As part of the 2019 Lakes Festival at The Entrance, Central Coast Council will hold the inaugural Colour Our Coast fun run/walk on Sunday 10 November.The 5km circuit will feature five separate colour stations setup at 1km intervals to ensure entrants cross the finish line splashed in colour.

Central Coast Council’s stage one water mains cleaning program saw 11 suburbs on the Central Coast benefit from improved water quality, with stage two underway for residents in Springfield, East Gosford, Long Jetty and The Entrance.Acting Director Water and Sewer, Daniel Kemp said stage one of the program was hugely successful with works being completed on time, with minimal disruption and minimal water wastage.“Stage one of our water mains cleaning program saw 90km worth of mains cleaned in 18 days, with Council scooping up sediment and saving the equivalent of 8 Olympic sized swimming pools worth of water for the Coast,” Mr Kemp said.“Approximately 200 homes per day benefited from this first round of cleaning with many residents stopping to chat with our crews on site and learn more about the program and our water saving methods.“Council actively monitors and tests the water supply across the Coast and these results indicate areas due for cleaning.

The Land and Environment Court has today 15 October 2019, in accordance with section 34 of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979, upheld an appeal brought by A Denny after Central Coast Council refused to approve a development application for a Colourbond fence on Wards Hill Road, Killcare Heights.

Central Coast Council is inviting aspiring youth leaders to become members for the Youth For Youth (Y4Y) action team and make a difference to the lives of young people across the coast.Applications are now open for membership of Y4Y, a team of 12 young people who will make youth-led initiatives and ideas happen in our community.Director of Connected Communities Julie Vaughan said the program engaged and empowered young people through action, advocacy and advice.“Council is committed to working with the young people of the Central Coast to ensure they feel respected and a valued part of the community,” Ms Vaughan said.“This group represents a fantastic opportunity for young people to have their voice heard and make a difference.

An impressive line-up, plus new events and event hubs are set to make The Lakes Festival even bigger and better this November.Council Unit Manager Community Partnerships, Glenn Cannard said the annual celebration of the Central Coast’s spectacular lakes and waterways would feature 20 separate events across 10 days. “The Lakes Festival is our largest and most popular event and shines a light on our region’s lakes and waterways, which are among the largest and most magnificent in Australia,” Mr Cannard said.“November on the Coast has become synonymous with The Lakes Festival, with attendees entertained, educated and filled to the brim with community, culture, art, music and of course delicious food.“The headliners for ‘Light Up The Lake’ – Kingswood, Caravana Sun and Hot Potato Band – are not to be missed and don’t forget we’ll literally ‘Light Up The Lake’ with a fireworks display to conclude this special event. “Park Feast at Gosford Waterfront will satisfy all your culinary desires and this year we are launching the new Lighthouse Picnic, which is all about music, food and wine at Norah Head Lighthouse.“If you love to get active – we have stand-up paddle board yoga, kayak tours, Paddle to Pedal, Colour Our Coast (Colour Run), Terrigal Beach Netball Competition, the Bouddi Coastal Run at Killcare and much more.” Mayor Lisa Matthews said The Lakes Festival attracts more than 60,000 locals and visitors and delivers a significant economic boost to the Central Coast.“The Lakes Festival shows the importance of our waterways and injects millions into our  economy,” Mayor Matthews said. “There is something for everyone at the Festival so make sure you check it out.” Events will be held at 10 key hubs across the Coast including Budgewoi, Long Jetty, Gosford, Toukley, Norah Head, The Entrance, Terrigal, Killcare, Ettalong and Picnic Point.

Central Coast Council’s delivery of new inclusive, safe and engaging playspaces and a skate park upgrade has entered an exciting phase with community consultation for multiple projects running from October.Council’s Director of Environment and Planning Scott Cox believes the new playspaces at Green Point, Empire Bay, Gorokan, Toowoon Bay and Mangrove Mountain, as well as the redeveloped skate park at Narara will become significant assets to their local communities and is encouraging the public to have their say on what they would like to see included. “Council are committed to maintaining and building safe and quality playspaces for the benefit of our community and visitors to our region, and we proudly manage over 260 playspaces across the Central Coast as well as 25 skateparks.“We are investing in our community by providing facilities that encourage active and connected lifestyles for improved wellbeing and quality of life,” Mr Cox said.Mayor Lisa Matthews said Council’s investment in these projects underscores a commitment to listen to the community and deliver what they want.“Our strategic plan, One Central Coast, is not just a written document.

Central Coast Council is preparing a Floodplain Risk Management Study for the areas of Davistown-Empire Bay as part of the NSW Government’s Floodplain Management Program.

As part of Mental Health Awareness month in October, Central Coast Council has implemented the Lost Bird Found Project, which is a creative initiative to encourage conversations around mental health.  Over 400 handcrafted birds, which were recently created by the local community, have been tagged with mental health information and placed around town centres and in libraries across the Central Coast for the community to find.

Central Coast Council is inviting families to celebrate Parker the Platypus’ second birthday and launch of his sixth children’s book with stories and cake at Saltwater Creek Reserve on Monday 21 October, 10.30am.Parker is part of Council’s Paint the Coast REaD program, which encourages parents, grandparents and carers to read, sing or rhyme with children every day from birth to help set them up for a lifetime of success.Council Unit Manager Libraries, Learning and Education, Beth Burgess said since hatching only two-years-ago, Parker has not only become a prolific author, but also one of Council’s beloved mascots.“Research has shown that more than 20 percent of Australian children arrive at school without the necessary skills to make the most of their early education,” Mrs Burgess said.“Through Paint the Coast REaD we aim to encourage the community to support the development of children’s early literacy while creating a sense of excitement and enthusiasm around reading, which is exactly what Parker creates for children and families.“This month Parker is launching his fifth book that focuses on road safety, and he will personally be handing out copies at his birthday picnic as well as at select Storytime sessions in late October.“We have also recently provided local schools with A3 copies of the first three books allowing children to continue making positive connections to literacy development in the classroom.”Mayor Lisa Matthews encouraged parents with children under the age of six to engage with Council’s Library Service to help them develop a love of learning.“Our Library Service ensures all members of our community have equal access to the latest in technology, resources and information,” Mayor Matthews said.“Whether in branch or through their great range of online services available anywhere, anytime, there’s never been a better time to reconnect with your local library and discover the amazing resources and opportunities on offer.”Visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/libraries for further information on Parker’s Storytime visits, to become a member and access to online resources and services 24 hours a day.Library membership is free for those who live, work or study on the Central Coast.ENDS

Tourism Plan sets stage for $70million regional boostCouncil has adopted a five-year Tourism Opportunity Plan for the Central Coast which will maximise opportunities to attract visitors to the region.The plan recognises the strengths of our region, identifies challenges and opportunities and seeks greater efforts to capitalise on them for the future, with a goal to boost the visitor economy for the region by $70million.Mayor Lisa Matthews said the adoption of the Plan would allow Council, tourism operators and the community to work on improving visitors’ experiences of our region.“This Plan encompasses the very small to the large.

Central Coast Council is urging local students who need help with relentless homework tasks to take advantage of the Library Service online tool Studiosity.While the service is available for students from Year 3 to tertiary education, Year 12 students will particularly benefit at this time of year as they study in the lead up to Higher School Certificate exams.Council Section Manager Library Strategy and Connection, Benjamin Hartley said the features of the service can give students an edge while simultaneously alleviating the worry they often feel while studying alone.“The way students engage with technology has changed dramatically and Studiosity is a natural extension of the classroom, which aims to promote equality in education,” Mr Hartley said.“We are excited to announce the real-time online chat tool is now available 24 hours!

Central Coast Council has welcomed the release of the NSW ‘State of the beaches’ report, with 93% of our ocean beaches receiving a good or very good quality rating for 2018-2019.The annual report uses the Beachwatch results to rate designated ocean and estuarine swimming sites across the state.Mayor Lisa Matthews said the report shows Central Coast beaches to be in good condition overall.“Most of our ocean beaches have received a Good or Very Good rating for swimming water quality, which is great news for our community,” Mayor Matthews said.“It is also great to see many local sites showing improvements in water quality over recent years, with the report noting Council management actions are likely improving water quality at these sites.“Many residents will be pleased to see Terrigal Beach has improved and received a Good rating for the reporting year.

Central Coast Council has placed its draft Cultural Plan 2020-2025 on exhibition, for the community to have their say.The draft Cultural Plan supports the Central Coast achieving its potential as a creative destination and provides opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to participate in, and contribute to, the cultural life of the Central Coast.Council’s Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said that creativity and cultural identity was a large and important part of our region.“A thriving arts and cultural sector is important for the health and wellbeing of our community and for regional economic development,” Ms Vaughan said.“The draft Plan is based on the vision of building on our creative strengths across our community and establishing our region as a hub for the wider creative sector.“Creativity is a major part of who we are on the Central Coast.

In a first for the region, Central Coast Council has installed a new solar compaction bin and connected 46 new sensors to existing waste stations across The Entrance Town Centre.This new technology will allow the volume of waste bins to be effectively monitored, improving servicing schedules and helping to reduce litter in this popular tourist area just in time for the school holidays.Director Roads, Transport, Drainage and Waste, Boris Bolgoff said the investment is a component of the Council’s Place Litter Bin Replacement and Upgrade Program to increase waste collection and reduce ‘flyaway’ litter.“The cloud-based software provides real-time data on the volume of bins to any web enabled device, with alerts set up for when bins are reaching capacity,” Mr Bolgoff said.“This will allow constant monitoring of bins during busier times of the year, helping to reduce the impacts of litter and improve planning as crews will already know which bins need to be emptied.“This new service is enhanced with the addition of a new single waste solar compactor system, Bigbelly Bin, which has the capacity of up to five times that of a traditional bin solution.“If successful, we will investigate rolling out the technology in other popular tourism and high foot traffic areas.”This financial year will see a further $300,000 invested into the rolling Public Place Bin Program with another 160 new waste and recycling units installed, to help manage the waste needs of the growing community.Additional benefits of the rollout include cost savings by purchasing waste stations in bulk allowing for more effective maintenance, consistent design, increased safety and opportunities to recycle, with many locations previously only offering waste bins.Mayor Lisa Matthews said that it was great to see Council investing in this cutting-edge technology.“I applaud Council for listening to and acting upon community concerns regarding litter bins during peak holiday times,” Mayor Matthews said.“Aside from protecting our unique environment from litter, the project will help maintain the appearance of our well-known tourist destinations which is integral to the economic development of the region so visitors continue to come back to the Coast.”ENDS

Central Coast Council’s commitment to expand and improve the region’s network of pathways has seen record-breaking levels of investment and the adoption of the first Central Coast Bike Plan and Central Coast Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan (PAMP). Council Director Roads Transport Drainage and Waste, Boris Bolgoff said the Bike Plan and PAMP outlined the future of footpaths, bike paths and shared pathways across the Central Coast for the next 10 years.“Our community has made it clear that pathways are a priority and we’ve listened through record-breaking levels of investment and the development of the first Bike Plan and PAMP for our region,” Mr Bolgoff said.“We invested $6.1million in pathways in 2018-19 and plan to invest $6.9million this financial year. “To develop these critical plans, we addressed community feedback from a specific consultation process.“The plans outline our commitment to deliver accessible footpaths, bike paths and shared pathways that complete missing links, loop around our scenic waterways and improve connections that offer a healthy and environmentally friendly transport option.

Some scorching days throughout September are a powerful reminder that summer is just around the corner, and in preparation for the season ahead one of the Central Coast’s key fire trails has just enjoyed a serious facelift.Summerland Point fire trail, a key part of the Gwandalan/Summerland Point fire trail complex, has been rebuilt after Central Coast Council completed work on 800 metres of the 900-metre trail.Council’s Director Environment and Planning, Scott Cox said work on the fire trail was aided by significant co-operation from bodies associated with other major infrastructure projects.“As part of our vision of making the Central Coast more sustainable we were actually able to source about 3000 tonnes of suitable material from the M1 building project that otherwise would have had to be shipped out at great expense,” Mr Cox said.“Having access to this free resource allowed us to not only complete this project but to construct an additional six fire trails in the surrounding area as well.”Central Coast Mayor, Lisa Matthews said residents living in areas prone to bush fires need to prepare ahead of the fire season.“We have over 128,500 hectares of bushland on the Central Coast, and it is important that all residents are bush fire ready, particularly those living in isolated locations,” Mayor Matthews said.“I encourage all community members to familiarise themselves with the five ‘Get Ready’ steps to prepare for an emergency which can be found at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/emergencies”.In recent years, erosion has been a constant problem for the Summerland Point fire trail which was heavily damaged in the 2013 bushfires.

Central Coast Council will begin a $940,000 project to straighten and widen a section of Carlton Road, Erina in October. Council Director Roads, Transport, Drainage and Waste, Boris Bolgoff said a 260 metre section of Carlton Road from its intersection with Central Coast Highway had been the site of a number of crashes according to Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) data.“This project is designed to increase the safety of a section of Carlton Road which forms part of a high-traffic link road and provides access to a school,” Mr Bolgoff said. “RMS crash data has recorded a number of crashes at this site, particularly at night and during wet weather.“We will widen the road and smooth out the horizontal curves to increase the safety of motorists. “The realigned road will have new road pavement and we will construct kerb, guttering and batters and relocate some public utility services.“We will also construct a shared pathway on the eastern side of Carlton Road to improve access for pedestrians, cyclists, parents with prams and community members using wheelchairs and other mobility aids.”The project is proudly funded by the NSW Government through $792,000 from the Safer Roads fund and the remainder from Council.Realignment of the road will require the removal of some trees in the direct vicinity.

Central Coast Council is seeking nominations for the Australia Day 2020 Awards, which recognise individuals and groups who make an outstanding contribution to the region.Council Director Connected Communities, Julie Vaughan said the prestigious awards honour local leaders who go the extra mile in a range of different ways.“Our coast-wide Australia Day awards are an opportunity to recognise members of our community who make a real difference,” Ms Vaughan said.“Australia Day nominees and winners are often unsung heroes who work quietly behind the scenes to make the Coast a better place to live.”The 2020 Award categories are: Arts, Culture and Entertainment Awarded to an individual who has demonstrated excellence in their chosen art form and made a significant contribution to arts, culture and entertainment on the Coast.Business Connecting CommunitiesAwarded to a local businesses or enterprises with less than eight fulltime employees that has established a genuine involvement and long-term value to the life of their community. Community Service and ActivityAwarded to an individual or group responsible for creating community activities or services that benefit the Coast. Environmental Awarded to an individual who is leading the way in sustainability and making the Central Coast a place where people and nature can thrive.Sportsperson of the YearAwarded to an individual who has shown acts of sportsmanship and team building, been an outstanding sportsperson or made significant contributions as organisers or promoters of sports on the Coast. Volunteer of the YearAwarded to an individual (26 years and over) who has made a significant long-term commitment to volunteer work and demonstrated outstanding service and dedication to our local community. Youth of the Year Awarded to an individual (25 years or under) who has succeeded in his or her chosen field, acts as an inspiration to his or her peers and has made a significant contribution to the Coast community.Citizen of the YearEach winner from the above categories will then go into the running to be named Central Coast Citizen of the Year.Mayor Lisa Matthews said she encourages all community members to nominate individuals and groups who are worthy of the honour of a Central Coast Australia Day Award.“We all know someone who make the Central Coast a better place – by the work they do for others and their vision and passion for our community,” Mayor Matthews said. “These awards provide the opportunity to celebrate that contribution.” Nominations open Monday 30 September and close Friday 8 November 2019.For further information, eligibility criteria and to make a nomination visit centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/australiadayawards

Central Coast Council is now using a new survey-based technology to maximise efficiency on roads projects across the region.Council Director Roads, Transport, Drainage and Waste, Boris Bolgoff said Council is installing a technology in graders and excavators to achieve millimetre accuracy and improve efficiency and accuracy.“We are starting to install new survey systems in our excavators and graders which use GPS and 3D technology to dig and grade to millimetre accuracy,” Mr Bolgoff said.“Using this new approach allows our teams to deliver the accuracy required without the need to have surveyors recheck levels.“Design drawings are simply uploaded to the survey system and the construction machinery automatically adjusts to the design levels.“Since starting the roll-out of the technology we have seen a reduction in material waste and achieved cost savings by delivering projects in less time.”Mayor Lisa Matthews said new survey-based technology was part of Council’s commitment to deliver the best road project outcomes for the Central Coast.“Maintaining and developing our 2,200 kilometre network of roads is a big job and we are embracing new technology and products to deliver for our community,” Mayor Matthews said.“This technology is saving time and money and giving our staff more autonomy – all big ticks.“This rollout follows other innovative and sustainable approaches we have adopted such as the use of a road surfacing product made from recycled soft plastic, glass and toner cartridges.” All of Council’s major road, drainage and pathway projects can be viewed on an interactive map by visiting centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/roadanddrainageprojects

Central Coast Council is urging the community to be vigilant when it comes to vandalism following the destruction of several public place litter bins.Since the implementation of the public place litter bin renewal program, a number of bins have been significantly damaged or burnt out across the Coast. Council Director Roads, Transport, Drainage and Waste, Boris Bolgoff said the replacement of litter bins comes at a direct cost to ratepayers.  “We try to repair any damage on site, however, due to excessive damage bins usually have to be removed in the interest of public safety,” Mr Bolgoff said.“In the last two years, eight double waste stations have been burnt, six of which were at Bato Yard Skate Park, with another five single garbage enclosures at Umina requiring removal due to the damage, which has caused upwards of $20,000 in vandalised infrastructure. “We salvage what we can, though when bins are damaged beyond repair the cost of replacement really starts to add up.“This is a direct loss to Council and can impact upon the replacement of bins if they are constantly damaged as well as distribution of bins in the future due to reduced resources.“Graffiti is also a growing concern with many road signs damaged over the last twelve months – this is not only at a cost to Council to remove, but also impacts driver safety.”This financial year the Public Place Bin Replacement Program looks to roll our 160 new waste and recycling units and a solar compaction bin that will compress litter within the bin.This will help provide adequate amenities for the community to dispose of waste responsibly while enjoying the Coast’s amazing parks and unique environment.Mayor Lisa Matthews encouraged the community to report any vandalism as soon as they observe it in their local area.“Vandalism impacts neighbourhood appearance as well as businesses and community confidence in the safety and security of public places,” Mayor Matthews said.“The quicker we act to report, remove and repair the damage caused, the less likely it will recur again.