ADMINISTRATOR MESSAGE

2023 kicks off with Australia Day Awards

Happy new year, Central Coast community! I hope you were able to take a break over the holiday period and enjoy some time with your families and friends.

2023 is already in full swing, with this year’s Australia Day Awards held earlier this week. At the beginning of each year, Council celebrates the achievements and contributions of prominent local community members through these awards. On Monday 23 January, ten locals received Australia Day honours, including Mr Ryan Wilson, who was named Citizen of the Year.

Mr Wilson, a tradesman, developed the idea for Free Trade Day after attending a typical household callout and becoming aware that the gentleman had been without hot water for some time due to a broken hot water system that he could not afford to fix.

This thought kick-started Free Trade Day as a solution to supporting locals in need through generosity and community spirit.

Today, Free Trade Day conducts hundreds of jobs across the Coast each year with over 300 volunteers and countless more businesses coming on board every day!

The calibre of the 50+ award nominees this year was outstanding, which is a testament to the depth of talent and community spirit we have on the Coast.

To read about all the winners and nominees, search ‘Australia Day 2023 winners’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Draft Plan of Management for Community Land on exhibition

A draft Plan of Management for Council Community Land is currently on public exhibition. Our community is encouraged to view the plans online at yourvoiceourcoast.com and have their say by 1 March 2023.

Public hearings are also being held at Wyong (1, 8 Feb), The Entrance (2 Feb), Erina (6 Feb) and Woy Woy (7 Feb), with registrations now open.

To view the draft Plan, go to yourvoiceourcoast. com/POMcommunityland

Koori Knockout returns to the Coast in 2023

We are pleased to have won the bid to host the NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout at the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex in partnership with the Newcastle All Blacks team, who took out the title in 2022. This is the state’s largest annual Indigenous sporting event, which will be held on the October long weekend.

To find out more, search ‘Koori Knockout 2023’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Seniors Festival 2023

Celebrate seniors together! Meet new people and connect with local community groups, services providers, and more. There are plenty of activities, workshops and events across 1 to 12 February 2023.

A highlight of the Festival is Council’s FREE Seniors Expo, on Thursday 9 Feb at Wyong Race Club.

To see the schedule and find out more, search ‘seniors festival’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/events

Program to improve sense of safety

Council is to participate in Transport for NSW’s $30M Safer Cities program, to make public spaces, including streets and public transport hubs, safer for women, girls and gender diverse people. Have your say about the experiences that have affected your sense of safety in and around public spaces and transport hubs.

For more information, search ‘safer cities’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Ready, set...play!

We have upgraded six playspaces with new and engaging equipment in 2022: Avoca Beach (Ross Park), Mardi (Woolmers Cres), East Gosford (Hylton Moore Oval), North Avoca (Palm Gully Park), Pretty Beach (Turo Reserve) and Saratoga (Jirramba Ave). Hop around the coast and visit them all! Funding by the Australian Government.

For more information, search ‘playspace news’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

School is back

Schools start to re-open from Friday 27 January 2023, which means that 40km per hour school zones will be back in force before and after school.

Please slow down around schools, and when you see the lights flash on the back of buses - as it’s a warning that they’re dropping off or picking up children.

For more information, search ‘road safety’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au