The 2025 Central Coast Youth Week Awards were announced last night, Thursday 10 April 2025, at a celebration event, shining a spotlight on some remarkable young individuals who are making a difference.The Youth Week Awards, which coincide with NSW Youth Week, is an initiative of Central Coast Council and once again saw an extraordinary mix of achievements in arts and entertainment, community service, the sports, volunteering and  leaders helping those in need and creating positive change.Council Director Community and Recreation, Melanie Smith said these awards are just one way we can show our appreciation to young people who are shaping the future.“The Central Coast Youth Week Awards, now in its fourth year, is building a thriving network committed to supporting young people alongside the youth sector, industry and NSW Government,” Ms Smith said. “It was imperative to us that we recognise a diverse range of young talent as each contribute to making the Coast a place we can be proud to live, work and play,” Ms Smith said. The Awards event was not only a special occasion for all the nominees, but also their families and friends and other guests, who were able to appreciate and acknowledge the  extraordinary talent and abilities of young people on the Central Coast.Council Mayor, Lawrie McKinna said the Awards are an important demonstration of the Central Coast’s support for young people and recognise that their contributions will influence the future direction of the Central Coast. “The quality of the entries for this year’s Central Coast Youth Week Awards was outstanding, and I congratulate everyone who has been named as a finalist.

Central Coast Council has a massive program of free or affordable events to keep children busy and entertained these Easter school holidays.The jam-packed program has activities that cater to many interests, including visual arts and craft, games and gaming, environmental, sustainable living, writing and literature, film, dance, swimming, basketball, skateboarding and other sports, family film nights and lots more.To make it easy for parents and carers to find out what’s on and where, Council has listed school holiday events on their website at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/whats-onSome highlights from the Easter school holiday program:What’s on at our Leisure CentresDive into learn to swim and coaching clinics that builds water confidence and improve skills, or join in the pool inflatable fun at Peninsula Leisure Centre for a splash of excitement.

Central Coast Council is taking strong action against illegal camping, with increased ranger patrols, new signage and stricter penalties to protect public spaces for both residents and visitors.With Easter approaching and a surge in visitors expected, Council is reminding the community that camping in residential streets, beach carparks and nature reserves is prohibited.To keep public spaces safe and accessible for everyone, ranger patrols will now operate seven days a week, from early morning and overnight, with fines issued to those who do not comply with the signposted rules.Central Coast Council Director Environment and Planning, Jamie Loader said the increased enforcement aims to balance welcoming visitors while ensuring the local environment and community are safe and respected.“We love sharing our region with visitors, but it’s important that our public spaces remain clean, safe and accessible for everyone,” said Mr Loader.“Illegal camping can lead to litter, environmental damage and safety concerns, which is why we are increasing patrols and taking a stronger stance on enforcement.”The crackdown includes stronger penalties for illegal camping, with on-the-spot fines ranging from $110 to $2,200 and a maximum penalty of $110,000 for repeat offenders.Council has also reviewed and updated signage at key locations, restricting overnight parking between 10pm and 5am and making it clear that camping is not permitted.Central Coast Council Mayor, Lawrie McKinna highlighted the importance of maintaining public spaces for the broader community.“Our beaches, parks, and reserves are some of the Central Coast’s greatest assets, and they belong to everyone,” Mayor McKinna said.“By addressing illegal camping, we are helping to ensure that locals and visitors alike can continue to enjoy these spaces without disruption.”The message is simple – if you’re visiting the Central Coast, plan ahead and book an approved campsite.”Council acknowledges that some individuals who camp illegally may be experiencing homelessness.

Central Coast Council is excited to announce its line-up of events for NSW Youth Week, running from 9 to 17 April.

Central Coast Council has commenced Shutdown 4 of the Mardi Water Treatment Plant upgrade, marking another significant milestone in the region’s largest water infrastructure project this decade.

The Central Coast Seniors Festival concluded on 16 March, leaving a trail of success with over 100 events, including two highly popular Seniors Expos.Building on this momentum, Central Coast Council has reaffirmed its commitment to providing year-round support for older residents, supporting their continued wellbeing and active participation through services and initiatives aligned with the Council’s Positive Ageing Strategy.Central Coast Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said there are several programs currently on offer. “We are excited to continue our support through programs such as Tech Savvy Seniors, which has commenced, and the monthly Talking with Seniors Roadshow,” Ms Smith said. “The Tech Savvy Seniors program offers hands-on assistance to build skills and confidence in using computers, iPads, smartphones and online applications like email and social media.

Central Coast Council is upgrading Vera’s Water Garden as part of The Entrance Revitalisation Project and is inviting the community to participate in a short poll to determine the future of Vera’s statue.The statue, a long-standing feature of The Entrance, is now under consideration for replacement as Vera’s Water Garden undergoes a significant upgrade to a modern, zero-depth splash park, enhancing accessibility and interactive play for all users.This upgrade will commence after the autumn school holidays, with expected completion by the spring school holidays, weather permitting.

Central Coast Council is reminding local business operators that run commercial activities on open space areas such as parks, reserves and beaches to apply by 21 April for a License of a Trade or Business on Open Space.Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said any trade or business wishing to conduct activities on Council managed open space areas must apply for an annual temporary licence.“The application process for a licence to operate during the 2025-26 financial year, will run between 24 March and close 21 April,” Ms Smith said.“This is relevant to commercial operators that run activities such as personal training or group fitness, water recreation activities, schools or camps or hire of kayak, surf boards or stand up paddle boards, and also corporate group training, clinics and coaching.”Council Mayor, Lawrie McKinna said the license process helps Council to balance the needs of all open space users. “Temporary licensing enables Council to provide equitable access to our limited public space for diverse activities, helps protect and preserve our natural environment, as well as ensures activities are safe and well-managed,” Mayor McKinna said. Application period closes 5pm, Monday 21 April 2025.For guidelines and application forms search  open space EOI at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au 

Central Coast Council plans to allocate an extra $20million over the next four years in road renewals to improve local road conditions and address infrastructure work backlogs.Road renewal works include resurfacing and rehabilitation, providing long-term solutions as part of the full life cycle of road maintenance and management.Central Coast Council’s Director Infrastructure and Services, Boris Bolgoff said maintaining a road network of over 2,200kms is no small feat, which is why the largest percentage of Council’s budget and resources is allocated to roads.“This additional $20million investment is proposed to fast track priority road renewals and will be included in the draft Delivery Program and 2025-26 Operational Plan that will be placed on public exhibition in May,” Mr Bolgoff said.

MEDIA RELEASE The critically endangered Wyong Sun Orchid (Thelymitra adorata) may be elusive, but a collaboration between Central Coast Council and the NSW Government’s Saving Our Species Program is aiming to change that.An Australian first trial for this species has successfully trained scent detection dogs to locate these rare orchids by detecting underground tubers in a minimally invasive way.Using their remarkable sense of smell, three talented Spaniels, Paddy, Sully and Vera, are leading this innovative conservation effort.

Inclusive play at The Entrance Waterfront Plaza has been improved with the addition of a 'We-Go-Swing' accessible swing and new shade sails.

Central Coast Council is inviting the community to help tackle one of Australia’s most damaging invasive species through the Carp to Croc muster event, an exciting fishing event aimed at reducing European Carp populations in our local waterways.European Carp pose a serious threat to local ecosystems, degrading water quality and displacing native species.

More than 100 development industry professionals, along with Councillors and Council staff, attended the ‘Building a strong foundation for the future’ forum at Central Coast Council on Wednesday 19 March.The event offered a forum for Council to better understand the barriers to development and for the industry to better understand Council’s processes.Central Coast Mayor, Lawrie McKinna said the event generated helpful insights, ideas and improvement suggestions.“It was gratifying that so many industry professionals took time out of their schedules to participate,” Mayor McKinna said.“Our Council processes the highest volume of planning applications in NSW, with more than 2000 lodged last year.“We’re a busy region with a growing community.

Central Coast Council is dedicated to providing water and sewer services that cater to our community's needs.

Get ready for free family fun under the stars!

Central Coast Council wishes to advise the community that shark nets at eleven patrolled beaches will be removed on 31 March 2025, one month earlier than in previous years.

The Central Coast is now Ecotourism certified under Ecotourism Australia’s globally recognised ECO Destination Certification, and is one of only eleven regions in Australia to hold this recognition in sustainable tourism.Central Coast Council Director Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said this milestone strengthens the Central Coast’s reputation as a leading eco-conscious destination which helps to attract even more visitors each year.“The globally recognised program assesses destinations on environmental management, cultural heritage, visitor experience and community benefits,” Ms Smith said.“Visitors have been able to immerse themselves in authentic, high-quality experiences inspired by nature that are offered by locally-run businesses dedicated to sustainable tourism and showcasing the natural beauty of the Central Coast.“We’ve held an ECO destination status for the past two years, and have advanced to the next level of Ecotourism, following an independent audit that was conducted against 105 criteria and interviews with a range of stakeholders.“This milestone recognising our ongoing commitment to sustainable tourism, responsible visitor experiences, and the protection of natural and cultural assets in partnership with our community and tourism operators”.Council Mayor Lawrie McKinna said this achievement reflects a collaborative effort between Council, tourism operators and the community, whose collective aim is to position the region as a top choice for responsible tourism.“Being an eco-destination encourages sustainable practices that preserve the beautiful natural assets, national parks and wildlife of the Central Coast,” Mayor McKinna said.“I strongly believe that being recognised by Ecotourism Australia will help support our local businesses, improve employment opportunities on the coast, and grow our visitor economy.”Visit lovecentralcoast.com/ecotourism to discover our region’s ECO journey and how you can be part of our journey to a greener, more sustainable future. 

Central Coast Council is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Danielle Toase as its new Director Environment and Planning, following an extensive recruitment process.Dr Toase will oversee the Environment and Planning directorate within Council, leading functions such as Development Assessment, Environmental Management and Environmental Compliance.Danielle is an Environment and Planning Executive with a wealth of experience across the corporate, consulting, regulatory, research and Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) sectors.Widely recognised as a leader in her field, Danielle’s expertise has led her to publish over 10 academic papers and share her insights as an expert panellist and presenter at conferences across Australia, Europe and the USA.

MEDIA RELEASE The Central Coast had the highest NSW participation rate in the national 2024 second hand-shopping Garage Sale Trail event, with 12,629 locals taking part as a seller or shopper and highlighting a community commitment to re-use rather than waste disposal.Central Coast Council Director Infrastructure Services, Boris Bolgoff said it is great to see the local community embrace sustainability in such a fun way.“During the event held in November 2024, Central Coast locals sold and purchased the most items, re-using a staggering 14 tonnes by opting for pre-loved rather than new and helping to keep more than 26,000 items out of landfill," Mr Bolgoff said.“Local participating sellers collectively made over $138,000 and said that 42 percent of items would have gone to landfill if not sold through Garage Sale Trail. "Additionally, more than half of respondents said they would not have run a sale if it wasn’t for this Council promoted event.“Thank you to all those Coasties that participated in 2024 by hosting a sale or by hopping along its trail to help keep household items out of landfill.”Council Mayor Lawrie McKinna said Council is pleased to participate in this great initiative each year.“The Garage Sale Trail builds in popularity each year and aligns with Council’s efforts to reduce waste, promote recycling and create a greener future for our community,” Mayor McKinna said.“This community-driven event shows how we can all band together to make a significant impact for our region’s environment, and discover a second-hand gem on the way!”To find other ways to reduce, recycle and reuse, search ‘waste and recycle’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au 

In celebration of International Women's Day this Saturday 8 March 2025, Central Coast Council is proud to recognise the significant contribution of its female lifeguards, aligning with the global theme of ‘Accelerate Action.’With 17 female beach safety staff currently rostered out of a total of 92, Central Coast Council has one of the highest representations of female lifeguards in New South Wales.