Extraordinary Council Meeting - Tuesday 29 September 2026

Topics

• John McNamara elected Central Coast mayor
  Councillors elected John McNamara as Mayor in an open vote at an extraordinary meeting.
  The Mayor will lead Council and represent the Central Coast until the end of the current Council term.
• Rachel Stanton elected Deputy Mayor for year-long term
  Rachel Stanton was elected Deputy Mayor for a term running until immediately before the September 2027 election.
  The Deputy Mayor supports the Mayor and may act in the role when required during the next year.

Decisions

• Mayor elected
  Council used open voting and elected Councillor John McNamara as Mayor of Central Coast Council for the period from 29 September 2026 until the end of the current Council term.
  The Mayor chairs Council and has a central role in representing residents and leading Council decision-making.
• Deputy Mayor elected
  Council resolved to elect a Deputy Mayor for a one-year term and elected Councillor Rachel Stanton. Her term begins on 29 September 2026 and ends immediately before the September 2027 Deputy Mayor election.
  The Deputy Mayor supports the Mayor and may act in that role when required.
• Remote attendance approved
  Council approved Councillor Corrine Lamont’s request to attend the meeting by audio-visual link because she was unable to attend in person.
  The decision enabled the councillor to participate in the meeting remotely.

Discussion

• Council leadership
  The meeting focused on the election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the current Council term and the next one-year Deputy Mayor period.
  The leadership team will influence Council priorities, public representation and future decisions affecting the Central Coast.

Impacts

• John McNamara is now Mayor of Central Coast Council until the end of the current Council term.
• Rachel Stanton is Deputy Mayor until immediately before the September 2027 Deputy Mayor election.
• Councillor Corrine Lamont participated remotely after her attendance request was approved.

Places

• Central Coast Council Chambers, 2 Hely Street, Wyong (council facility)
  Venue for the extraordinary meeting.
• Wyong (town)
  Location of the Council Chambers where the meeting was held.
• Central Coast Council (local government area)
  Council whose Mayor and Deputy Mayor were elected.

Next

• John McNamara assumes the role of Mayor.
  From 29 September 2026 until the end of the current Council term.
• Rachel Stanton serves as Deputy Mayor.
  From 29 September 2026 until immediately before the September 2027 Deputy Mayor election.

Extract

OFFICIAL Central Coast Council MINUTES of the Extraordinary Council Meeting held in the Central Coast Council Chambers 2 Hely Street, Wyong Tuesday 29 September 2026 Present Mayor Lawrie McKinna Deputy Mayor John Mouland Councillor Margot Castles Councillor Helen Crowley Councillor Kyla Daniels Councillor Doug Eaton OAM Councillor Corinne Lamont (remotely) Councillor Kyle MacGregor Councillor John McNamara Councillor Trent McWaide Councillor Belinda Neal Councillor Jane Smith Councillor Rachel Stanton Councillor Sharon Walsh Councillor Jared Wright Council Officers Jamie Loader Acting Chief Executive Officer Boris Bolgoff Director Infrastructure Services Luke Nicholls Director Environment a...