Central Coast Council Administrator, Mr Dick Persson AM has today announced Mr David Farmer as the new Chief Executive Officer of Central Coast Council.Mr Persson said the appointment of Mr Farmer and his experience is crucial in leading Council toward recovery and will provide strong reassurance to the community that the tough decisions taken now will not be wasted. “David has had up to 40 years’ experience in Local Government in New South Wales and Queensland, each of his last three roles have involved major challenges in governance and finance, the same challenges that face this Council, and I’m encouraged knowing that David is well equipped in leading the Council through these issues,” said Mr Persson.Mr Farmer has been Chief Executive of four Councils over the past 23 years, 10 years at both Cairns and Wollongong City Councils and more recently at Ipswich, the fastest growing Council in Queensland.“David has a proven track record of success in operating large councils and has been selected based on this solid experience.” said Mr Persson.“The Central Coast community should feel very reassured that a new and strong CEO will deliver the positive outcome everyone wants to see.“I look forward to welcoming David to the position on 12 April 2021.”    EDITORS NOTESBio Attached - Mr David Farmer 

Live theatre is returning to the Coast in spectacular form with Laycock Street Community Theatre announcing an exceptional line-up of performers for its 2021 season. Coasties and visitors can rediscover the joy of live performance with an incredible array of shows – from Hot Autumn Nights (Tim Freedman of The Whitlams) and James Morrison Quintet to the Victorian State Ballet’s Little Mermaid and Newk (The John Newcombe Story).Central Coast Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Julie Vaughan said Laycock Street is ready to accommodate the strong appetite for quality shows on the Coast.“We’ve been starved of live theatre for nearly 12 months and it’s so exciting to once again welcome incredible artists to perform on the Coast,” Ms Vaughan said.“Laycock is an incredible live theatre venue – it combines quality with an undeniable energy and there really isn’t a bad seat in the house.”Council Administrator, Dick Persson AM said Laycock Street is a vital component of the Coast’s thriving arts scene.“It is impressive to see a community theatre attract such a strong line-up of performers and I encourage locals and visitors to take advantage.”Laycock Street Community Theatre’s 2021 line-up includes:Hot Autumn Nights – Tim FreedmanSnapshot:

In looking into what has gone wrong with the Council, I formed a strong view that a major contributor was the 15-member council.Fifteen councillors are too large a number if you want them to act collaboratively.

Outcome of Forensic AuditCouncil will continue to focus on implementing improvements in financial management and reporting following the conclusion of the legal and financial forensic analysis conducted by Clayton Utz.The legal and financial analysis review has not identified any evidence that the Council’s current liquidity issues or use of restricted funds in breach of the Local Government Act was the result of corrupt conduct. Council engaged Clayton Utz on 26 October 2020, and Clayton Utz engaged KPMG to undertake a targeted forensic review of a sample fund to gain understanding of Council’s financial accounting practices and adherence to the Office of Local Government Guidelines.   Council’s Domestic Waste Fund was selected as a sample fund.Director Corporate Affairs Natalia Cowley said that the scope of this forensic review was on reviewing a sample of actual financial transactions.“Clayton Utz’s findings from the sampling of waste transactions reviewed did not identify any transactions allocated to the Domestic Waste Fund that were not consistent with guidance provided by the Office of Local Government,” said Ms Cowley.Clayton Utz further stated that having regard to the reviews completed to date it would be reasonable for Council to conclude that further investigation would be unlikely to disclose any new or additional reasons for its current financial circumstances.   For this reason, no further forensic audit reports are recommended at this time.Administrator Dick Persson AM said he believed this review drew a line under further investigation by Council.“During the development of my 30-day Interim Report, the causes of the financial crisis became known, and the findings by Clayton Utz are generally consistent with my observations,” said Mr Persson.“Their analysis agrees that the current financial circumstances appear to have arisen from legacy issues associated with financial systems, transparency from the time of Council amalgamation and poor financial management practices.”“I see no value for the community in pursuing investigation after investigation, at the expense of Council resources actually getting on with implementing improvements in Council financial management.”Council Code of Meeting Practice to improve decision makingCouncil has adopted a draft Code of Meeting Practice, which will go on public exhibition on 10 March 2021 for 42 days.The draft Code proposes changes including:the publication day of agenda papers to be changedprovide for the conduct of all Council Meetings at Wyong Administration Buildinga requirement that Mayoral Minutes and Notices of Motion identify the source of funds where there is a financial impacta requirement to consult with the CEO (or appropriate delegate) in preparing Mayoral Minutes or Notices of Motion to identify source of fundsa limit on the number of Notices of Motion to one per Councillor per meetinga limit on the complexity and number of Questions with Notice to one per Councillor per meetinga requirement that Councillors make reasonable efforts to attend pre-Meeting briefings.The Code of Meeting Practice applies to all meetings of Council and Committees of Council of which the members are Councillors.

Moving around the Council offices this week has been a sad experience.

Following a day of very heavy rainfall across the Coast, Central Coast Council is reminding residents to avoid unnecessary travel and prepare for further impacts, with a Severe Weather Warning still in place for the region and minor flooding current along areas of Tuggerah Lakes.  Current best projections from Bureau of Meteorology indicate that there will be likely localised flooding and residents should prepare accordingly.

As most readers know I have extensive experience as an Administrator of four Councils.

Central Coast Council is closely monitoring the weather conditions as the Coast braces for a wet weekend.Administrator Dick Persson AM moved to reassure the community that Council was keeping a close eye on events as the rain moves down the Coast.“Council has enacted its incident management team, so that we can make sure we are across any potential impacts this weather system has on our region,” Mr Persson said.“Our staff have been monitoring local roads, waterways, water and sewer systems and The Entrance channel so that we may act when required.“At this point, we have a couple of local roads closed and no other significant impacts.“I am very aware that the community are concerned about the conditions at The Entrance Channel.

Central Coast Council has undertaken precautionary works at The Entrance Channel and continues to monitor local roads, waterways and water and sewer systems as a severe weather warning for very heavy rainfall, including flash flooding remains in place for the Central Coast. Council Acting Chief Executive Officer Rik Hart said residents of low-lying properties around Tuggerah Lakes need to prepare their homes and properties for potential flooding.“At 11.40am Saturday morning, the water level of Tuggerah Lakes measured at Long Jetty was 0.90 metres and rising.

Planning to support the future active lifestyles of the Central Coast region’s communities has begun.Over the next few months an Active Lifestyles Strategy will be developed, and Central Coast Council is calling on the community to have their say.Council Director Corporate Affairs, Natalia Cowley said the strategy will help guide strategic investment decisions for the range of public open spaces, sport and recreation assets in the Central Coast.“The development of the strategy will include an assessment of Council’s existing facilities, spaces and active infrastructure, as well as industry trends,” Ms Cowley said.“Vital to the development of the strategy however is our community’s feedback, and we want to hear how our open spaces are currently being used, what’s valued and what improvements might be required in the future to encourage healthy and active lifestyles.”Council Administrator, Dick Persson AM said the Central Coast has an abundance of open space areas for a variety of recreational and sporting activities.“It is important that Council has a well-considered long-term framework for future land planning and management and prioritisation of infrastructure projects, whilst also providing clear criteria and direction for development to ensure there is adequate open space areas that accommodate the needs of our community,” Mr Persson said.For more information and to Have Your Say by 5 April 2021, visit yourvoiceourcoast.com