Aboriginal Advisory Committee - Tuesday 2 June 2026

Topics

• Aboriginal Advisory Committee opens two or three membership vacancies
  The Committee will approach the Local Health District for a nominee and launch an Expressions of Interest process for new members after accepting a resignation.
  The recruitment will shape Aboriginal community representation in the Council’s advisory process.
• Woy Woy, Ettalong and Umina greening project to receive Connecting to Country input
  The Aboriginal Advisory Committee will provide cultural knowledge to the Greening Our Cities grant project covering three Peninsula suburbs.
  The decision links local environmental works with Aboriginal cultural design and community input.
• Council Aboriginal agreement progress to be reported at every ordinary advisory meeting
  The Committee accepted the Memorandum of Understanding Progress Report as a standing agenda item.
  Regular reporting creates an ongoing public accountability point for implementation of the agreement.

Decisions

• Memorandum of Understanding progress to become a standing item
  The Committee accepted the Memorandum of Understanding Progress Report as a standing item at ordinary meetings.
  Residents can expect regular public reporting on implementation of the Council’s Aboriginal-related Memorandum of Understanding.
• Committee membership recruitment
  The Committee supported approaching the Local Health District about nominating a candidate, agreed to begin an Expressions of Interest process for two and potentially three vacancies, and accepted Colleen Fuller’s resignation.
  The recruitment process may change the Committee’s representation and community participation.
• Connecting to Country grant project
  The Committee received the report on the Greening Our Cities grant for Woy Woy, Ettalong and Umina and agreed to share cultural knowledge and feedback to support project delivery.
  Local greening works in the three suburbs are intended to incorporate Aboriginal cultural knowledge and Connecting to Country principles.
• Staff Aboriginal Reference Group presentation deferred
  The Staff Aboriginal Reference Group meet-and-greet presentation was deferred to the next meeting.
  The Committee’s consideration of the Council staff reference group will occur at a later meeting.

Discussion

• Library spaces and cultural programming
  The Committee discussed the potential for libraries across the Central Coast, particularly Gosford Regional Library, to become yarning-circle places. It also discussed cultural appropriateness, shared stories and working with satellite libraries during a presentation on the Library Strategy 2026-36.
  The discussion could inform future library programming and culturally appropriate community spaces, but no implementation decision was recorded.
• Outstanding First Nations cultural and employment actions
  Outstanding actions included First Nations exhibition and cultural projects at Gosford Regional Gallery, development of an Aboriginal employment strategy, possible Aboriginal-specific positions, a draft Aboriginal Communication Plan and updated wording for Historic Walk signage. Several actions remained ongoing or pending.
  These actions concern Council’s cultural programs, employment approach, communications and public signage.
• Upcoming community events
  The Committee noted that the 5 Lands Walk was scheduled for 20 June 2026 and the NAIDOC Week flag raising for 6 July 2026.
  These dates provide residents with advance notice of local cultural events and activities.

Impacts

• The Aboriginal Advisory Committee will begin recruiting for two, and potentially three, membership positions.
• The Memorandum of Understanding Progress Report will be considered regularly at ordinary Committee meetings.
• Greening projects in Woy Woy, Ettalong and Umina will incorporate Aboriginal cultural feedback through the Committee.
• Potential future library yarning-circle spaces and related cultural programming were discussed but not approved.

Places

• Wyong (town)
  Meeting venue at Function Room 1, 2 Hely Street.
• Woy Woy (suburb)
  One of the areas covered by the Greening Our Cities grant project.
• Ettalong (suburb)
  One of the areas covered by the Greening Our Cities grant project.
• Umina (suburb)
  One of the areas covered by the Greening Our Cities grant project.
• Gosford Regional Library (facility)
  Discussed as a potential yarning-circle place and in relation to the Library Strategy 2026-36.
• Gosford Regional Gallery (facility)
  Subject of outstanding actions concerning First Nations exhibitions and cultural projects.

Next

• Contact a potential candidate and discuss an application for Committee membership.
  After the 2 June 2026 meeting.
• Approach the Local Health District about nominating a Committee member.
  Follow-up action; no specific deadline recorded.
• Commence Expressions of Interest for two, potentially three, Committee vacancies.
  Following consideration of the potential candidates’ response.
• Include the Memorandum of Understanding Progress Report as a standing item at ordinary meetings.
  Future ordinary Committee meetings.
• Provide cultural feedback and knowledge to inform the Greening Our Cities grant project.
  During project delivery; no specific deadline recorded.
• Continue outstanding work on First Nations cultural projects, Aboriginal employment strategy and communication planning.
  Ongoing, with some items to return to a future meeting.
• Hold the next Aboriginal Advisory Committee meeting.
  1 September 2026.

Extract

Central Coast Council MINUTES of the Aboriginal Advisory Committee Meeting held in Function Room 1 2 Hely Street, Wyong 2 June 2026 Members Status Jake MacDonald Present Shahni Wellington Present Vickie Parry Present Phillip Bligh Present Barry Duncan Present Monica McKenzie Present Colleen Fuller Absent Guests Status Corinne Hodson, Barang Regional Alliance for Items 1.1 to 2.2 Present Amy Parry, Barang Regional Alliance Present Council Officers Status Melanie Smith, Director Community and Recreation Services Present Belinda McRobie, Section Manager, Community Development Present Samantha Cummins, Unit Manager, Libraries and Education Present Deanne Fenkel, Section Manager, Strategic Plann...