Current flood notices are in place for areas of the Central Coast, including Tuggerah Lake. Read more and follow our Facebook page  Performing Arts Centre of the Year in 2022 The visual arts culture of the Central Coast Experience Australian icon Markus Zusak via live stream and in conversation with Richard Glover as part of the Sydney Writers' Festival Renowned for his bestseller 'The Book Thief' Zusak will discuss his turn to non-fiction in his new book When the Zusaks decided to bring three big pound dogs into their home they weren’t expecting the chaos that would ensue nothing brings a family together quite like our beloved pets Join Markus as he reflects on the 20th anniversary of 'The Book Thief' and discusses his new book’s emphasis on our human need for connection This is a live stream event and will be available for viewing at Umina Beach Library Markus Zusak will not be in person at this event but streamed from the Writers' Festival in Sydney Bookings essential. Book online from this page Up to 200 children on the Central Coast will soon have access to free public preschool places as the NSW Government works to deliver two new public preschools at Umina Beach and Tuggerawong Design and construction contracts have now been awarded to deliver the preschools at Umina Beach Public School and Tuggerawong Public School the preschools will provide free placements for up to 120 students every week at Umina and up to 80 at Tuggerawong They are part of the Government’s $769M investment to deliver 100 new public preschools across NSW by early 2027 This initiative is the largest investment in public preschools in the state’s history and will double the number of public preschools in NSW increasing the overall number of public preschool placements by up to 9,000 Both new preschools will be co-located with existing public schools ensuring children are well prepared for kindergarten helping busy working families avoid the double drop off and making the transition to school as seamless as possible Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said the Government was committed to expanding the number of free public preschool places in NSW particularly in areas like the Central Coast where accessing preschool could be difficult “Once these two new public preschools are delivered hundreds more children will be able to access free preschool places on the Central Coast each week,” she said during a visit to the Coast on Wednesday “We are making this record investment into public preschools to give every child in NSW a quality early education ensuring they have the best start in life.” Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said the Tuggerawong Public School community would be greatly enriched by having a public preschool co-located on the school site making life easier for parents with young children “It is essential that we provide necessary education services for our Central Coast families to ensure the next generation receives a quality education,” he said Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch was equally enthusiastic about the Umina preschool “I have heard from too many families who are unable to access early childhood education spaces on the southern end of the Central Coast,” she said “The NSW Government is listening and acting.” Umina Beach Public School principal Karen Wardlaw said she was thrilled to see design and construction proceeding “We know that our preschool will significantly enrich educational offerings for the youngest learners in our community strengthening community ties and providing our families with greater access to quality early childhood education,” she said “It’s an exciting journey for all of us at Umina Beach Public School and we can’t wait to see the project completed and our preschool up and running.” Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "a50a2ef3f4e33871a8f18189890035b4" );document.getElementById("efb1a04fa5").setAttribute( "id" I travel on the new trains daily from Woy Woy to Central and vice versa I love the new trains apart from (the fact) they are absolutely freezing Ettalong Memorial Bowling Club in Springwood St have both submitted revised plans to Central Coast Council for significant improvements… Humpty Dumpty Foundation has sprung into action to help Central Coast Local Health District provide seven breast pumps for its midwifery and Aboriginal health services which has sold 5 million copies and was adapted into a Netflix series will be in conversation with Jennifer Byrne as part of the Sydney Writers' Festival mixes first encounters and second chances for its midlife protagonists Michael burrows into himself after his wife’s departure Both find romantic redemption in the English countryside amid pithy observations and pop culture references Let David help you find your way on the winding road through life’s most encompassing emotion – love This is a live stream event and will be available for viewing Umina Beach Library David Nicholls will not be in person at this event but streamed from the Writers' Festival in Sydney Bookings essential. Book online from this page Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology’s (DHM) new collection centre at Umina Beach has officially opened state-of-the-art pathology services on the Peninsula bolstering the developing health precinct taking shape which includes the Peninsula Medicare Urgent Care Clinic and other healthcare services Supporting the opening of the centre were DHM CEO Dr Jim Newcombe Chief Business Development Officer Nick Kodric and Federal Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid “DHM provides outstanding pathology services and will complement the existing healthcare services on the Peninsula,” Reid said “It was a privilege to join with DHM CEO Dr Jim Newcombe and staff to officially open the new centre “I look forward to continuing to support fantastic healthcare services on the Peninsula Newcombe said the launch of the new centre marked a significant milestone in DHM’s commitment to enhancing healthcare services on the Central Coast “This facility is poised to enhance patient care and support the wellbeing of our community for years to come,” he said “DHM’s Umina Collection Centre is designed to provide highly accessible state-of-the-art pathology services to our community ECGs and Holter monitors six days per week “On-line bookings will also be available to reduce waiting times and improve flexibility for busy locals.” DHM’s Umina Collection Centre is located at Shop 1 and is open Monday to Friday 7.30am-4.30pm and on Saturdays 8am-noon Judging by the number of print ads in our local papers of late the Liberals seem to be outspending Labor three to one in the campaign to win the seat… Sydney Writers’ Festival is Australia’s largest celebration of books and ideas bringing the world’s finest authors and esteemed thinkers together for insightful and exhilarating conversations and discussions A selection of the Sydney Writers’ Festival Live & Local program will available via live stream Book online from this page using the links above Toukley 4350 1540 or Umina Beach 4304 7333.  Advancements in DNA technology have revealed the identity of a 44-year-old jawbone discovered on Umina Beach in 2020 made the gruesome discovery in the sand near Sydney Ave whilst walking her dogs along the beach at about 2.15pm on Thursday Evans secured the remains in a doggie bag before reporting it to Brisbane Water Police who established a crime scene at the beach The bone was then sent to Newcastle Mortuary for forensic examination where it was confirmed what was uncovered was indeed a human jawbone with initial investigations determining the jawbone was that of a teenage male Extensive traditional inquiries were made at that time to establish identity Initial DNA analysis failed to identify any direct the Forensic Evidence & Technical Services Command’s Science and Technology Unit implemented Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG) which combines new DNA analysis techniques and traditional genealogy to identify suspects and unknown remains using commercial DNA databases scientists and analysts worked together to exclude two other cases and identified a genetic link to a possible living relative A voluntary sample was obtained from the relative and following further DNA analysis the bone was confirmed to be that of Henry Coleman following an accidental drowning on the Central Coast in August 1980 Henry was laid to rest following a coronial inquest but it was not known at the time the bone was missing The formal identification of the owner of the jawbone has now been referred to the Coroner said this was an example of the importance of public involvement in providing familial DNA to solve missing persons cases we never would have been able to return these remains to their resting place and find answers for Mr Coleman’s family,” he said “The theme of this year’s National Missing Persons Week is ‘Always Searching’ and this investigation is a fantastic example to show we never give up “This investigation has taken four years and we can’t be happier with the result with the most rewarding part being “Your DNA cannot and will not be used in any criminal investigation as missing person investigations are not criminal matters and your DNA is not stored in any criminal or suspect data base “Your DNA will only be used to hopefully solve cases and provide answers to your family “If you have reported a family member missing to police I urge you to go to your local police station and provide your DNA if you haven’t done so already your relationship with the missing person can be several generations apart “If you don’t have an event reference number you can still help by providing your DNA to commercial databases such as Gedmatch and Familytree DNA “As long as you tick the option to release your DNA for law enforcement purposes we can use your DNA and hopefully solve a mystery “Your relative may have already been found as we haven’t been able to identify them until now “This technology and capability now gives us the best opportunity yet Missing Persons Week is an annual national campaign to showcase missing persons and unidentified bodies and human remains cases and raise awareness of the issues and impacts surrounding these incidents This year’s Always Searching campaign focuses on the dedication and continuing efforts of police to solve missing persons investigations If you have been reported as missing it means that someone is concerned about your safety and welfare You should attend the nearest police station with identification so that police can ascertain that you are safe and well It is not a crime to go missing and police will respect your privacy if you don’t wish to disclose your location to your family For more information on the campaign visit www.missingpersons.gov.au police are appealing for anyone with information that may assist investigators to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or nsw.crimestoppers.com.au The Moriarty sisters will reflect on their career beginnings – including how they used to earn pocket money for writing stories – their different publishing paths and their many successes over the years Hosted by writer and broadcaster Sarah Macdonald for the Sydney Writers' Festival Live and & Local Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers) and Nicola (Every Last Suspect and The Fifth Letter) have decades of writing experience between them Their achievements include international bestsellers film and television adaptations and prestigious awards The Moriarty Sisters will not be in person at this event but streamed from the Writers' Festival in Sydney Bookings essential. Book online from this page Central Coast Council has commenced enforcement action over an alleged breach of development consent and road rules regularly occurring outside Liquorland at Umina Beach The alert was raised by concerned resident Ian Lawrence of Umina who said a regular delivery was made to the store at about 7.30am the delivery driver(s) has been unsafe and illegal putting the public at risk by using the raised portion of the pedestrian crossing as a loading dock to unload,” he said “The driver parks across the disabled parking spot normally at an angle to drop the tail lift onto the raised part of the pedestrian crossing “Pallets are stacked on the footpath while this is happening “This impacts on drivers being able to see people crossing and cars trying to squeeze past with limited visibility.” Lawrence said residents could not use the crossing safely due to restriction from the unloading of pallets He said Liquorland had been emailed about the issue in June 2024 “I have pointed out to both Liquorland staff and drivers that their actions are unsafe for everyone the drivers’ actions also go against the site’s development application and approval “The development application approval for this site specifically says “nothing associated with the business is to be located on the footpath or adjoining public area waste matter or products shall be stored outside the building” “The development application states that “delivery access to the Coles supermarket and proposed liquor outlet will remain within the existing loading dock area at the northern end of the existing building” “For many years the deliveries were done via the loading dock and moved via the supermarket to the liquor store as per the development application Lawrence said he had observed a truck illegally unloading as recently as March 31 A Central Coast Council spokesperson confirmed that enforcement action had commenced for alleged breaches of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act in relation to the complaint “Council has been advised that Umina Liquorland will be training all delivery drivers in relation to ensuring they are legally parked when undertaking deliveries,” the spokesperson said “Council will continue to monitor this issue and will take further enforcement action if breaches continue.” The clown that drives this truck has nearly taken my car out twice Coles should face action too though as it’s their Liquorland staff who put the cones out "ac5841be62f08831c819201fac653ef4" );document.getElementById("efb1a04fa5").setAttribute( "id" The Central Coast group of Parents for Climate is calling on all candidates in the Federal election to commit to urgent action to address climate change The group will rally on the beach at Umina at 10am on Sunday Parents for Climate Central Coast is inviting all candidates for the seat of Robertson to join them on the beach in support of solutions to the climate crisis “We want to see all sides of politics commit to accelerate renewable energy and the phase out of fossil fuels so we can keep the planet and our homes cool,” co-founder Suzie Brown said “With major disasters like cyclones and floods becoming more frequent we parents are deeply concerned about our children’s future “We want all candidates to step up and commit to urgent action to turn around the carbon pollution problem.” Candidates will be asked to sign a pledge committing them to work to: reduce the cost of energy with healthy solutions such as solar power; protect homes schools and early childhood centres from extreme heat; and support access to cheap energy powered by solar and batteries The rally will include a sandcastle sculpting competition on the beach with families encouraged to create a sand sculpture representing something they love and want to protect in our coastal environment Any parent or grandparent who is concerned about the future on a warming planet is invited to take action by coming along to the rally and joining the group at www.parentsforclimate.org/central_coast solutions-focused organisation with more than 20,000 supporters and with local groups in every state and territory in Australia Local parents joined forces to launch a group on the Central Coast last year Sandcastles for Climate Action will take place at 10am on Sunday at Umina Beach in front of Umina Beach Surf Life Saving Club Download the free SharkSmart app to receive real-time alerts for SMART drumline target shark capture/releases SLS NSW and Surfing NSW drone shark sightings and other shark-related information. ENDS View the Accessible Beaches Central Coast brochure online or pick up a printed copy from Council's customer service centres at Gosford or Wyong With an abundance of beautiful waterways on the Central Coast heading to the beach is a way of life for many locals and a major drawcard for tourists Our community told us during the development of our Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) that they want accessibility information on natural open space destinations We  developed our Accessible Beach guide so that people living with a disability and access challenges can easily plan and enjoy a trip to one of our Central Coast beaches The guide profiles 10 Central Coast beaches and includes information on accessibility features nearby public transport points and accessible toilets Beaches featured:•    Patonga Beach•    Pearl Beach•    Umina Beach•    Ocean Beach•    Terrigal Beach•    Avoca Beach•    The Entrance Ocean Baths•    Toowoon Bay•    Canton Beach The accessible beaches brochure is a delivered action from the DIAP and was designed in consultation with the Access and Inclusion Reference Group.  To book a beach wheelchair and for more information on Central Coast accessible destinations, go to our Accessibility and Inclusion page.  How were the beaches selected for inclusion in the Accessible Beaches guide? The beaches included in the Accessible Beaches guide have several accessible features that our community said were important to enable people with disabilities to access beaches and waterways Important features for beach accessibility:•    Relatively flat sand (which is also a consideration for beach matting suitability)•    Allows for a beach wheelchair or other mobility equipment to be pushed across the sand to reach the shoreline and return •    Erosion level is low to moderate•    A reasonable level of connectivity to enable travel down to the shoreline •    Accessible toilets and parking nearby This brochure was designed in consultation with the Access and Inclusion Reference Group and with relevant Council departments that manage beach safety and maintenance of beach infrastructure How does Council select which beaches have beach matting installed The use of beach matting is subject to public safety considerations and the beach slope (gradient) These can be affected by changing weather conditions and tidal activity Council conducts site visits to assess and prioritise which beaches are safe and suitable for installation of beach matting Beach matting for the 2024-2025 beach patrol season is installed at Ocean Beach These beaches have primarily been chosen because erosion is low to moderate and they are relatively flat Why are there beach wheelchairs available at more beaches than there is matting Beach matting is not suitable for all beaches as each beach has different suitability considerations Beach wheelchairs allow greater flexibility for people to access the beach and shoreline with the assistance of a support person  Council may restrict access or use of beach wheelchairs at times due to the constant changing coastal environment or for  general public safety How do I hire a beach wheelchair?Council has three (3) models of beach wheelchairs available for free hire for residents and visitors  To read more and book ahead, go to our accessibility and inclusion web page.  Central Coast Council has officially opened the new regional skatepark and BMX track at Umina’s Peninsula Recreation and Active Lifestyle Precinct which also included a new basketball court Rik Hart said this milestone follows a shared journey with the community including Umina Community Group and local sporting clubs that have driven these much-wanted upgrades and participated in its design “Over 640 people completed surveys during community engagement activities in 2018 which provided input into the planning of the developed skate park and precinct improvements,” Mr Hart Said.  “We’re thankful to the Australian Government for their investment in our region and their funding that has enabled Council to deliver a revitalised and improved sporting and recreation infrastructure for the Peninsula.” This multi-year project was delivered in five stages with the subsequent stages progressing throughout 2022 to 2024 These upgrades have significantly improved inclusion and accessibility with new accessible disabled parking spaces on Sydney Ave shared pedestrian pathways surrounding the facility have been extended widened and designed to be disability compliant construction of individual ramps to both the BMX and skatepark to provide disability compliant access for spectators and carers inclusion of accessible toilets at the sports amenities and ramp access to the Melbourne Ave building Council Director Community and Recreation Services Melanie Smith said the upgrades have enhanced the recreational and sporting offerings at this popular precinct and improved accessibility “Council is passionate about providing safe and engaging outdoor spaces for our community to promote healthy and active lifestyles and to help create connected communities – and I believe this has been achieved,” Ms Smith said which have rolled out consecutively over multiple years since 2022 have enhanced and complemented the already popular regional playspace and quality sports fields and will also attract thousands of visitors to the Peninsula each year and support local businesses “I’m proud of our staff’s management of this major upgrade and excited to see this inclusive space being enjoyed by all ages.” Dr Gordon Reid MP has welcomed the completion of the $8 million project “I would like to thank the Peninsula community for being patient as construction work took place across the precinct over the past few years “The upgraded Peninsula Recreation Precinct looks outstanding and I am sure will be loved by all for years to come “My thanks also to Central Coast Council and all the phenomenal workers who have been involved with this project since day one who were instrumental in calling for this upgrade” This project has been funded by the Australian Government with $8,250,000 from the Community Development Grants Programme and Central Coast Council with a contribution from the Umina Community Group Main photo caption: Federal Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid with Administrator Rik Hart A teenage boy has been charged over alleged driving and property offences following a pursuit at Umina Beach in the early hours of Friday Brisbane Water Police attempted to stop a vehicle on Trafalgar Ave Police allege that the vehicle – which had been reported stolen – was used a short time earlier in two break and enter offences in which liquor businesses were rammed before alcohol was taken When the vehicle allegedly failed to stop as directed police pursued the vehicle to a Umina Beach address where the driver fled into a home A subsequent search of the property was undertaken with police allegedly locating and seizing several items of interest A 14-year-old boy was arrested at the scene and taken to Gosford Police Station where he was charged on two counts of aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly take and drive conveyance without consent of owner and never licensed person drive vehicle on road He was refused bail to appear before a children’s court on Friday October 11 where he was granted conditional bail to appear before the same court on Friday Police are preparing a report for the Coroner after a man died at Umina Beach on Sunday Emergency services were called to the beach soon after 7pm following reports of a man found unresponsive and not breathing on Dardanelles Ave near Birdwood Ave despite the desperate efforts of NSW Ambulance paramedics A crime scene was declared and investigations are ongoing A NSW Police spokesperson said the incident has been deemed a medical episode at this stage Central Coast Disabled Surfers Association (DSACC) will hold a “Smiles on Dials” event at Umina Beach on Saturday Volunteers do not need to know how to surf although water skills are highly valued Interested volunteers are asked to register online via Humanitix or via https://bit.ly/DSACC1stMarch prior to the event so organisers know how many surfers they can accept Volunteers will also be accepted on the day A water refill station and a rash shirt will be provided for the day but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own wetsuits A sausage sizzle will complete the festivities Volunteering at a Smiles on Dials event consists of helping participants to and from the beach assisting them in and out of the water and helping set up and clean up DSACC is a volunteer-run organisation that enables people of all ages and abilities to take part in one of Australia’s most popular pastimes whilst under complete supervision of trained team leaders and beach marshalls and happy surfing experience to a wide range of people with various disabilities who would otherwise be unable to access the beach DSA has a very high volunteer-to-participant ratio with a minimum of six-to-one up to as high as 30-to-one for more challenging participants in waist depth water with volunteers helping participants enjoy the experience that able-bodied people often take for granted The DSA was established in 1986 and currently has 19 branches across Australia and New Zealand The association sets world’s best practice for the sport of Disabled Surfing DSA training programs are award winning for Outstanding Achievement in implementing Safe Sport Practices and Minister’s awards for Most Significant Contribution to Water Safety by an organisation View event at https://www.facebook.com/share/14EpGu1D2u/ or for more information on DSA, visit http://disabledsurfers.org A person has died at a popular holiday spot in front of shocked beachgoers Emergency services were called to Umina Beach on the NSW Central Coast shortly after 7pm on Sunday night following reports of a person was found unresponsive and not breathing despite the desperate efforts of paramedics A NSW Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that 'the incident has been deemed a medical episode at this stage'. 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Beachgoer dies after being found unresponsive at a popular beachComments are subject to our House rules and TermsNewest{{#isModerationStatus}}{{moderationStatus}} No one seems to have shared their thoughts on this topic yetLeave a comment so your voice will be heard first. {{message}} The Central Coast's Most Trusted News Source For Over 30 Years The fast growing Guzman Y Gomez Mexican Kitchen franchise operation has opened a new store in Umina Beach appointing the Brand Family,  Andrew The new store on the corner of West Street and Bullion Avenue in the centre of town is the second store for the Brands who own the Fountain Plaza Erina store The Erina store which opened In 2013 employs around 65 people and is open 7-days from 8.00am to 9.25pm The Umina store will initially employ around 60 people and will open similar hours.  It will seat 40 customers and Mr Brand is aiming to introduce al fresco dining when permitted Meanwhile former Erina store Manager Francis Verriest has been appointed Manager of the Umina store All staff that have been engaged are undergoing training at the Erina store Mr Andrew Brand said that staff training is a top priority at all GYG stores the Brands believe in supporting the community and sponsor junior sports including rugby league Home | Contact Us | Site Map | Print this page | Top of page A Umina Beach man has died after falling from an electric scooter on Monday An accident occurred involving the e-scooter and a car at about 6pm on Trafalgar Ave between Oxford St and Albion St was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being flown by Toll Rescue helicopter in a critical condition to Royal North Shore Hospital anyone with information about the incident or dashcam footage is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 The disabled surfers association is continuing to make waves in more ways than one… Today…dozens of surfers braved the waves at Umina Beach….proving that age and ability aren’t barriers when it comes to catching a wave For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link] We responded to over 150,000 incidents in 2023-24 The incidents displayed below are note-worthy incidents that have been published as media releases or tweets Details about incidents may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice North Parramatta | The fire at Dunlop Street, North Parramatta has been contained but is expected to smoulder through the morning. Because there may be smoke in the area, residents and businesses in the vicinity are advised to keep doors, windows, and vents closed. View on X [external link] Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders Three Umina Beach bowlers became the clb’s first team to win the NSW RSL State Triples Championships on March 27 Rob Merrill and Colin Mew won the 2025 the Zone 5 RSL Triples Championships at Davistown RSL Bowling Club in January They then went on to contest the State play-offs at Bateau Bay Bowling Club in March they entered into the final on March 27 for the State Title and were successful in the final defeating the team from Taree (Zone 8) 24-14 Competitors from other RSL Bowls Zones from across the State competed The win was a wonderful morale boost for Mew who will represent the Central Coast at the NSW State Championships in Ballina in coming days in the Open Reserve Pairs and alongside Merrill in the Open Reserve Fours Bill Stephenson of Bateau Bay RSL Bowls not only acted as umpire for the two days but was responsible for the organisation of the event with the Club’s Venue Manager and Bowls Co-ordinator This is probably not the page you’re looking for Jordan Boyd from Umina Beach has earned a coveted spot on the Australian floorball team The 26-year-old now headed for the world championships in Sweden The Peninsula comes alive with a free jazz night every Wednesday at the Ocean Beach Hotel in Umina Beach and Matthew Lamb on double bass will back a variety of guest artists Hall is one of the most highly regarded Australian drummers He works with Australia’s finest jazz and contemporary musicians including Dale Barlow he has performed with international artists Sheila Jordan Chuck Findley and Raymond MacDonald and performed at Montreal Jazz Festival Jakarta International Jazz Festival and New York’s famous Knitting Factory music producer and guitar teacher based on the Central Coast writes and records with numerous bands including the powerhouse guitars/drums trio Danaides (winners of the JARA Award) Luke Escombe and The Corporation and many others Lamb is a double and electric bassist who has performed throughout Australia and internationally His ability to perform proficiently in many genres of music has made him a sought-after player over the past 15 years He has performed regularly with acts such as Arthur Washington Special guests in coming weeks will be: Donna Restom on July 3 The jazz continues from 6.30-9.30pm every Wednesday and the kitchen closes at 9pm A Central Coast supermarket developed in 2011 by and for Woolworths has sold between New South Wales private investors fetched $24.5 million – a 5.14 per cent return – following an expressions of interest campaign launched in September The occupier pays a turnover rent on top of an agreed minimum The current lease cycle ends in 2031 when it will be presented with a 10 year option about 90 kilometres north of Sydney and 11km south west of Gosford has a population 10 times denser than the Central Coast average sold 261-275 Trafalgar Ave with a leaseback in 2011 for $18.25m (story continues below) That buyer was the seller this time around With 3865 square metres on a 4451 sqm parcel It is the largest and most dominant supermarket in the catchment Subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of this page A former property analyst and print journalist Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au Forgot your password? You will receive mail with link to set new password Back to login Community group Save Our Coast (SOC) celebrated the rejection of the PEP 11 permits for offshore gas exploration by the Federal Government at Ocean Beach Surf Club on Saturday Federal Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid and State Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris both popped by to congratulate Save Our Coast and the community for their strong advocacy of the coastal environment The celebration venue overlooked Umina and Ocean beaches where years ago Save Our Coast gathered the community to hold Hands Across the Sand – a stand against offshore gas in one of the largest protests ever seen on the Coast demonstrating the fierce community opposition to PEP11 “Years ago on beautiful Umina Beach thousands of us held hands in a huge show of strength and spoke up to Stop PEP 11,” SOC founder and Chair Dr Natasha Deen said “We thank all who raised their voices who joined us to speak up again the abhorrent plan to blast and drill off our beautiful coast that we depend on for our wellbeing “We are grateful to the Federal Government who have now rejected PEP 11 in a huge win for the environment and communities “We can breathe a sigh of relief – now we can celebrate this historic result that belongs to us all.” A slideshow of the seven-year grassroots Save Our Coast campaign showed hundreds of images of numerous events including ocean festivals attended collectively by thousands – which resulted in one of the most powerful movements seen on the Coast Save Our Coast committee member and environmental lawyer Kristyn Glanville said the Save Our Coast Stop PEP 11 campaign was “unique in its leadership strategy and true grassroots activism which resulted in a rare and historic win” Umina local and Save Our Coast committee member Grant Focus read statements from Surfrider Foundation Northern Beaches and Australian Conservation Foundation who congratulated the community on the “historic campaign” that was “admirable in its inclusivity” and an “inspiration to all” Robbi Luscombe of Living Ocean congratulated Save Our Coast on its inspiring campaign and said they were proud to have collaborated to stop seismic testing early in the campaign Other messages of support came from: Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and Senator for NSW Dr Mehreen Faruqi; Senator Peter Whish Wilson who labelled the campaign “inspirational”; and Independent MP Zali Steggal who presented Save Our Coast petitions to parliament after a moving traditional whale dance by Tim Selwyn there was a celebratory toast to the spirit of community and to the sun setting on PEP 11 We are always looking to grow the Surf Life Saving NSW family Explore our programs and resources and make sure you know how to safely enjoy our coastline before visiting the beach The latest Surf Life Saving news and upcoming events in NSW CPR and Mental Health First Aid courses available across NSW and the ACT Surf Life Saving sport showcases the skills and physical abilities required to save a life Our 75,000 members are core to Surf Life Saving NSW We have a range of resources to support volunteers involved in member training and education Across NSW more than 20,000 patrol members dedicate their time each year to protecting and saving lives along our coastline Our 129 surf lifesaving clubs are the lifeblood of the movement Members can access the SLS Members Online Store via the SLS Members Area or visit the SLSNSW Shop The Metropolitan & Regional Championships will compete across the same events in separate arenas on Saturday 1 February 2025 showcasing the depth of surfboat competition in NSW from U19 through Masters categories the Interseries Championships will follow the current Surfboat Interstate format Reserve & Open male/female division) representing the five NSW Boat Series Sydney Branch Boat Series & Warilla Bowls Premiership) will enter their best crew(s) across the four (4) male/female divisions Both events will take place at Ocean Beach on the weekend of 1-2 February 2025 Metro and Regional Championships will be held on the Saturday while Interseries Championships will be on the Sunday Thanks to The Events Calendar for their support of the non-profit sector by providing a non-profit license Digital Garden It’s great to see stores and services opening up in Lone Pine Plaza at Umina Beach however road safety continues to be a concern for those visiting the centre by car With minimal signage and an unclear right of way the plaza parking lot is dangerous and likely to cause repeated damage to vehicles the entrance on Lone Pine Ave should have a concrete separator at kerb height to reduce the likelihood of collision and street-facing signage installed identifying the driveway as a two-way entrance Let’s keep everyone safe while enjoying the new space Aussies have been urged to avoid dozens of beaches amid fears the water could be contaminated with harmful bacteria An infection isn't the only risk at play in the affected waterways as an academic warns that the stormwater pollution after a rainy week could also attract bull sharks Warnings have been issued for 56 beaches across Sydney that were deemed unsafe to swim on Friday by the state government's water quality monitor Beachwatch NSW 'Some swim sites across the Sydney and Central Coast region may remain impacted by stormwater pollution ,' the agency said The agency also issued an alert to beachgoers informing them that pollution is likely at popular beaches in the habour including Tamarama Popular swimming spots in Sydney's south and in the northern beaches have also been affected, including the Brighton Le Sands Baths The alert has also been issued for several tourist hotspots as far as the Central Coast including The Entrance Channel and Hordens Beach Beachwatch is also understood to be testing water samples for dangerous bacteria such as E Environment and Water spokesman told Daily Mail Australia heavy rain impacts the water quality of waterways people should avoid swimming during heavy rain and for at least one day after,' the spokesman said avoid swimming for up to three days after heavy rain.' Swimmers and visitors to the beach have been urged to check the Beachwatch website to ensure the conditions are appropriate before they venture into the water The warning comes after most of Australia's east cost was drenched by intense rainfall and thunderstorms for most of this week Extensive rainfall is expected from Friday through to Sunday in Sydney and Canberra with a high chance of showers forecast for the weekend in Brisbane Residents in Melbourne will also be hit by the wet weather on Sunday with tops of 28C forecast in the city A monsoon weather system is also set to develop over northern Australia by the end of next week The system will increase the risk of heavy rain Swimmers have also been urged to be cautious of bull sharks in addition to the polluted water in some waterways Bond University Professor Dr Daryl McPhee said the recent wet weather event has provided the creatures an ideal environment to search for food and nutrients 'In areas affected by rainfall you generally do see more bull sharks but there's often a lag from when the rainfall occurs in a catchment, to when the bull sharks are more prevalent,' Dr McPhee told Yahoo.  A bull shark was detected in Bondi on Thursday while a great white shark was seen by surf lifesavers at Crescent Head, on the NSW Mid North Coast, on Friday afternoon. Authorities closed the beach and people were evacuated from the area.  Dr McPhee said pollutants in the water present a greater risk to swimmers than sharks. {{message}} The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has sent Central Coast Council a list of the five streets on the Peninsula it would like to see added to Council’s capital works program President Matthew Wales said the Chamber was “spoilt for choice” in naming the streets most in need of an upgrade “While Council has recently resealed the road concrete footpaths and stormwater drainage,” Wales said commuter route to Woy Woy Rd (as an important alternative to Ocean Beach Rd) and school bus route to the Umina Beach Secondary College campus and St John the Baptist public school Second on the list is Brittania St from Ocean Beach Rd to Springwood St “This is a much used “rat run” between Ocean Beach Rd and Springwood St providing an alternative connection to Ettalong Beach (rather than Bourke Rd),” Wales said Albion St between Ocean Beach Rd and Springwood St needs upgrading for the same reason Wales said Rickard St between West St and The Esplanade was a key connection at the eastern end of the Umina Beach shopping precinct It provides direct connection to the Ocean Beach foreshore and beach parking areas from the town cenrtre Rounding out the list is Beach St between Springwood St and Broken Bay Rd “This is a high-use connecting road from Springwood St directly to the Ettalong Beach village centre and acts as a ‘rat run’ for traffic as an alternative to Bourke Rd,” Wales said “Key to this process is the preparation of a Program of Works for the Progressive Upgrading of Peninsula Roads “I’m not aware of any comprehensive assessment of the state of our local roads “It is the Chamber’s view that Council should be preparing such a program so that it has the correct and relevant data as a tool to access both state and federal funding when available.” What about Davistown Rd from Avoca Rd to the first roundabout A man is facing charges over alleged firearm drug and driving offences following a police pursuit which started in Woy Woy on Wednesday Police attempted to stop an unregistered Ford Falcon at about 5.40pm but the driver allegedly failed to stop as directed Police gave chase but the pursuit was terminated a short time later because of the man’s manner of driving Soon after police were called to Lentara Rd following reports the same vehicle had crashed into a parked car and telegraph pole Police have been told that a member of the public approached the driver of the vehicle before they were threatened with a firearm where he allegedly pointed the firearm at police Officers withdrew their service firearms and a taser A subsequent search of the man allegedly revealed a firearm and clear resealable bag containing a substance believed to be methamphetamine The 28-year-old man was arrested and taken to Gosford Hospital for mandatory testing before being taken to Gosford Police Station He was charged with 13 offences: Police pursuit – not stop – drive at speed; Drive He was refused bail to appear before Gosford Local Court Central Coast Council are undertaking a review of Alcohol-Free Zones across the region and is proposing to re-establish existing Alcohol-Free Zones with proposed locations on public exhibition for a period of 30 days.  new locations may be considered and approved for implementation The establishment of any Alcohol-Free Zones must be in accordance with the Department of Local Government – Ministerial Guidelines on Alcohol-Free Zones Alcohol-Free Zones aim to reduce alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour in identified locations to help create a safer environment for the whole community An Alcohol-Free Zone relates to public roads these zones will not restrict outdoor dining licences where Council approval has been granted Council Director of Infrastructure Services Michael Ross said establishing Alcohol-Free Zones is an important step to ensure community safety within our public places “Alcohol-Free Zones have been shown to decrease incidents of public disturbances This initiative is vital for the well-being of our community "Residents are invited to provide their feedback on the proposed locations." Mr Ross Said The zones will be in place for a four (4) year period and Council is currently seeking feedback from the community regarding the establishment of Alcohol-Free Zones in the following suburbs: Avoca Beach; Bateau Bay; Berkeley Vale; Budgewoi; Chain Valley Bay; Copacabana; Empire Bay; Ettalong Beach; Gosford; Gwandalan; Killarney Vale; Kincumber; Kulnura; Lake Haven; Lake Munmorah; Long Jetty; Mannering Park; Narara; Niagara Park; Norah Head; Ourimbah; Patonga; Pearl Beach; San Remo; Saratoga; Shelly Beach; Summerland Point; Terrigal; The Entrance; The Entrance North; Toowoon Bay; Toukley; Umina Beach; Wadalba; Wamberal; Woy Woy and Wyong Rik Hart said the establishment of Alcohol-Free Zones is part of our broader strategy to promote safety and well-being across the region.  “We are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all residents and visitors Re-establishing Alcohol-Free Zones is a key part of this commitment.,” Mr Hart said "By consulting with the community and adhering to the Ministerial Guidelines we aim to effectively address areas of concern and enhance public safety of the entire region." A complete list of the specific locations, as well as a collection of maps for proposed Alcohol-Free Zones is available to view at yourvoiceourcoast.com You can submit your feedback by email to ask@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au; by post to PO Box 20 Wyong NSW 2259 addressed to Engineering Services (this must be lodged within 30 days of 4 June 2024) For further information on the above or any other enquiries please contact Madalaine Anderson 4306 7900 There are fears of a “turf war” escalating on the Peninsula following a ramraid at a newly opened tobacco shop at Ettalong Beach on August 6 followed up by a firebombing of the same premises on August 9 Peninsula Chamber of Commerce President Matthew Wales said the proliferation of tobacco outlets selling “chop chop” tobacco with no excise or duty paid had been discussed at a recent Regional Advisory Council Meeting at NSW Business Central Coast “This has become a major cause for concern following a ramraid on August 6 at newly opened premises in the Rocks Arcade at Ettalong Beach,” he said “Then in the early hours of August 9 the same store was firebombed “The Chamber is concerned that this is the beginning of a ‘turf war’ in our local community “We now have four tobacco outlets in Ettalong Beach which raises questions as to how they are surviving in such a small centre where previously we only had one legal business “The same is happening in both the Umina Beach town centre and Woy Woy “Questions have also been raised as to whether these outlets have Council approval and in a number of cases the advertising/signage is clearly in breach of the Codes SEPP (State Environmental Planning Policy) and Council’s own signage guidelines “I understand that this issue is a NSW Health matter “I also understand that the Minns Government is allocating funds as part of its crackdown on illegal tobacco sales and vape sales but it appears that the number of additional inspectors is very limited.” Wales has asked Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch to advise what steps the NSW Government is taking to crack down on illegal sales and the proliferation of tobacco shops and what protections are being put in place to care for the community’s health and wellbeing and to prevent potential local turf wars “We certainly don’t want to see a repeat of the problems currently being experienced in Melbourne,” he said Wales has also asked Central Coast Council to review the tobacco outlets on the Peninsula (and particularly Ettalong Beach) to ascertain if they are trading under valid consents and whether the signage complies with the Codes SEPP and Council’s DCP (Development Control Plan) controls “The Chamber is getting a lot of local push back on this issue from both retailers and residents,” he said A Central Coast Council spokesperson said the use of an existing retail shop as a tobacconist does not require Council approval “The shop’s signage also does not require approval so long as the signage is compliant with the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (SEPP),” the spokesperson said “Where the requirements of the SEPP are not being met Council may investigate and take enforcement action where appropriate “We encourage members of the community concerned about compliance matters to make a report directly to Council so that the matter can be investigated where required.” The spokesperson said Council will investigate the specific concerns raised by Wales Council also advised that the regulation of tobacco products sold in retail shops in NSW is a matter for NSW Health CCN has approached Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch and NSW Police for comment Won’t someone please address the ‘elephant in the room’ here this is disgusting and sad ,we moved from Newcastle 20 years ago this is our beloved ettalong NOT Melbourne !!!4 smoke shops Central Coast athletes are set to benefit from multi-million-dollar facilities at Umina Sydney Avenue was a hive of activity today – for the opening of a new Recreation and Lifestyle Precinct Find below an extensive list of polling venues for the 2024 Central Coast Council Elections This information has been gathered from the NSW Electoral Commission The tables are divided into the five Central Coast Council Wards The Central Coast Local Government area includes the following postcodes Pre-polling venues opened across the Central Coast on Saturday with reports of brisk activity at some stations A full list of early voting venues across the Central Coast can be found below Seven out of the ten locations are fully wheelchair accessible according to information from the NSW Electoral Commission The Returning Office at Pioneer Ave Tuggerah is NOT a prepolling site Lots of people turning up to the Pioneer drive prepolling station as stated above only to find a sign on the door stating it is NOT thank you – their original map had them down as a prepolling station The Tuggerah location is not a prepoll location The amount of people going to this Location because you’ve published it is ridiculous and such a waste of everyone’s time As journalists you have a responsibility to publish accurate information so please do better We corrected this as soon as we had the tips we had from the public were confirmed Join Central Coast author Sean Richardson at Umina Library on August 1 at 10am to chat about his novel The Maltese Web Set on the stunning Mediterranean island of Malta the thriller follows financial investigator Marica Debono in her quest for personal redemption while trying to unravel a web of corruption Racing against time to stop Russian criminals from exploiting her homeland Balancing personal and professional responsibilities she must walk a tightrope to restore her professional integrity and uncover the truth about her father’s involvement The novel calls on some of Richardson’s own life experiences with a career in banking and finance and he and his family spending a year living in Malta It was during the year in Malta with his wife and children that he wrote the first draft of his novel Ten years later and the book has hit the shelves “My wife has Maltese heritage and we decided to have a family gap year in Malta where we could immerse ourselves in the culture and really appreciate the country,” he said He moved from Sydney to Umina Beach four years ago where he continued working on the novel with the help of professional editors from the Australian Writer’s Centre before having it independently published Umina Beach artist Tez Dower is looking to donate an artwork to a good cause “I do oil painting plein air – which is outdoor oil painting (just as) Monet and Arthur Streeton did,” he said “I’m trying to promote this awesome hobby of getting out in nature and painting what you see in front of you “It’s a very priceless and satisfying feeling.” Dower does a YouTube presentation where he films himself searching out sites and in the process of completing an artwork He also won the recent 5 Lands Walk art prize in the open competition “I was humbled and grateful for that prize,” he said Now Dower wants to work on a large painting to be donated to a worthy cause as a raffle prize You can check out the You Tube presentations and some of Dower’s artwork at: Painting The Sea – Oil Painting Demo (youtube.com) Interested groups can contact Dower at terrydowerartist@gmail.com The 2023-24 Central Coast beach patrol season officially concluded on Sunday 28 April 2024 with teams from Central Coast Council and Surf Life Saving Central Coast ensuring the safety of millions of beachgoers.Over 3.7 million visits were recorded across the Coast's 15 patrolled beaches during the season Council lifeguards and Surf Life Saving Central Coast lifesavers completed 1,539 rescues and treated over 3,200 first-aid incidents.Council Unit Manager Leisure Beach Safety and Community Services Phil Cantillon said once again the importance of the beach patrol teams was evident in ensuring the safety of beach goers.“As always Council remains committed to investing in making our beaches safer for locals and visitors and we are already preparing for the 2024-25 season," Mr Cantillon said.New investments and initiatives include: Mr Cantillon said the ERBs are a critical addition to beach safety infrastructure and can make all the difference in an emergency as they connect callers to Surf Life Saving NSW’s State Operations Centre which enables a faster response to potential rescues particularly in unpatrolled areas. “Over the winter period Council will also be updating its beach safety fleet with seven new Can-Am buggies replacing current assets at various locations. “Additionally essential lifesaving equipment will be serviced and repaired oxygen equipment and lifeguard towers.”Council Administrator Rik Hart applauded the tremendous effort of Council lifeguards and Surf Life Saving Central Coast lifesavers. “I want to express my sincere gratitude to our dedicated lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers for their tireless efforts this past season,” Mr Hart said. “Their commitment to beach safety has kept millions of visitors safe while enjoying our beautiful coastline.“While the official patrol season has ended I want to remind everyone to prioritise safety when enjoying the Central Coast’s waterways throughout the year.” Safety tips include:•    Always take some sort of flotation device•    Never swim alone•    If you’re going rock fishing be sure to plan ahead - wear appropriate safety equipment let others know where you are going and carry a phone•    Avoid swimming for at least one day after heavy rain to decrease exposure to stormwater pollution•    When out on the water let others know where you’re going and know what to do in an emergency Recruitment for the 2024-25 season will begin online in early August Council is seeking passionate individuals interested in the ocean and committed to fitness and community service Casual and seasonal lifeguard roles will be advertised on Council’s website prior to the season commencing.The 2024-25 beach patrol season will commence on Saturday 28 September and Monday 30 September for Council Lifeguards For more information and safety tips, search ‘beach safety’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au