Council Meeting - 22 Jul 2025 6:30 PM

Key decisions

• Public Toilet Strategy adopted with site-specific amendments
  Council adopted the Public Toilet Strategy with amendments including retaining toilets at Bush Street Reserve, Norah Head; Bluebell Park, Berkeley Vale; and Hardys Bay/Killcare, relocating the Walter and Edith Denniss Park toilet to Terilbah Reserve at The Entrance North, adding liquid soap and sanitary bins across the network subject to vandalism issues, and making 31 additional sports amenities available for general community use. Mangrove Mountain toilets are to be upgraded with a septic system and handwashing by June 2027.
  Affects access to public toilets, amenities quality, and which facilities stay open, move, or are upgraded.
• Blue Lagoon closure amendment rejected
  A proposed amendment to keep Blue Lagoon Public Toilet, Bateau Bay, open until stair upgrades were completed, 12 months of usage were assessed, further community consultation occurred, and a report returned to Council was lost.
  Residents should note Council did not adopt the stronger delay/consultation conditions proposed for any future Blue Lagoon toilet closure decision.
• Water and sewer policies adopted
  Council adopted the Backflow Prevention Policy 2025 and the Building in Proximity to Water and Sewer Assets Policy.
  Affects property owners, builders, and developers working near water and sewer infrastructure.
• Land acquisition approved for Mannering Park shared pathway
  Council approved acquisition of land in Mannering Park for a shared pathway linking Mannering Park and Chain Valley Bay, with authority to negotiate purchase or pursue compulsory acquisition if needed under the Just Terms framework.
  Supports delivery of an active transport link and may affect nearby landowners.
• Land acquisition approved for Davistown Road, Saratoga upgrades
  Council approved acquisition of land along Davistown Road, Saratoga, for road widening to enable road, pathway, and drainage upgrades, with authority to negotiate purchase or pursue compulsory acquisition if required.
  Relevant to road safety, drainage, walking access, and affected property owners in Saratoga.
• Winney Bay safety barriers requested
  Council asked the Chief Executive Officer to develop and implement a plan for safety barriers along the cliff edge between Captain Cook Lookout and the existing Winney Bay Stairs.
  Aims to improve public safety while allowing continued use of the informal walking trail.
• Flood and asbestos policies sent to public exhibition
  Council endorsed the Draft Flood Risk Management Policy for at least 42 days of community consultation, with amendments to reflect 35-year house life and 50-year other building life and five-year reviews. Council also endorsed the Draft Policy for Asbestos Management for at least 28 days of public exhibition.
  Residents will be able to comment on how Council manages flood risk and asbestos-related issues.
• Borrowings and investments policies adopted
  After a motion to exhibit them was lost, Council carried a foreshadowed motion to adopt the reviewed Investments Management Policy and the Draft Borrowings Policy.
  Sets the framework for how Council manages investments and borrowing, with implications for long-term financial management.
• FOGO facility business case endorsed and EOI approved
  Council accepted the final FOGO Facility Business Case and agreed that a proposed at least 100,000 tonne per annum in-vessel composting FOGO facility at Buttonderry Waste Management Facility should proceed to an Expression of Interest process, subject to Office of Local Government requirements for a PPP/BOOT procurement pathway.
  This is a major waste and organics processing decision that could affect future waste services, infrastructure, and local environmental outcomes.
• Tourist accommodation proposals encouraged
  Council resolved to encourage proposals for high quality tourist accommodation and associated facilities, especially cabins, hotels, and resorts, in response to identified undersupply.
  May influence future development applications and tourism-related growth across the Central Coast.

Important topics

• Gosford Regional Library
  Council noted progress on the Gosford Regional Library project.
  Signals ongoing progress on a major civic facility.
• Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee appointments
  Council appointed the Deputy Mayor to the recruitment panel, appointed Councillor McWaide as alternate councillor to the committee, and kept candidate-related attachments confidential.
  Relevant to governance and oversight rather than day-to-day services.
• Monthly finance report
  Council received the preliminary Monthly Financial Report for June 2025.
  Provides a snapshot of Council’s financial position.
• Environment and Planning Committee outcomes adopted
  Council adopted Terms of Reference for the Mangrove Mountain Advisory Sub-Committee and endorsed the Draft Policy for Keeping of Animals and the draft Squirrel Glider Species Management Plan for public exhibition.
  Residents in affected areas may have input on animal management and species protection settings.
• Tourism and economic development direction
  Council noted the Economic Development Committee minutes and supported encouraging new visitor accommodation proposals.
  Could affect jobs, investment, and future local development patterns.

Resident impacts

• Some public toilets will be retained, relocated, or upgraded, affecting access to amenities in multiple suburbs.
• Property owners near Davistown Road, Saratoga and the Mannering Park shared pathway corridor may be affected by land acquisition processes.
• Residents will have opportunities to comment on draft flood, asbestos, animal-keeping, and squirrel glider policies during exhibition periods.
• A large proposed FOGO facility at Buttonderry has moved to the next procurement stage, which may shape future organics and waste processing services.
• Safety improvements are planned for the Winney Bay walking area between Captain Cook Lookout and Winney Bay Stairs.

Places affected

• Mannering Park (locality)
  Land acquisition approved for a shared pathway linking Mannering Park and Chain Valley Bay.
• Chain Valley Bay (locality)
  Endpoint of the proposed shared pathway linked to Mannering Park.
• Davistown Road, Saratoga (road/locality)
  Land acquisition approved for road widening, pathway, and drainage upgrades.
• Winney Bay (coastal reserve/walking area)
  Safety barriers requested along the cliff edge near the informal walking trail and stairs.
• Buttonderry Waste Management Facility (waste facility)
  Proposed site of the FOGO processing facility endorsed to proceed to EOI.
• Bateau Bay (suburb)
  Blue Lagoon public toilet amendment debated but not adopted.
• The Entrance North (suburb)
  Walter and Edith Denniss Park toilet to be relocated to Terilbah Reserve.
• Mangrove Mountain (locality)
  Toilets to be upgraded and advisory sub-committee terms adopted.

Next steps

• Chief Executive Officer to amend and implement the adopted Public Toilet Strategy decisions
  Following the meeting; Mangrove Mountain upgrade by end of June 2027
• Negotiate land purchases for the Mannering Park shared pathway and Davistown Road Saratoga upgrades, with compulsory acquisition approval sought if needed
  During statutory negotiation periods
• Develop and implement a plan for safety barriers between Captain Cook Lookout and Winney Bay Stairs
  Timing not specified
• Exhibit the Draft Flood Risk Management Policy for community consultation
  Minimum 42 days
• Exhibit the Draft Policy for Asbestos Management, Draft Policy for Keeping of Animals, and draft Squirrel Glider Species Management Plan
  Minimum 28 days each
• Lodge FOGO PPP proposal documents with the Office of Local Government and, subject to agreement, release an Expression of Interest
  Following Council endorsement; further report after EOI outcome
• Report on the Tuggerawong shared pathway project back to the Infrastructure and Assets Committee
  12 August 2025 meeting
• Provide a further report on the outcome of the FOGO EOI process through the Infrastructure and Assets Committee and then Council
  After completion of the EOI process

Extracted minutes text

- 1 - Central Coast Council Ordinary Council Meeting Held in the Council Chambers 2 Hely Street, Wyong 22 July 2025 MINUTES Present Mayor Lawrie McKinna Deputy Mayor Doug Eaton OAM Councillor Margot Castles Councillor Helen Crowley Councillor Kyla Daniels (remotely) Councillor Corinne Lamont (remotely) Councillor Kyle MacGregor Councillor John McNamara Councillor Trent McWaide Councillor John Mouland Councillor Belinda Neal Councillor Jane Smith Councillor Rachel Stanton Councillor Sharon Walsh Councillor Jared Wright In Attendance David Farmer Chief Executive Officer Boris Bolgoff Director Infrastructure Services Luke Nicholls Director Environment and Planning Jamie Loader Director Water a...