Water & environment · Central Coast Council
Hawkesbury-Nepean river plan recommended for Council adoption
Central Coast’s Environment and Planning Committee recommended sending the final coastal management program to the NSW Minister for Environment for certification, subject to Council adoption first.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Central Coast Council’s Environment and Planning Committee recommended that Council adopt the final Hawkesbury-Nepean River System Coastal Management Program for submission to the NSW Minister for Environment for certification. The supplied minutes do not record final Council adoption.
The committee’s resolution, EPC-26/259, noted the outcomes of public exhibition of the draft program. It also recommended that Council authorise the chief executive officer to make further minor post-exhibition amendments, subject to advice from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, for the purpose of ministerial certification.
The recommendation was resolved by exception at the committee’s 3 November 2026 meeting, with the item listed for adoption without debate. The record does not give a date for Council’s consideration, ministerial certification or implementation. It also contains no funding, cost or construction commitment linked to the program.
The outcome recorded is therefore a recommendation and a proposed pathway towards certification, rather than a final Council adoption or a confirmed program of works.
What deserves a closer look
The record establishes a committee recommendation to Council, not a final Council adoption or ministerial certification.
The proposed amendment authority would require Council authorisation, would be subject to departmental advice and would be limited to further minor post-exhibition amendments for ministerial certification.
The supplied minutes do not state the program's cost, funding, implementation timetable, priority works, Council consideration date or certification date.
Questions for follow-up reporting
When will Council consider the committee's recommendation?
What minor amendments, if any, will be requested by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water?
What funding and implementation timetable would apply if the program is adopted and certified?
What happens next
Council could consider the recommendation to adopt the final Hawkesbury-Nepean River System Coastal Management Program.
If Council adopts the program as recommended, it would be sent to the NSW Minister for Environment for certification.
If Council grants the recommended authorisation, the chief executive officer could make further minor post-exhibition amendments subject to departmental advice for ministerial certification.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The minutes identify the meeting as the Central Coast Council Environment and Planning Committee meeting held on 3 November 2026.
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 heading
Open original minutes ↗The quotation notes public exhibition outcomes and recommends that Council adopt the final Hawkesbury-Nepean River System Coastal Management Program for submission to the NSW Minister for Environment for certification.
Notes the outcomes of the public exhibition of the draft Hawkesbury-Nepean River System Coastal Management Program. 2. Recommends that Council: a. Adopts the final Hawkesbury-Nepean River System Coastal Management Program for the purpose of sending it to the NSW Minister for Environment for certification.
EPC-26/259, item 2.1, clauses 1 and 2(a)
Open original minutes ↗The quotation recommends that Council authorise the chief executive officer to make further minor post-exhibition amendments to the Coastal Management Program, subject to advice from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, for ministerial certification.
Notes the outcomes of the public exhibition of the draft Hawkesbury-Nepean River System Coastal Management Program. 2. Recommends that Council: a. Adopts the final Hawkesbury-Nepean River System Coastal Management Program for the purpose of sending it to the NSW Minister for Environment for certification. b. Authorises the Chief Executive Officer to make further minor post exhibition amendments to the Coastal Management Program subject to advice from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water for the purpose of Ministerial certification.
EPC-26/259, item 2.1, recommendation to Council and clause 2(b)
Open original minutes ↗The minutes record item 2.1, the Hawkesbury-Nepean River System Coastal Management Program, as resolved by exception under EPC-26/259.
CARRIED FOR: Cr Eaton OAM, Cr Walsh, Cr Castles, Cr Smith, Cr Mouland, Deputy Mayor Stanton and Mayor McNamara AGAINST: Nil ABSENT FOR THIS ITEM: Cr Walsh and Deputy Mayor Stanton Central Coast Council Environment & Planning Committee Minutes 3 November 2026 Page 6 OFFICIAL 2 DEFERRED ITEMS 2.1 Coastal Management Program - Hawkesbury Nepean River System - for Adoption RESOLVED by EXCEPTION on the MOTION as MOVED by Cr Mouland and SECONDED by Mayor McNamara: EPC-26/259 That the Committee: 1.
Item 2.1, resolved-by-exception statement
Open original minutes ↗The minutes list item 2.1 among the items adopted without debate under the items-resolved-by-exception motion.
CARRIED FOR: Cr Eaton OAM, Cr Walsh, Cr Castles, Cr Smith, Cr Mouland, Deputy Mayor Stanton and Mayor McNamara AGAINST: Nil ABSENT FOR THIS ITEM: Cr Walsh and Deputy Mayor Stanton Central Coast Council Environment & Planning Committee Minutes 3 November 2026 Page 5 OFFICIAL 1.7 Items Resolved by Exception 5:07pm A MOTION was MOVED by Cr Mouland and SECONDED by Mayor McNamara: EPC-26/256 That the Committee determines the following items on the 3 November 2026 Environment & Planning Committee business papers to adopted without debate: a. Item 2.1 - Coastal Management Program - Hawkesbury Nepean River System - for Adoption b. Item 4.5 - Development Assessment Statistics and Major Development Applications – Update. c. Item 4.6 - Planning Proposal Statistics - for Information. CARRIED FOR: Cr Eaton OAM, Cr Walsh, Cr Castles, Cr Smith, Cr Mouland and Mayor McNamara AGAINST: Nil ABSENT FOR THIS ITEM: Cr Walsh and Deputy Mayor Stanton 5:09pm A PROCEDURAL MOTION was MOVED by Cr Eaton OAM and SECONDED by Cr Mouland: That the Committee suspends standing orders to allow for the public speakers to address the Committee before consideration of the following items, and then resumes consideration of the remaining agenda items in sequence: a.
Item 1.7, EPC-26/256 and listed items
Open original minutes ↗Source record
This report is based solely on the supplied minutes of Central Coast Council’s Environment and Planning Committee meeting held on 3 November 2026. The supplied record does not establish whether those minutes have been confirmed.
Key facts from the minutes
- The Environment and Planning Committee considered the item on 3 November 2026.
- The committee noted the outcomes of public exhibition of the draft Hawkesbury-Nepean River System Coastal Management Program.
- The committee recommended that Council adopt the final program for submission to the NSW Minister for Environment for certification.
- The committee also recommended that Council authorise the chief executive officer to make further minor post-exhibition amendments, subject to advice from the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, for ministerial certification.
- The minutes do not state the program’s cost, funding source, implementation timetable or certification date.
Why it matters
- The recommendation is a step towards seeking ministerial certification, but the minutes do not establish funding, priority works or an implementation timetable.