funding · Central Coast Council
The Entrance gets town-centre taskforce as dredging funds are redirected
Central Coast Council has redirected funding from the deferred 2026 - 27 Tuggerah Lakes Dredging Program to establish a reactivation taskforce for The Entrance.
The Entrance businesses and visitors are the focus of a new town-centre taskforce after Central Coast Council redirected funding from the deferred 2026 - 27 Tuggerah Lakes Dredging Program.
The Entrance Town Centre Reactivation Taskforce will support revitalisation and place-activation work from the 2026 - 27 financial year. Council may engage Renew Australia or another qualified place-activation organisation to help develop and oversee the initiative.
No organisation has been appointed, and no contract value, project list or delivery timetable was specified. The taskforce’s work will therefore be shaped by decisions still to come.
The funding change defers the 2026 - 27 Tuggerah Lakes Dredging Program allocation while directing those funds to the new taskforce. Council did not specify when dredging will resume.
A further $200,000 was directed to the Heritage Small Grants Program in the 2026 - 27 budget decision. The program supports the conservation and activation of heritage assets and is administered by the Strategic Planning Unit within the Environment and Planning Directorate.
The Entrance was also prioritised with Woy Woy for Year 1 town-centre improvement investigations beginning in 2026 - 27. Lake Haven and Toukley are listed for Year 2, while Year 3 covers the Narara district, including Lisarow, Wyoming, Niagara Park and Ourimbah, and West Gosford.
The investigations will help guide future public-realm, access and investment decisions. The taskforce and town-centre investigations do not commit Council to construction or identify specific works or services.
Any appointment of Renew Australia or another qualified organisation, along with any local work that follows, will depend on further decisions as the taskforce is developed.
Reference minutes
Central Coast Council Ordinary Council Meeting, Monday 29 June 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Funding from the deferred 2026 - 27 Tuggerah Lakes Dredging Program was reallocated to establish The Entrance Town Centre Reactivation Taskforce.
- Renew Australia or another qualified place-activation organisation may be engaged to support the taskforce.
- No supplier, contract value, project list or delivery timetable was specified.
- A further $200,000 was directed to the Heritage Small Grants Program in the 2026 - 27 budget decision.
- The Entrance and Woy Woy were prioritised for Year 1 town-centre improvement investigations commencing in 2026 - 27.
- The taskforce is to be developed from the 2026 - 27 financial year.
Why it matters
- The Entrance now has a dedicated revitalisation taskforce, while Tuggerah Lakes dredging is deferred and the Heritage Small Grants Program receives $200,000 in the 2026 - 27 budget decision. Future place-activation work may also create opportunities for qualified local suppliers and service providers.