Coast Connect

Central Coast Council news and community information

Administrator Message

Rik Hart

Myth-busting about community land plan

Central Coast Council is currently exhibiting its draft Plan of Management for Council Community Land until 1 March and is seeking comments and feedback from the Central Coast community about what the 2,000 community land parcels across 400 sites should be used for.

The five categories which can apply to community land are:

1. General community use

2. Sportsgrounds

3. Parks

4. Culturally significant sites

5. Natural area:

• wetlands

• bushlands

• escarpment

• foreshore

• watercourse

I was pleased to attend (as a participant) one of the public hearings at Erina this month, however, I noticed there was some misunderstanding about what Council is trying to achieve with this draft Plan of Management process.

I would like to clarify – and stress – that this draft Plan of Management process is not about the reclassification of Council owned or managed land, nor is it about the sale of land. This process is about the categorisation of land, which will dictate how Council can manage the land.

Read more at yourvoiceourcoast.com/ POMcommunityland by 1 March.

The next ordinary Council meeting will be held at Wyong on 28 February 2023. Search ‘council meetings’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Expressions of interest

Establishing an Aboriginal Advisory Committee

We are calling on our local Aboriginal community to send in an Expression of Interest to be part of an Aboriginal Advisory Committee. The committee is being established as part of the Central Coast First Nations Accord and will help provide advice and feedback to Council on issues that affect the community. EOI closes 9 March. For more information, search ‘aboriginal advisory committee’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Chemical CleanOut Events

Make your home safer and dispose of chemicals the right way! Responsibly dispose of any unwanted, out-of-date or unused household chemicals for free at Council’s Chemical Cleanout event on 4-5 March in Kincumber, and 11-12 March at Council’s Long Jetty Depot. For more information, search ‘chemical cleanout’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Improving your water and sewer services

We are working with our local community to collect feedback to help improve Council’s water and sewer services.

From March, we’re asking residents and businesses to share with Council what you value most about your water and sewer services, and how you would like to receive updates on Council’s progress in delivering on those values. For more information, go to yourvoiceourcoast. com/waterservices

Have your say via the 24/7 consultation hub

In the last year more than 6,000 contributions from our community submitted both online and across 60 engagement sessions, have shaped over 50 projects, plans and strategies.

Community engagement is the key mechanism that helps to identify local values and needs to assist Council in its decision-making.

We are currently seeking input on the following projects and plans:

• Draft Plan of Management for Council Community Land (until 1 March) - have your say on how Council manages community land.

• Tuggerah Lakes foreshore restoration works (until 1 March) - tell us how you use specific foreshore areas.

• Central Coast Regional Animal Care Facility (until 1 March) - let us know what you would like to see in the final designs.

• Wyong District Place Plan (until 10 March) – we want to hear you thoughts, ideas and feedback on the future of Wyong.

• Draft Greater Warnervale Structure Plan (until 31 March) - tell us what you would like to see for the future of Warnervale.

• Our Coast, Our Waterways (ongoing in 2023) - join us in providing feedback for our Coastal Management Programs.

There are also several planning proposals and draft policies on exhibition.

Have your say, via our 24/7 online consultation hub ‘Your Voice Our Coast’, yourvoiceourcoast.com

Be a part of The Lakes Festival 2023 program

We want to hear from businesses, community groups and event organisers with a creative vision to propose and deliver an activity or an event as part of the 10-day Lakes Festival program. There is also an opportunity to apply for up to $5,000 of funding as part of the EOI, to support your activity or event. Submit an EOI by 13 March 2023. Go to centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/eoi