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.

Council adopts Operational Plan and Budget 2022/23Council has adopted with amendments its Delivery Program 2022-2025, including the Operational Plan and Budget, Fees and Charges for 2022/23, the Resourcing Strategy and revised Community Strategic Plan.Council CEO David Farmer said that the main amendments for the 2022/23 Operational Plan and Budget related to addressing some service areas where Council is not meeting community expectations and necessary updates to reflect IPART’s (Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal) May 2022 determination on the water, sewer and stormwater drainage pricing. “There is increased budget allocation for key service areas of local roads maintenance, vegetation management, for more staff resources in development assessment and to meet our legislative requirements to develop Plans of Management,” Mr Farmer said. “Additionally, we are taking a cautious budgetary approach and have allocated a contingency for increased electricity costs due to current volatility in the electricity market. “Our budget reflects zero increases to the domestic waste management service charges for most of our customers, a one percent increase in rates and commencement of staggered increases to water and sewer service charges.

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.

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.

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.

Severe weather continues to impact the Central Coast causing heavy rainfall, localised flooding, dangerous ocean conditions and increased flooding overnight with many residents in low lying areas requiring evacuation.Council continues to work alongside all local emergency agencies with the Emergency Operations Centre activated, with NSW State Emergency Service (NSW SES) leading the response.Thank you to all of the many volunteers with local SES, RFS and other support services that are providing invaluable assistance to keep our community safe – they have been in the conditions at all hours rescuing, door knocking, removing dangerous items and providing resources to isolated community members.Council staff are working around the clock to closely monitor local roads, waterways, beaches, water and sewer systems, and other essential services with crews attending to any impacts.Community members are still being urged to remain vigilant, exercise extra caution on roads, and are reminded to never enter or drive through flood waters.For the latest weather warnings and conditions go to the Bureau of Meteorology website. For emergency help in floods and storms, call NSW SES on 132 500.

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.

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.

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.

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.