funding · Central Coast Council
Casting vote blocks quarterly capital works reporting at Central Coast Council
A proposed dashboard covering project budgets, spending, deadlines, risks and delivery status was defeated 7-7, with Acting Mayor John Mouland holding the deciding vote.
Central Coast councillors have voted down a proposal for quarterly reporting on major capital projects, after Acting Mayor John Mouland used his casting vote to defeat the amendment.
Moved by Cr Corinne Lamont and seconded by Cr Margot Castles, the proposal would have required councillors to receive a quarterly Capital Works Dashboard for each major project.
The dashboard would have listed the original and current approved budgets, expenditure to date, forecast final cost, original and forecast completion dates, and material budget or schedule variations with the reasons for them.
It would also have recorded key project risks and mitigation measures, with a traffic-light indicator showing delivery status.
Seven councillors supported the amendment: Kyle MacGregor, Margot Castles, Helen Crowley, Sharon Walsh, Belinda Neal, Jane Smith and Corinne Lamont. Seven opposed it, including Acting Mayor Mouland and councillors Kyla Daniels, Doug Eaton OAM, Rachel Stanton, Jared Wright, John McNamara and Trent McWaide. Cr Lawrie McKinna was absent for the vote.
Councillors then carried the original motion to receive the Infrastructure and Assets Committee minutes from its 9 June meeting. The quarterly dashboard recommendation was not included.
The vote was taken during the same meeting at which council adopted its 2026-27 Delivery Program and Operational Plan, Fees and Charges and Long Term Financial Plan.
Those broader plans include deferring the 2026-27 Tuggerah Lakes Dredging Program allocation and redirecting funding to establish The Entrance Town Centre Reactivation Taskforce. The budget package also includes $650,000 to reconstruct public toilets at Mangrove Mountain.
Other funding and planning decisions at the meeting affected Lisarow, Terrigal, Woy Woy, MacMasters Beach and Forresters Beach. They included consultation on three fenced off-leash area concepts at The Haven, Terrigal; two planning proposals in Lisarow; and a $10,000 allocation for dune regeneration at 13-25 Tudibaring Parade, MacMasters Beach.
The proposal did not specify a future date or alternative arrangement for quarterly capital works reporting.
Reference minutes
Central Coast Council Ordinary Council Meeting, Monday 29 June 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The quarterly capital works dashboard amendment was lost on Acting Mayor John Mouland’s casting vote.
- The proposed dashboard covered budgets, expenditure, forecast costs, completion dates, variations, risks and traffic-light status.
- Cr Corinne Lamont moved the amendment, seconded by Cr Margot Castles.
- Seven councillors voted for the amendment and seven voted against it, with Cr Lawrie McKinna absent.
- The original motion to receive the Infrastructure and Assets Committee recommendations was then carried.
- Council adopted its 2026 - 27 operational, fees and charges and long-term financial plans at the same meeting.
Why it matters
- The rejected amendment left councillors without a required quarterly, standardised report on major capital project costs, deadlines, risks, variations and delivery status.