Water & environment · Central Coast Council
Committee recommends urgent ministerial meeting over Wamberal works
The Environment and Planning Committee recommended asking the NSW Minister for Recovery to meet a four-person Central Coast Council delegation, after rejecting a bid to include all interested councillors.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Central Coast Council’s Environment and Planning Committee recommended that Council request an urgent meeting between the NSW Minister for Recovery and a four-person council delegation about ministerial authorisation for proposed coastal protection works at Wamberal Beach.
The recommendation concerns Council’s request for authorisation under section 68 of the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022. The proposed delegation comprises Mayor John McNamara, the chief executive officer, Deputy Mayor Rachel Stanton and the chairperson of the Environment and Planning Committee.
The committee’s stated purpose was to expedite NSW Reconstruction Authority approval. The resolution does not record that authorisation has been granted, or that the works have been approved to proceed.
An amendment moved by Cr Sharon Walsh and seconded by Cr Jane Smith would have added all interested councillors to the delegation. It was defeated, with Cr Walsh, Cr Margot Castles and Cr Smith recorded for the amendment, and Cr Doug Eaton OAM, Cr John Mouland, Deputy Mayor Stanton and Mayor McNamara recorded against it.
The original motion was then declared carried by four votes to three. The minutes record that Lisa Kolinac addressed the committee and that a Council environmental management officer spoke to the report, but do not give the substance of either contribution.
The minutes do not state a construction date, project cost or funding allocation. They also do not record whether the Minister has agreed to meet the delegation or when any later authorisation decision might be made.
What deserves a closer look
The minutes record an adopted committee recommendation that Council request a ministerial meeting, not evidence that Council has made that request.
The recorded resolution does not grant ministerial authorisation or approval for construction.
The recorded resolution does not provide the proposed works' cost, funding source or construction timing.
Questions for follow-up reporting
Has the Minister for Recovery agreed to meet the specified delegation, and when will the meeting occur?
What is the outcome of Council's request for authorisation under section 68?
What is the estimated cost of the proposed works and how would they be funded?
What construction timing, if any, depends on authorisation?
What happens next
If Council adopts the committee's recommendation, it would request that the Minister for Recovery meet the specified delegation as soon as possible to expedite NSW Reconstruction Authority approval.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The motion proposed noting an update on Council's request for ministerial authorisation under section 68 of the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022 for coastal protection works at Wamberal Beach.
6:00pm A MOTION was MOVED by Cr Eaton OAM and SECONDED by Mayor McNamara: EPC-26/258 That the Committee: 1. Notes the update on Council's request for Ministerial Authorisation under Section 68 of the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022 for coastal protection works at Wamberal Beach.
Item 4.4, EPC-26/258
Open original minutes ↗The motion recommended that Council request a meeting with the Minister for Recovery as soon as possible, with a four-person delegation comprising the mayor, chief executive officer, deputy mayor and Environment and Planning Committee chairperson, to expedite NSW Reconstruction Authority approval.
6:00pm A MOTION was MOVED by Cr Eaton OAM and SECONDED by Mayor McNamara: EPC-26/258 That the Committee: 1. Notes the update on Council's request for Ministerial Authorisation under Section 68 of the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022 for coastal protection works at Wamberal Beach. 2. Recommends that Council requests the Minister for Recovery meets with a delegation of Council consisting of the Mayor, the Chief Executive Officer, the Deputy Mayor and the Chairperson of the Environment and Planning Committee as soon as possible to expedite the NSW Reconstruction Authority approval.
Item 4.4, EPC-26/258
Open original minutes ↗An amendment moved by Cr Walsh and seconded by Cr Smith proposed including all interested councillors in the delegation. It was declared lost, with three councillors listed for it and four against.
An AMENDMENT was MOVED by Cr Walsh and SECONDED by Cr Smith: That the Committee: 1. Notes the update on Council's request for Ministerial Authorisation under Section 68 of the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022 for coastal protection works at Wamberal Beach. 2. Recommends that Council requests the Minister for Recovery meets with delegation of Council consisting of the Mayor, the Chief Executive Officer, the Deputy Mayor, the Chairperson of the Environment and Planning Committee and all interested Councillors as soon as possible to expedite the NSW Reconstruction Authority approval. LOST FOR: Cr Walsh, Cr Castles and Cr Smith AGAINST: Cr Eaton OAM, Cr Mouland, Deputy Mayor Stanton and Mayor McNamara The AMENDMENT was put to the vote and declared LOST, debate resumed on the original MOTION.
Item 4.4, amendment and vote
Open original minutes ↗The minutes declare the motion carried and list four councillors in favour and three against.
Central Coast Council Environment & Planning Committee Minutes 3 November 2026 Page 12 OFFICIAL The MOTION was put to the vote and declared CARRIED. CARRIED FOR: Cr Eaton OAM, Cr Mouland, Deputy Mayor Stanton and Mayor McNamara AGAINST: Cr Walsh, Cr Castles and Cr Smith 4.5 Development Assessment Statistics and Major Development Applications - Update RESOLVED by EXCEPTION on the MOTION as MOVED by Cr Mouland and SECONDED by Mayor McNamara: EPC-26/265 That the Committee recommends that Council: a.
Item 4.4, original motion vote
Open original minutes ↗Lisa Kolinac addressed the committee on the Wamberal Beach ministerial authorisation item, and the Unit Manager for Environmental Management spoke to the report.
The MOTION was put to the vote and declared CARRIED. CARRIED FOR: Cr Eaton OAM, Cr Mouland, Deputy Mayor Stanton and Mayor McNamara AGAINST: Cr Walsh, Cr Castles and Cr Smith Central Coast Council Environment & Planning Committee Minutes 3 November 2026 Page 11 OFFICIAL 4.4 Update on Request for Ministerial Authorisation for Wamberal Beach Coastal Protection Works 5:45pm Public Speaker, Lisa Kolinac addressed the Committee in relation to Item 4.4 - . Update on Request for Ministerial Authorisation for Wamberal Beach Coastal Protection Works. Unit Manager for Environmental Management spoke to the 'Update on Request for Ministerial Authorisation for Wamberal Beach Coastal Protection Works' report.
Item 4.4, public speaker and officer presentation
Open original minutes ↗The membership list identifies John McNamara as mayor, Rachel Stanton as deputy mayor, Doug Eaton OAM as committee chairperson, and Sharon Walsh, Margot Castles, John Mouland and Jane Smith as members.
OFFICIAL Central Coast Council MINUTES of the Environment & Planning Committee Meeting held in Function Room 2 2 Hely Street, Wyong Tuesday 3 November 2026 Members Status Cr Doug Eaton OAM, Chairperson Present Cr Sharon Walsh, Deputy Chairperson Present (remotely) Mayor John McNamara, Member Present Cr Margot Castles, Member Present (remotely) Cr John Mouland, Member Present Cr Jane Smith, Member Present (remotely) Deputy Mayor Rachel Stanton, Member Present (remotely) Councillor Guests Status Cr Helen Crowley Present Cr Belinda Neal Present (remotely) Council Officers Status Luke Nicholls, Director Environment and Planning Present Shannon Turkington,
Meeting title and membership list
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the minutes of Central Coast Council’s Environment and Planning Committee meeting held on 3 November 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The committee noted an update on Council’s request for ministerial authorisation under section 68 of the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022.
- It recommended that Council request a meeting between the Minister for Recovery and a delegation comprising the mayor, chief executive officer, deputy mayor and Environment and Planning Committee chairperson.
- An amendment to include all interested councillors was defeated.
- The original motion was declared carried, with four councillors recorded in favour and three against.
- The minutes do not state a construction date, project cost, funding allocation or grant of ministerial authorisation.
Why it matters
- The recommendation seeks to advance the authorisation process for proposed coastal protection works at Wamberal Beach, but the minutes do not establish that the works are approved, funded or scheduled.