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:

Four professional and two emerging local creatives have been selected to deliver innovative art works as part of Central Coast Council’s ‘Creative Art Central’ program.Creative Art Central 2021 attracted 94 registrations from local artists who each had the opportunity to pitch their idea.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 continuing its constant and close monitoring of lakes, waterways, beaches and roads for flooding and storm impacts as an east coast low (ECL) impacts the Coast.This weather event is a quickly changing situation, and Council remains focused on distributing key information to the community as quickly as possible, while continuing to mobilise crews on the ground.Early this morning the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) issued a flood evacuation order for residents around Tuggerah Lake and surrounding areas, as well as other low lying areas including Wyong and Yarramalong.People who live in locations around Tuggerah Lakes are being asked to evacuate.