Central Coast Council has commenced the Somersby and Kariong Catchments Overland Flood Study, and is calling on the community and stakeholders to participate in an online survey to help provide a better understanding of overland flooding in the area.An online survey is open from Monday 21 August until Sunday 22 September on Council’s engagement hub, yourvoiceourcoast.com.Council Director of Environment and Planning, Alice Howe said the results of this survey will help Council better understand, plan for, and manage the risk of flooding across the Kariong and Somersby catchment areas.“Strategic flood studies and plans are used by Council to appropriately manage development within Central Coast floodplains and to guide mitigation works (under the NSW Government's Flood Prone Land Policy),” Dr Howe said.“We have engaged a specialist flood consultant to develop a Flood Study for the Kariong and Somersby catchment area, which will define the nature of overland flooding and provide a comprehensive technical understanding of flood behaviours and their associated risks.“The study area consists of the Kariong residential area, the Somersby industrial area, and the rural residential area immediately to its north.

Central Coast Council has developed online flood risk tools and updated flood and emergency planning information on centralcoast.nsw.gov.au, to help the local community understand their own flood risk and be adequately prepared to respond.Council Director Environment and Planning, Alice Howe said we’ve experienced various types of flooding on the Central Coast and know that flooding will continue to be part of our lives, and can occur at any moment.“Whilst it’s not always possible to predict when, where, or how big the next flood will be - we can estimate the likelihood of different sizes of floods and their consequences by using computer flood modelling,” Dr Howe said.“Our new interactive online flood risk mapping tool for Tuggerah Lakes area, draws on current flood levels directly from the Bureau of Meteorology and converts it into a visual display, which shows the extent of current, minor, moderate or major flood levels for specific properties in the area.

Central Coast Council’s Façade Improvement Support program opens on Friday 1 September, providing businesses and commercial property owners with the opportunity to access up to $5,000 to enhance their building facades and improve accessibility.To increase chances of funding success, Council is hosting two free information sessions this August that provide information on program guidelines, eligibility, and timeframes.

As part of improving Central Coast Council’s water and sewer services, a new water and sewer Customer Charter has been developed in partnership with the community.

Central Coast Council is pleased to confirm the makeup of its Aboriginal Advisory Committee which was officially endorsed at Tuesday night’s Council meeting.The Aboriginal Advisory Committee has a mandate to advise Council staff on identified issues that impact on local First Nations people, address relevant social issues identified in the Community Strategic Plan, and work to address outcomes aligned to the recently developed Central Coast Council First Nations AccordSignificant interest was received earlier this year when Council called for expressions of interest in a position on the committee with the following residents successfully appointed as members.•    Phillip Bligh•    BJ Duncan•    Steve Ella•    Colleen Fuller•    Vickie Parry•    Jake McDonald•    Monica McKenzie•    Shahni Wellington•    Wayne Merritt (alternate) Council’s Director of Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said the committee will play an important role with providing advice to Council.“The Aboriginal Advisory Committee is important in reconciling Council with our local First Nations People and they will provide advice to us across a number of issues but are not a decision making body.”Council Administrator Rik Hart said he is pleased with the makeup of the committee and each member brings diversity of experience and knowledge.“There was an outstanding pool of candidates who expressed their interest in being appointed to Council’s inaugural Aboriginal Advisory Committee,” Mr Hart said.“The appointed members represent significant experience and interests across a broad sector of our local Aboriginal community, with extensive experience in critical service provision such as health, education, housing, arts, culture and sport.“I am confident that the appointed members share a desire to make our community a better place and will bring great credit to the role.”

Central Coast Council is working to distribute and complete a customer satisfaction survey about Central Coast library membership services currently available for readers and visitors.

The next phase of the new state-of-the-art Mardi Water Treatment Plant has been locked in with the contract being awarded to Abergeldie Contractors Pty Ltd.The $82.5 million project will not only provide a significant boost to jobs but will help secure the region’s water future by providing up to 160 million litres of drinking water every day.The NSW Government provided $6.85 million through the Safe and Secure Water Program along with over $75 million from Central Coast Council.Director of Water and Sewer Jamie Loader said it was time we brought the plant into the 21st century.“The Mardi Water Treatment Plant typically provides around half of all drinking water to the Central Coast, future proofing this asset and ensuring it can continue to deliver safe and secure water to our customers is a key priority.“Early works have already been completed to prepare the plant for this major upgrade including remediation of the sludge lagoons, upgrade of lagoon inlet structures and clearing of the south-western lagoon for the first time since it was constructed in 1982.“This will provide a reservoir to capture any untreated water during testing and commissioning of the new processes,” Mr Loader said.Desludging of the lagoon commenced in November 2019 and was completed in May 2023, removing over 30,000m3 of sludge from the lagoon.Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart congratulated Abergeldie Contractors Pty Ltd on being awarded the contract.“Mardi Water Treatment Plant was built in 1982 with the last major upgrade of the facility completed 10 years after that.

Thirty-two nations, one dream, one trophy – forever world champions.

Council’s Public Forum trial was concluded following the June 2023 meeting.

Central Coast Council is appealing to residents to be careful with what they put in their waste and recycling bins and bulk kerbside clean ups, following several recent incidents where collected household waste has caught fire.

Central Coast Council is once again inviting emerging and established makers and creators to join Creative Spaces with the opportunity to occupy the program’s container activations.The new location for the popular gallery container will be at Toukley’s Village Green, with the opportunity for the creative community to deliver installations, exhibitions, and creative workshops in three-month blocks.

Central Coast Council will raise the flag for NAIDOC Week on Monday 3 July with the community invited to mark the occasion at a ceremony and morning tea in Wyong.NAIDOC Week is an important annual event held across Australia from 2-9 July with the aim of celebrating and recognising the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living culture on earth.In 2023 the theme for the week is “For our Elders”, which recognises the role that Elders play in First Nations communities and families.

As the Central Coast gears up to host Germany and England for their team base training camps during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia &

Central Coast Council adopted the 2023-24 Operational Plan at Tuesday night’s Council Meeting.The Operational Plan identifies a focus on maintaining our road networks, caring for community open space, as well as working on improving the response time for development applications.

School holidays start next week, and once again Central Coast Council has lots of free and affordable activities and events. Council Director of Community and Recreation Services, Melanie Smith said our popular school holiday program is delivered from a range of facilities including the Gosford Regional Gallery, libraries, leisure centres and theatres.“This winter we have a mix of activities to entertain and capture the interest all ages – from a supersized gym room, stop motion workshop, glow rooms, art and craft, gaming, indigenous virtual reality and lots more,” Ms Smith said.“One of the highlights of this holiday program is the celebration of NAIDOC week through virtual reality technology, as the Pamagirri group transports viewers (in a full 360-degree view) to Far North Queensland where they will demonstrate songs, legends and art.“Gosford Regional Gallery events often book out fast, and this winter program looks to be no different.

Central Coast Council is calling for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for three community members to join the Chain Valley Colliery Community Advisory Panel.

The life stories of the famers who call the Central Coast home are set to come alive in a visual spectacular this Saturday for one afternoon only.When These Mountains Speak is an innovative series of pictures and stories that highlight the stories of seven farming families from diverse backgrounds.

Solar and battery systems have been installed at 20 Rural Fire Stations across the Central Coast to ensure services can continue to operate independently should a grid power fail occur during natural disasters.Central Coast Council’s Director Environment and Planning, Dr Alice Howe said the initiative will be of particular importance to the many community members who live in isolated and vulnerable areas across our large Local Government Area, who have previously faced limited access to basic needs such as power and vital emergency services during natural disasters.“The installation of solar and battery systems at local Rural Fire Stations will provide the community with the assurance that they can access emergency services during times of need,” Dr Howe said.Dr Howe said Council has partnered with NSW Public Works to manage this initiative, which is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.“The ability to generate and store renewable energy also provides economic benefits, including savings on the consumption and cost of electricity.”Council Administrator, Rik Hart said this is a great move towards further ensuring that our community and local emergency services are prepared when faced with natural disasters.“It is crucial that our local fire services can maintain operational during a bush fire and these new resources will help to achieve that.

With just 36 days until kick-off in the opening matches of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia &

Five professional and two emerging local creatives have been selected to deliver innovative and contemporary new works as part of Central Coast Council’s ‘Creative Art Central’ program 2022/23.Creative Art Central is an annual commissioning program which offers funds for established and emerging creatives of diverse disciplines living on the Central Coast.