Central Coast Council is extending the survey options for the community to have their say on a rate rise for the Central Coast.

This is my 9th year as a Council Administrator.

Recently I explained why I was proposing a rate increase.

The Ordinary Meeting of Central Coast Council scheduled for 6.30pm on Wednesday 27 January will now be held on Wednesday 3 February.

Central Coast Council is calling on the community to have their say on two draft Floodplain Risk Management Plans and Studies now open for public comment.The two documents, one for the Northern Lakes catchment and the other covering the Davistown/Empire Bay catchments, have drawn on community response and floodplain risk management studies, to offer options that will help mitigate the risk of future flooding events.Council has also commenced the initial stages of the Floodplain Risk Management Study for the Woy Woy catchment and asking community members to provide suggestions on how they would like to see flooding issues addressed.Council’s Director of Environment and Planning, Scott Cox, said that the plans focus on reducing the impact of flooding to residents and businesses within these catchments.“Our flood planning team and expert consultants look at a range of factors to evaluate a flood mitigation measures specific to each catchment,” Mr Cox said.“The plans also take into consideration feedback from consultation with the affected communities, and now is the time for these communities to make sure we have covered their areas of concern and that they understand the implications of the recommendations made.“For residents and business in the Woy Woy peninsula catchment, we are drawing on a number of historic plans to begin this process, we want them to help us understand the flooding impacts from a local point of view and encourage them to complete the survey.”Council Administrator, Dick Persson AM said Council was providing several ways for the community to get involved, and he encouraged them to do so.“There are COVID-safe drop in sessions scheduled for the residents in all of these catchments as well as opportunity for virtual one-on-one meetings for the Northern Lakes and Davistown/Empire Bay catchments” Mr Persson said.“I highly recommend the residents take the time to read the documents and have a conversation with our staff about what it will mean for them.”Bookings are essential for all events.

One of the Central Coast’s premier sporting venues is being revitalised with the upgrading of key facilities.Duffy’s Oval Recreation Precinct at Terrigal is home to the Terrigal United Football Club and Terrigal Little Athletics Club, as well as being a popular location for many other sports including BMX riding.Work has recently been completed on the upgrade of the amenities building and work is now underway on redeveloping the BMX track.The amenities building upgrade focussed on improving accessibility and functionality, providing male and female toilets, change room and showers, accessible toilet and shower, multiple store rooms, canteen and a club function room.Meanwhile, work underway at the BMX track includes upgrading the tracks’ jumps, asphalting berms and laying a synthetic surface on dirt sections.

In surveying the community recently about a proposed rate rise, many suggested alternatives be considered.

Central Coast ‘Makers and Creators’ – individuals or groups who create something unique to share with the community and visitors – have an exciting opportunity to showcase their works. The inaugural creative activation 'Blank Canvas Central Coast' will give local makers and creators the opportunity to takeover a pop-up retail space in Ettalong or Long Jetty during April 2021. Selected makers and creators will be able to showcase and sell their works directly to locals and visitors. This project is fully funded through the Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery grants program, an Australian Government bushfire recovery initiative. To participate, complete and submit an Expressions of Interest by 11.59pm Wednesday 17 February 2021 at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/EOI

Central Coast Council is seeking community feedback on location options for a new shared pathway between Mannering Park and Kingfisher Shores, Chain Valley Bay.Two options for the shared pathway – along the foreshore or road – are now on public exhibition.Council Director Infrastructure Services, Boris Bolgoff said this community advocated project would deliver an array of benefits for locals and visitors.“This project will improve pedestrian safety, connectivity between local destinations, and provide an additional recreational facility,” Mr Bolgoff said.“This pathway will achieve multiple important objectives – complete a missing link, loop around a scenic waterway, improve connectivity and offer a healthy and environmentally friendly transport option.”"Our community has flagged this project as a priority and it is identified in Council’s Bike Plan and s7.12 Developer Contributions Plan.“The project is not currently fully funded and completion is dependent on securing of grant funding and completion in stages.”Council Administrator, Dick Persson AM said he encouraged community members to let Council know their preferred option.“A shared pathway connecting Mannering Park and Chain Valley Bay is an important amenity, particularly for community members who live in the area,” Mr Persson said.“Consider the two options presented and let Council know what you think will deliver the best results for locals and visitors to the Coast.”Option 1Location – along foreshore from Griffith Street, Mannering Park (along Delta Power land) to Kingfisher ShoresLength – 2.9 kilometresEstimated cost – $6.5millionOption 2Location – from existing path near Griffith Street, Mannering Park via Ruttleys Road and the Pacific Highway to the existing shared path at Tall Timbers RoadLength – 6.1 kilometresEstimated cost – $7.8millionCommunity members can find more information – maps, answers to FAQs, details of a Drop-in Information Session – and have their say by visiting yourvoiceourcoast.com

Central Coast Council is working with the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia NSW and ACT Division (IPWEA) to trial new technology using video footage and machine learning to deliver an automated assessment of road conditions.The exciting new technology has the potential to deliver superior data whilst also saving time and money.Council Director Roads Transport Drainage and Waste, Boris Bolgoff said the system is designed to be easily mounted to Council vehicles which are already driven across the road network on a regular basis.“Our goal is to deliver thorough, regular and cost-effective assessments of our road network and this incredible new technology could see standard Council vehicles equipped to asses our roads,” Mr Bolgoff said.“Video and machine learning is the future of road assessments and indicators suggest that the technology we are trialling could provide a safer and more cost-effective means for monitoring and assessing 2,200 kilometres of Central Coast roads.”Council Administrator, Mr Dick Persson AM said it is Council’s responsibility to explore and utilise the most effective techniques for maintaining and developing the local road network.“The Central Coast is an expansive region with an extensive road roadwork and it is exciting to be exploring a technology that offers the potential to provide us with better data in a more cost-effective way.”IPWEA is also working with Canterbury Bankstown, Georges River and Blayney Councils for the trial and there is no direct cost to Central Coast Council to participate.The evaluation of the trial will be released at the IPWEA state conference, at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley from Tuesday, 23 March until Thursday, 25 March 2021.