the ‘Think Outside the Chair’ movement with a pilot awareness campaign to challenge community perceptions and change attitudes and behaviours towards people with invisible disabilities (also known as hidden disabilities).Central Coast Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Mel Smith said invisible disabilities may not be immediately apparent.

 Council has received a $935,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund to build a new community hall at Norah Head, with preliminary plans now available to view and open for community consultation. Plans to build a new multi-use hall were outlined in the Masterplan for Norah Head Village 2017, followed by extensive community consultation in 2019.