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Coordinates: 33°25′S 151°20′E / 33.417°S 151.333°E / -33.417; 151.333
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{{about|the [[Local government in Australia|local government area]]|the region|Central Coast (New South Wales)|all other uses|Central Coast (disambiguation)}}
{{About|the [[Local government in Australia|local government area]]|the region|Central Coast (New South Wales)|all other uses|Central Coast (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox Australian place | type = lga
{{Infobox Australian place
| type = lga
| name = Central Coast Council
| name = Central Coast Council
| region = [[Central Coast (New South Wales)|Central Coast]]
| state = nsw
| state = nsw
| image = Central Coast LGA NSW.png
| image = Central Coast LGA NSW.png
| caption = Location of Central Coast LGA in NSW
| caption = Location in [[New South Wales]]
| pop = 327736
| pop = 346,596
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2016}}
| pop_year = {{CensusAU|2021}}
| pop_footnotes = <ref name="Census2016">{{Census 2016 AUS|id=LGA11650 |name=Central Coast (C) |accessdate=6 July 2017 |quick=on}}</ref>
| pop_footnotes = <ref name="Census2021">{{Census 2021 AUS|id=LGA11650 |name=Central Coast (NSW) |access-date=6 February 2024 |quick=on}}</ref>
| poprank = 6th in Australia; 3rd in NSW
| pop2 = 342,047
| pop2_year = 2018 est.
| pop2_footnotes = <ref name=ABS3218.0>{{cite web|url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/3218.02017-18|title=3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18|publisher=Australian Bureau of Statistics|date=27 March 2019|accessdate=27 March 2019}} Estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June 2018.</ref>
| density =
| density =
| area = 1681
| area = 1681
| area_footnotes = <ref name="announcement"/>
| area_footnotes = <ref name="announcement"/>
| coordinates = <!-- Seat TBD -->
| coordinates = {{coord|33|25|S|151|20|E|display=inline,title}}
| est = {{start date|2016|05|12|df=y}}
| est = {{start date|2016|05|12|df=y}}
| timezone = [[Australian Eastern Standard Time|AEST]]
| timezone = [[Australian Eastern Standard Time|AEST]]
| utc = +10
| utc = +10
| timezone-dst= [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]]
| timezone-dst = [[Australian Eastern Daylight Time|AEDT]]
| utc-dst = +11
| utc-dst = +11
| seat = [[Gosford, New South Wales|Gosford]]
| seat = [[Gosford]] and [[Wyong, New South Wales|Wyong]]
| mayor = [[Lawrie McKinna]] ([[Independent politician|Independent]])
| mayor = Jane Smith
| logo = Central Coast Council logo.svg
| mayortitle=
| url = centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
| region = [[Central Coast (New South Wales)|Central Coast]]
| logo = File:Central_Coast_Council_logo.png
| url = http://www.gosford.nsw.gov.au
| stategov = [[Electoral district of Gosford|Gosford]]
| stategov = [[Electoral district of Gosford|Gosford]]
| stategov2= [[Electoral district of Swansea|Swansea]]
| stategov2 = [[Electoral district of Swansea|Swansea]]
| stategov3= [[Electoral district of Terrigal|Terrigal]]
| stategov3 = [[Electoral district of Terrigal|Terrigal]]
| stategov4= [[Electoral district of The Entrance|The Entrance]]
| stategov4 = [[Electoral district of The Entrance|The Entrance]]
| stategov5= [[Electoral district of Wyong|Wyong]]
| stategov5 = [[Electoral district of Wyong|Wyong]]
| fedgov = [[Division of Dobell|Dobell]]
| fedgov = [[Division of Dobell|Dobell]]
| fedgov2 = [[Division of Robertson|Robertson]]
| fedgov2 = [[Division of Robertson|Robertson]]
| fedgov3 = [[Division of Shortland|Shortland]]
| fedgov3 = [[Division of Shortland|Shortland]]
| near-nw = [[City of Cessnock|Cessnock]]
| near-nw = [[City of Cessnock|Cessnock]]
| near-n = [[City of Lake Macquarie|Lake Macquarie]]
| near-n = [[City of Lake Macquarie|Lake Macquarie]]
| near-ne = ''[[Tasman Sea]]''
| near-ne = ''[[Tasman Sea]]''
| near-e = ''[[Tasman Sea]]''
| near-e = ''[[Tasman Sea]]''
| near-w = [[City of Hawkesbury|Hawkesbury]]
| near-w = [[City of Hawkesbury|Hawkesbury]]
| near-sw = [[Hornsby Shire|Hornsby]]
| near-sw = [[Hornsby Shire|Hornsby]]
| near-s = [[Northern Beaches Council|Northern Beaches]]
| near-s = [[Northern Beaches Council|Northern Beaches]]
| near-se = ''[[Tasman Sea]]''
| near-se = ''[[Tasman Sea]]''
}}
}}


The '''Central Coast Council''' is a [[Local government in Australia|local government area]] serving the Lower Hunter area and the [[Central Coast (New South Wales)|Central Coast]] region of [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]], established on 12 May 2016 following the amalgamation of [[City of Gosford|Gosford City]] and [[Wyong Shire]] councils.<ref name="announcement">{{cite web|url=https://www.strongercouncils.nsw.gov.au/new-councils/central-coast-council/|title=Central Coast Council|work=Stronger Councils|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]|date=12 May 2016|accessdate=14 May 2016}}</ref>
The '''Central Coast Council''' is a local government area in the [[Central Coast (New South Wales)|Central Coast]] region of [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]. It is adjacent to the [[Pacific Highway (Australia)|Pacific Highway]], [[Central Coast Highway]], the [[Main North railway line, New South Wales|Northern railway line]] and the [[Pacific Ocean]]. The council was formed on 12 May 2016 following the merger of the [[City of Gosford]] and [[Wyong Shire]] Councils.<ref name="announcement">{{cite web|url=https://www.strongercouncils.nsw.gov.au/new-councils/central-coast-council/|title=Central Coast Council|work=Stronger Councils|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]|date=12 May 2016|access-date=14 May 2016|archive-date=8 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180608042443/https://www.strongercouncils.nsw.gov.au/new-councils/central-coast-council/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The council comprises an area of {{convert|1681|km2}} and is bounded to the east by the [[Tasman Sea]], to the south by [[Broken Bay]] and the [[Hawkesbury River]], and to the west by the [[Yengo National Park]] northwards to {{NSWcity|Bucketty}} before heading eastward along George Downes Drive, encompassing the Olney State Forest and crossing the [[Pacific Motorway (Sydney–Newcastle)|Pacific Motorway]], meeting the southern edge of [[Lake Macquarie]] at {{NSWcity|Mannering Park}} and eventually reaching the coast north of {{NSWcity|Moonee}}. The Central Coast Council has over 40 beaches and over {{convert|90|km}} of coastline. As at the {{CensusAU|2021}} the council area had an estimated population of {{formatnum:346596}}.<ref name="Census2021"/>


The [[Mayor]] of the Central Coast Council is [[Councillor|Cr.]] [[Lawrie McKinna]] who is part of the [[Independent politician|Independent]] [[Team Central Coast]] political party since 8 October 2024, and the Deputy Mayor of the council is [[Councillor|Cr.]] Douglas Eaton who is part of the [[Independent Liberal]] political party since 8 October 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Central Coast Council Elects new Mayor and Deputy Mayor|url=https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/council/council-news/central-coast-council-elects-new-mayor|date =8 October 2024|access-date =23 October 2024}}</ref>
The council comprises an area of {{convert|1681|km2}} and is bounded to the east by the [[Tasman Sea]], to the south by [[Broken Bay]] and the [[Hawkesbury River]], and to the west by the [[Yengo National Park]] northwards to {{NSWcity|Bucketty}} before heading eastward along George Downes Drive, encompassing the Olney State Forest and crossing the [[Pacific Motorway (Sydney–Newcastle)|Pacific Motorway]], meeting the southern edge of [[Lake Macquarie]] at {{NSWcity|Mannering Park}} and eventually reaching the coast north of {{NSWcity|Moonee}}. As at the {{CensusAU|2016}} the council area had an estimated population of {{formatnum:327736}}.<ref name="Census2016"/>


== Towns, suburbs and localities ==
The inaugural Mayor of the Central Coast Council is Jane Smith (Independent), who was elected on 26 September 2017.<ref name=smith/>
The local government area includes a moderately densely populated coastal strip that extends from the Hawkesbury River in the south and is bounded by the Watagan Mountains to the west and north to Lake Macquarie and the Pacific Ocean to the east. It is an extensive sparsely-populated region to the west of the Pacific Highway that is largely native bush.


The towns and villages located within Central Coast Council include:
== Suburbs and localities ==
The local government area includes a moderately densely populated coastal strip that extends northward from the Hawkesbury River and is bounded by the Pacific Motorway to the west, and an extensive sparsely-populated region to the west of the motorway that is largely native bush. The towns and villages located within Central Coast Council are:


{{columns-list|colwidth=12em|
{{columns-list|colwidth=12em|
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* [[Budgewoi Peninsula, New South Wales|Budgewoi Peninsula]]
* [[Budgewoi Peninsula, New South Wales|Budgewoi Peninsula]]
* [[Buff Point, New South Wales|Buff Point]]
* [[Buff Point, New South Wales|Buff Point]]
* [[Bushells Ridge, New South Wales|Bushells Ridge]]
* [[Calga, New South Wales|Calga]]
* [[Calga, New South Wales|Calga]]
* [[Canton Beach, New South Wales|Canton Beach]]
* [[Canton Beach, New South Wales|Canton Beach]]
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* [[Colongra, New South Wales|Colongra]]
* [[Colongra, New South Wales|Colongra]]
* [[Copacabana, New South Wales|Copacabana]]
* [[Copacabana, New South Wales|Copacabana]]
* [[Crangan Bay, New South Wales|Crangan Bay]]
* [[Daleys Point, New South Wales|Daleys Point]]
* [[Daleys Point, New South Wales|Daleys Point]]
* [[Davistown, New South Wales|Davistown]]
* [[Davistown, New South Wales|Davistown]]
* [[Dooralong, New South Wales|Dooralong]]
* [[Dooralong, New South Wales|Dooralong]]
* [[Doyalson, New South Wales|Doyalson]]
* [[Doyalson, New South Wales|Doyalson]]
* [[Doyalson North, New South Wales|Doyalson North]]
* [[Durren Durren, New South Wales|Durren Durren]]
* [[East Gosford, New South Wales|East Gosford]]
* [[East Gosford, New South Wales|East Gosford]]
* [[Empire Bay, New South Wales|Empire Bay]]
* [[Empire Bay, New South Wales|Empire Bay]]
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* [[Forresters Beach, New South Wales|Forresters Beach]]
* [[Forresters Beach, New South Wales|Forresters Beach]]
* [[Fountaindale, New South Wales|Fountaindale]]
* [[Fountaindale, New South Wales|Fountaindale]]
* Frazer Park
* [[Glenning Valley, New South Wales|Glenning Valley]]
* [[Glenning Valley, New South Wales|Glenning Valley]]
* [[Glenworth Valley, New South Wales|Glenworth Valley]]
* [[Glenworth Valley, New South Wales|Glenworth Valley]]
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* [[Gwandalan, New South Wales|Gwandalan]]
* [[Gwandalan, New South Wales|Gwandalan]]
* [[Halekulani, New South Wales|Halekulani]]
* [[Halekulani, New South Wales|Halekulani]]
* [[Halloran, New South Wales|Halloran]]
* [[Hamlyn Terrace, New South Wales|Hamlyn Terrace]]
* [[Hamlyn Terrace, New South Wales|Hamlyn Terrace]]
* [[Hardys Bay, New South Wales|Hardys Bay]]
* [[Hardys Bay, New South Wales|Hardys Bay]]
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* [[Kanwal, New South Wales|Kanwal]]
* [[Kanwal, New South Wales|Kanwal]]
* [[Kariong, New South Wales|Kariong]]
* [[Kariong, New South Wales|Kariong]]
* [[Kiar, New South Wales|Kiar]]
* [[Killarney Vale, New South Wales|Killarney Vale]]
* [[Killarney Vale, New South Wales|Killarney Vale]]
* [[Killcare, New South Wales|Killcare]]
* [[Killcare, New South Wales|Killcare]]
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* [[Kincumber, New South Wales|Kincumber]]
* [[Kincumber, New South Wales|Kincumber]]
* [[Kincumber South, New South Wales|Kincumber South]]
* [[Kincumber South, New South Wales|Kincumber South]]
* [[Kingfisher Shores, New South Wales|Kingfisher Shores]]
* [[Koolewong, New South Wales|Koolewong]]
* [[Koolewong, New South Wales|Koolewong]]
* [[Kulnura, New South Wales|Kulnura]]
* [[Kulnura, New South Wales|Kulnura]]
Line 135: Line 141:
* [[Marlow, New South Wales|Marlow]]
* [[Marlow, New South Wales|Marlow]]
* [[Matcham, New South Wales|Matcham]]
* [[Matcham, New South Wales|Matcham]]
* [[Moonee, New South Wales|Moonee]]
* [[Mooney Mooney, New South Wales|Mooney Mooney]]
* [[Mooney Mooney, New South Wales|Mooney Mooney]]
* [[Mooney Mooney Creek, New South Wales|Mooney Mooney Creek]]
* [[Mooney Mooney Creek, New South Wales|Mooney Mooney Creek]]
Line 155: Line 162:
* [[Point Clare, New South Wales|Point Clare]]
* [[Point Clare, New South Wales|Point Clare]]
* [[Point Frederick, New South Wales|Point Frederick]]
* [[Point Frederick, New South Wales|Point Frederick]]
* Point Wolstoncroft
* [[Pretty Beach, New South Wales|Pretty Beach]]
* [[Pretty Beach, New South Wales|Pretty Beach]]
* [[Ravensdale, New South Wales|Ravensdale]]
* [[Ravensdale, New South Wales|Ravensdale]]
Line 169: Line 177:
* [[Tacoma South, New South Wales|Tacoma South]]
* [[Tacoma South, New South Wales|Tacoma South]]
* [[Tascott, New South Wales|Tascott]]
* [[Tascott, New South Wales|Tascott]]
* [[Ten Mile Hollow, New South Wales|Ten Mile Hollow]] (Eastern part)
* [[Terrigal, New South Wales|Terrigal]]
* [[Terrigal, New South Wales|Terrigal]]
* [[The Entrance, New South Wales|The Entrance]]
* [[The Entrance, New South Wales|The Entrance]]
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* [[Tuggerawong, New South Wales|Tuggerawong]]
* [[Tuggerawong, New South Wales|Tuggerawong]]
* [[Tumbi Umbi, New South Wales|Tumbi Umbi]]
* [[Tumbi Umbi, New South Wales|Tumbi Umbi]]
* [[Umina Beach, New South Wales|Umina]]
* [[Umina Beach, New South Wales|Umina Beach]]
* [[Upper Mangrove, New South Wales|Upper Mangrove]]
* [[Upper Mangrove, New South Wales|Upper Mangrove]]
* [[Wadalba, New South Wales|Wadalba]]
* [[Wadalba, New South Wales|Wadalba]]
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* [[Wendoree Park, New South Wales|Wendoree Park]]
* [[Wendoree Park, New South Wales|Wendoree Park]]
* [[West Gosford, New South Wales|West Gosford]]
* [[West Gosford, New South Wales|West Gosford]]
* [[Wisemans Ferry, New South Wales|Wisemans Ferry]]
* [[Wisemans Ferry, New South Wales|Wisemans Ferry]] (North-eastern part)
* [[Wondabyne, New South Wales|Wondabyne]]
* [[Wondabyne, New South Wales|Wondabyne]]
* [[Woongarrah, New South Wales|Woongarrah]]
* [[Woongarrah, New South Wales|Woongarrah]]
Line 201: Line 210:


== Demographics ==
== Demographics ==
At the [[2021 Australian census|2021 census]] the population of the Central Coast local government area was 346,596. The median income for the Central Coast Council Local Government Area (LGA) was lower than the nation compared to $1,746 nationally, and the [[New South Wales|state]] at $1,829 and $1,507 in this LGA.<ref name="Census2021" />
{{expand section|date=July 2017|{{CensusAU|2016}} data}}
At the [[Census in Australia#2016|2016 Census]] the population of the Central Coast local government area was 327,736.<ref>{{cite web |title=2016 Census QuickStats: Central Coast (C) (NSW) |url=http://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/LGA11650?opendocument |website=quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au |accessdate=29 November 2018 |language=en}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
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!colspan=7|Selected historical census data for Central Coast local government area
!colspan=7|Selected historical census data for Central Coast local government area
|-
|-
!colspan=3|Census year !!2016<ref name="Census2016"/>
!colspan=3|Census year !!2016<ref name="Census2016">{{Census 2016 AUS |id=LGA11650 |name=Central Coast (C) (NSW) |access-date=6 February 2024 |quick=on}}</ref> !!2021<ref name="Census2021" />
|-
|-
|rowspan=4 colspan="2"|Population ||Estimated residents on [[Census in Australia|census night]] ||align="right"|{{formatnum:327736}}
|rowspan=4 colspan="2"|Population ||Estimated residents on [[Census in Australia|census night]] ||align="right"|{{formatnum:327736}} ||align="right" |{{formatnum:346596}}
|-
|-
|align="right"|[[List of local government areas in New South Wales|LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales]] ||align="right"| 3{{small|rd}}
|align="right"|[[List of local government areas in New South Wales|LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales]] ||align="right"| 3{{small|rd}}||align="right"|
|-
|-
|align="right"|% of New South Wales population ||align="right"|
|align="right"|% of New South Wales population ||align="right"| ||align="right"|
|-
|-
|align="right"|% of Australian population ||align="right"|
|align="right"|% of Australian population ||align="right"| ||align="right"|
|-
|-
!colspan=3|Cultural and language diversity !!
!colspan=4|Cultural and language diversity !!
|-
|-
|rowspan=5 colspan=2|[[Ancestor|Ancestry]],<br />top responses ||[[English people|English]]||align="right"|31.3%
|rowspan=6 colspan="2"|[[Ancestor|Ancestry]],<br />top responses ||[[English people|English]]||align="right"|31.3% ||align="right"|{{increase}}&nbsp;42.6%
|-
|-
|[[Australians|Australian]]||align="right"|30.2%
|[[Australians|Australian]]||align="right"|30.2%||align="right"|{{increase}}&nbsp;39.9%
|-
|-
|[[Irish people|Irish]]||align="right"|9.3%
|[[Irish people|Irish]]||align="right"|9.3%||align="right"|{{increase}}&nbsp;12.0%
|-
|-
|[[Scottish people|Scottish]]||align="right"|7.5%
|[[Scottish people|Scottish]]||align="right"|7.5%||align="right"|{{increase}}&nbsp;10.5%
|-
|-
|[[German people|German]]||align="right"|2.5%
|[[German people|German]]||align="right"|2.5% ||align="right"|-
|-
|-
|rowspan=5 colspan=2|Language,<br />top responses<br />(other than [[Australian English|English]]) |||[[Spanish Language|Spanish]]||align="right"|0.5%
|[[Aboriginal Australians|Australian Aboriginal]] ||align="right"| 4.7%||align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;4.7%
|-
|-
|rowspan=6 colspan="2"|Language,<br />top responses<br />(other than [[Australian English|English]]) |||[[Spanish Language|Spanish]]||align="right"|0.5%||align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;0.5%
|[[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]]||align="right"|0.5%
|-
|-
|[[Italian Language|Italian]]||align="right"|0.4%
|[[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]]||align="right"|0.5%||align="right"|{{increase}}&nbsp;0.6%
|-
|-
|[[German language|German]]||align="right"|0.3%
|[[Italian Language|Italian]]||align="right"|0.4%||align="right"|{{decrease}}&nbsp;0.3%
|-
|-
|[[Cantonese]]||align="right"|0.3%
|[[German language|German]]||align="right"|0.3%||align="right"|-
|-
|-
|[[Cantonese]]||align="right"|0.3%||align="right"|{{steady}}&nbsp;0.3%
!colspan=3|Religious affiliation !!
|-
|-
|rowspan=5 colspan=2|[[Religion in Australia|Religious]] affiliation,<br />top responses ||[[Irreligion|No religion]]||align="right"|27.6%
|[[Tagalog language|Tagalog]]||align="right"|- ||align="right|0.3%
|-
|-
!colspan=4|Religious affiliation !!
|[[Roman Catholic Church in Australia|Catholic]]||align="right"|24.7%
|-
|-
|rowspan=5 colspan="2"|[[Religion in Australia|Religious]] affiliation,<br />top responses ||[[Irreligion|No religion]]||align="right"|27.6%||align="right"|{{increase}}&nbsp;39.4%
|[[Anglican Church of Australia|Anglican]]||align="right"|22.5%
|-
|-
|[[Roman Catholic Church in Australia|Catholic]]||align="right"|24.7%||align="right"|{{decrease}}&nbsp;21.7%
|Not Stated||align="right"|8.2%
|-
|-
|[[Uniting Church in Australia|Uniting Church]]||align="right"|3.2%
|[[Anglican Church of Australia|Anglican]]||align="right"|22.5%||align="right"|{{decrease}}&nbsp;16.8%
|-
|-
|Not Stated||align="right"|8.2%||align="right"|{{decrease}}&nbsp;6.1%
!colspan=3|Median weekly incomes !!
|-
|-
|[[Uniting Church in Australia|Uniting Church]]||align="right"|3.2%||align="right"|{{decrease}}&nbsp;2.4%
|rowspan=2 colspan=2|Personal [[Household income|income]] ||[[Median]] weekly personal income||align="right"|{{AUD}}600
|-
|-
!colspan=4|Median weekly incomes !!
|align="right"|% of Australian median income||align="right"|
|-
|-
|rowspan=2 colspan=2|Family income ||Median weekly family income||align="right"|A$1560
|rowspan=1 colspan="2"|Personal [[Household income|income]] ||[[Median]] weekly personal income||align="right"|$600||align="right"|{{increase}}&nbsp;$727
|-
|-
|align="right"|% of Australian median income||align="right"|
|rowspan=1 colspan="2"|Family income ||Median weekly family income||align="right"|$1,560||align="right"|{{increase}}&nbsp;$1,954
|-
|-
|rowspan=2 colspan=2|Household income ||Median weekly household income||align="right"|A$1258
|rowspan=1 colspan="2"|Household income ||Median weekly household income||align="right"|$1,258||align="right"|{{increase}}&nbsp;$1,507
|-
|align="right"|% of Australian median income||align="right"|
|-
|-
|}
|}


== Council ==
== Council ==
[[File:Central Coast wards map.svg|250px|right|thumb|A map of the five wards, showing party representation as of the [[2017 New South Wales local elections|2017 local elections]] (note that the council was not up for election in [[2021 New South Wales local elections|2021]]).]]
From amalgamation on 12 May 2016 to September 2017, the Central Coast Council area was administered by Ian Reynolds, with former Wyong Shire Acting General Manager Rob Noble appointed as Interim General Manager and Gosford City General Manager Paul Anderson appointed Deputy General Manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/about-council/general-information-rates/latest-news/may-2016/2016/05/12/central-coast-council-officially-underway|title=Central Coast Council Officially Underway|publisher=[[City of Gosford]]|date=12 May 2016|accessdate=14 May 2016}}</ref>
The Council comprises fifteen [[Councillor]]s elected [[Single transferable vote|proportionally]], with three Councillors elected in five [[Ward (country subdivision)|wards]].<ref name=LGP>{{cite web|title=Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016 [NSW] - Schedule 3 - Provisions for Central Coast Council|url=http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/regulations/2016-242.pdf|publisher=Parliament of New South Wales|access-date=8 October 2016|page=15|date=12 May 2016}}</ref> Councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office, with the first term to last for three years.<ref name=sc>{{cite web |url=https://www.strongercouncils.nsw.gov.au/new-councils/central-coast-council/ |title=Central Coast Council |work=Stronger Councils |publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]] |date=12 May 2016 |access-date=15 May 2016 |archive-date=8 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180608042443/https://www.strongercouncils.nsw.gov.au/new-councils/central-coast-council/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Mayor]] is elected by Councillors for a period of two years, the Deputy Mayor is elected for one year. On 30 October 2020, the Minister for Local Government, [[Shelley Hancock]] announced the suspension of the elected Council and the appointment of [[Dick Persson]] as the new interim Administrator of Central Coast Council for an initial period of three months.<ref name="hancock">{{cite news |last1=Hancock |first1=Shelley |title=Central Coast Council facing suspension |url=https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/central-coast-council-facing-suspension/ |access-date=30 October 2020 |publisher=Office of Local Government NSW |date=21 October 2020}}</ref> On 21 January 2021, Hancock announced the extension of Persson's term for an additional three months to 29 April 2021, which was later extended to May 2021.<ref name="OLGNSW">{{cite news |last1=Hancock |first1=Shelley |title=Central Coast Council suspension extended |url=https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/central-coast-council-suspension-extended/ |access-date=22 March 2021 |publisher=Office of Local Government |date=25 January 2021 |format=Media Release}}</ref> The Council meets fortnightly, with meetings held at the Wyong Civic Centre.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Collins |first1=Terry |title=Council meetings to alternate between Gosford and Wyong |url=https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2020/11/council-meetings-to-alternate-between-gosford-and-wyong/ |access-date=20 December 2020 |agency=Coast Community News |date=29 November 2020}}</ref>

Georges River Council comprises fifteen [[Councillor]]s elected [[Single transferable vote|proportionally]], with three Councillors elected in five [[Ward (country subdivision)|wards]].<ref name=LGP>{{cite web|title=Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016 [NSW] - Schedule 3 - Provisions for Central Coast Council|url=http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/regulations/2016-242.pdf|publisher=Parliament of New South Wales|accessdate=8 October 2016|page=15|date=12 May 2016}}</ref> Councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office, with the first term to last for three years.<ref name=sc>{{cite web |url=https://www.strongercouncils.nsw.gov.au/new-councils/central-coast-council/ |title=Central Coast Council|work=Stronger Councils |publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]] |date=12 May 2016 |accessdate=15 May 2016 }}</ref> The [[Mayor]] is elected by Councillors for a period of two years, the Deputy Mayor is elected for one year.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
!colspan="2"|Mayor!!Term!!Notes
!colspan="2"|Office!!Term!!Notes
|-
| [[Administrator (Australia)|Administrator]] || Ian Reynolds || 12 May 2016 – 26 September 2017 || <ref name=LGP/>
|-
| rowspan="2"| Mayor || Jane Smith || 26 September 2017 – 23 September 2019 ||<ref name=smith>{{cite news|last1=Killman|first1=Fiona|title=CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL ELECTS INDEPENDENT COUNCILLOR JANE SMITH AS INAUGURAL MAYOR|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/central-coast-council-elects-independent-councillor-jane-smith-as-inaugural-mayor/news-story/fb1b76ffe3ad5a79bd01ce30ea654767|access-date=29 September 2017|agency=Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate|date=26 September 2017}}</ref>
|-
| Lisa Matthews || 23 September 2019 – 30 October 2020 ||<ref name="Barry">{{cite news |last1=Barry |first1=Ross |title=New Mayor Matthews |url=https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2019/09/new-mayor-matthews/ |access-date=30 October 2020 |agency=Coast Community News |date=24 September 2019}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"| Deputy Mayor || [[Chris Holstein]] || 26 September 2017 – 23 September 2019 || Mayor of [[Gosford City Council]] 2002–2010<ref name=smith/>
|-
| Jane Smith || 23 September 2019 – 30 October 2020 || <ref name=smith/><ref name="Barry"/>
|-
| rowspan="2"| Administrator || [[Dick Persson]] || 30 October 2020 – 13 May 2021 || Administrator of [[Port Macquarie-Hastings Council]] 2008–2009, [[Northern Beaches Council]] 2016–2017 and [[Warringah Council]] 2003–2008
|-
| [[Rik Hart]] || 13 May 2021 – 14 September 2024 || <ref name="inquiry">{{cite news |last1=Hancock |first1=Shelley |title=Public Inquiry into Central Coast Council |url=https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/public-inquiry-into-central-coast-council/ |publisher=Office of Local Government |date=26 April 2021 |format=Media Release}}</ref><ref name="RH">{{cite web |title=Administrator Appointment |date=30 October 2020 |url=https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/council/about-council/administrator-appointment |publisher=Central Coast Council |access-date=13 May 2021}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="1"| Mayor || [[Lawrie McKinna]] || October 8 2024 – present || Mayor of [[Gosford City Council]] (2012–2016)
|-
| rowspan="1"| Deputy Mayor || Douglas Eaton || October 8 2024 – present || Mayor of [[Wyong Shire Council]] (2012–2016)
|-
!colspan="2"|General Manager/CEO<ref>Chief Executive Officer from 8 June 2016.</ref>!!Term!!Notes
|-
|-
| [[Administrator (Australia)|Administrator]] || Ian Reynolds || 12 May 2016 – 26 September 2017 || General Manager of [[Blacktown City Council]] 2000–2005<ref name=LGP/>
| colspan="2"| Rob Noble || 12 May 2016 – 20 September 2017 || Acting General Manager of [[Wyong Shire Council]] 2015–2016<ref name=LGP/>
|-
|-
| Mayor || Jane Smith || 26 September 2017 – date ||<ref name=smith>{{cite news|last1=Killman|first1=Fiona|title=CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL ELECTS INDEPENDENT COUNCILLOR JANE SMITH AS INAUGURAL MAYOR|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/central-coast-council-elects-independent-councillor-jane-smith-as-inaugural-mayor/news-story/fb1b76ffe3ad5a79bd01ce30ea654767|accessdate=29 September 2017|agency=Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate|date=26 September 2017}}</ref>
| colspan="2"| Brian Bell || 20 September 2017 – 2 February 2018 || General Manager of [[City of Lake Macquarie|Lake Macquarie City Council]] 2006–2017<ref>{{cite news|last1=Killman|first1=Fiona|title=CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL CEO ROB NOBLE STEPS DOWN TODAY|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/central-coast-council-ceo-rob-noble-steps-down-today/news-story/ec6a3144985716408d17fddea5a94461|access-date=29 September 2017|agency=Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate|date=20 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Council CEO Brian Bell resigns |url=https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2018/01/council-ceo-brian-bell-resigns/ |access-date=30 October 2020 |agency=Coast Community News |date=8 January 2018}}</ref>
|-
|-
| Deputy Mayor || [[Chris Holstein]] || 26 September 2017date || Mayor of Gosford 2002–2010<ref name=smith/>
| colspan="2"| Brian Glendenning (Acting) || 2 February 20182 July 2018 ||<ref name="Murphy"/>
|-
|-
| colspan="2"| Gary Murphy || 2 July 2018 – 30 November 2020 || General Manager of [[City of Lismore|Lismore City Council]] 2011–2018<ref name="Murphy">{{cite news |title=New Chief Executive Officer to lead the Central Coast |url=https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/council/news/media-releases/new-chief-executive-officer-to-lead-central-coast |access-date=30 October 2020 |publisher=Central Coast Council |date=2 July 2018 |format=Media Release}}</ref>
!colspan="2"|General Manager/CEO!!Term!!Notes
|-
|-
| colspan="2"| Rik Hart (Acting) || 3 November 2020 – 12 April 2021 ||<ref name=Hart/><ref name="FarmerHart">{{cite news |last1=Persson |first1=Dick |title=Administrator's Column – A new chapter at Central Coast Council |url=https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/council/news/media-releases/administrators-column-new-chapter-central-coast-council |access-date=15 April 2021 |publisher=Central Coast Council |date=12 April 2021}}</ref>
| colspan="2"| Rob Noble || 12 May 2016 – 20 September 2017 || Acting General Manager of [[Wyong Shire]] 2015–2016<ref name=LGP/>
|-
|-
| colspan="2"| Brian Bell || 20 September 2017date || General Manager of [[City of Lake Macquarie|Lake Macquarie]] 2006–2017<ref>{{cite news|last1=Killman|first1=Fiona|title=CENTRAL COAST COUNCIL CEO ROB NOBLE STEPS DOWN TODAY|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/central-coast-council-ceo-rob-noble-steps-down-today/news-story/ec6a3144985716408d17fddea5a94461|accessdate=29 September 2017|agency=Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate|date=20 September 2017}}</ref>
| colspan="2"| David Farmer || 12 April 2021present ||<ref name="DF1">{{cite news |title=Administrator announces new CEO for Central Coast Council |url=https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/council/news/media-releases/administrator-announces-new-ceo-central-coast-council-2-march-2021 |access-date=22 March 2021 |publisher=Central Coast Council |date=2 March 2021 |format=Media Release}}</ref><ref name="FarmerHart"/>
|}
|}


===Current composition===
===Previous composition===
The most recent election was held on 9 September 2017, and the makeup of the Council by order of election, is as follows:
The most recent election was held on [[2024 New South Wales local elections|14 September 2024]]. The makeup of the council, is as follows:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 298: Line 323:
|-
|-
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)|Australian Labor Party]]
| [[Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)|Labor]]
| align=right | 6
| align=right | 5
|-
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| [[Independent (politician)|Independents]]
| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| align=right | 5
| align=right | 5
|-
|-
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}}|&nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}}|&nbsp;
| [[Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)|Liberal Party of Australia]]
| [[Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)|Liberal]]
| align=right | 4
| align=right | 4
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent Liberal}}|&nbsp;
| [[Independent Liberal (Australia)|Independent Liberal]]
| align=right | 1
|-
|-
|
|
Line 318: Line 347:
!Ward!!colspan="2"|Councillor!!Party!!Notes
!Ward!!colspan="2"|Councillor!!Party!!Notes
|-
|-
| rowspan="3"|Budgewoi Ward
| rowspan="3"|Budgewoi Ward<ref>{{cite web|title=Central Coast - Budgewoi Ward|url=http://vtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/central-coast/budgewoi-ward|website=NSW Local Council Elections 2017|publisher=NSW Electoral Commission|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref>
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| Helen Crowley
| Doug Vincent
| Labor
| Labor
|
| Wyong A Ward Councillor 2008–2016
|-
|-
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Independent Liberal}}|&nbsp;
| Douglas Eaton
| Jillian Hogan
| [[Independent Liberal (Australia)|Independent Liberal]]
| Labor
| Previously Mayor of [[Wyong Shire Council]] (1995–1996, 2010–2011, 2012–2016)
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| John Mouland
| Independent
|
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="3"|Gosford East Ward
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| [[Lawrie McKinna]]
| Greg Best
| Independent
| Independent
| Previously Mayor of [[Gosford City Council]] (2012–2016)
| Mayor of Wyong 2002–2004
|-
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| Sharon Walsh
| Labor
|
|-
|-
| rowspan="3"|Gosford East Ward<ref>{{cite web|title=Central Coast - Gosford East Ward|url=http://vtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/central-coast/gosford-east-ward|website=NSW Local Council Elections 2017|publisher=NSW Electoral Commission|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref>
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}}|&nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}}|&nbsp;
| Jared Wright
| Rebecca Gale Collins
| Liberal
|
|-
| rowspan="3"|Gosford West Ward
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}}|&nbsp;
| Trent McWaide
| Liberal
| Liberal
|
|
|-
|-
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| [[Belinda Neal]]
| Jeff Sundstrom
| Labor
| Labor
| Previously [[Gosford City Council]] Councillor (1992–1994), [[List of senators from New South Wales|Senator for NSW]] (1994–1998), federal member for [[Division of Robertson|Robertson]] (2007–2010)
|
|-
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| Jane Smith
| Jane Smith
| Independent
| Independent
| '''Mayor''' 2017–date
| Previously Mayor (2017-2019)
|-
|-
| rowspan="3"|The Entrance Ward
| rowspan="3"|Gosford West Ward<ref>{{cite web|title=Central Coast - Gosford West Ward|url=http://vtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/central-coast/gosford-west-ward|website=NSW Local Council Elections 2017|publisher=NSW Electoral Commission|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref>
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| Margot Castles
| Richard Mehrtens
| Labor
| Labor
|
|
|-
|-
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}}|&nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}}|&nbsp;
| Rachel Stanton
| Troy Marquart
| Liberal
| Liberal
|
|
|-
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| Corinne Lamont
| [[Chris Holstein]]
| Independent
| Independent
|
| '''Deputy Mayor''' 2017–date
|-
| rowspan="3"|The Entrance Ward<ref>{{cite web|title=Central Coast - The Entrance Ward|url=http://vtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/central-coast/the-entrance-ward|website=NSW Local Council Elections 2017|publisher=NSW Electoral Commission|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref>
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| Lisa Matthews
| Labor
| Wyong B Ward Councillor 2008–2016
|-
|-
| rowspan="3"|Wyong Ward
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}}|&nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}}|&nbsp;
| [[Karen McNamara|John McNamara]]
| Jilly Pilon
| Liberal
| Liberal
| Previously [[Wyong Shire Council]] Councillor (2008-2012)
|-
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| Kyle Macgreggor
| Labor
|
|
|-
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| Kyla Daniels
| Bruce McLachlan
| Independent
| Independent
|
|
|}

==Election results==
===2024===
{{excerpt|2024 Central Coast Council election|section=Results}}

===2017===
{{excerpt|2017 Central Coast Council election|section=Results}}

==Past councillors==
===Budgewoi Ward===
{|class="wikitable"
|+
|-
|-
! Year
| rowspan="3"|Wyong Ward<ref>{{cite web|title=Central Coast - Wyong Ward|url=http://vtr.elections.nsw.gov.au/central-coast/wyong-ward|website=NSW Local Council Elections 2017|publisher=NSW Electoral Commission|accessdate=29 September 2017}}</ref>
! colspan="2"|Councillor
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
! Party
| Kyle MacGregor
! colspan="2"|Councillor
| Labor
! Party
! colspan="2"|Councillor
! Party
|-
| '''[[2017 Central Coast Council election|2017]]'''
| rowspan="1" width="1px" {{Australian party style|labor}}|&nbsp;
| rowspan="1"|Doug Vincent
| rowspan="1"|{{Australian politics/name|labor nsw}}
| rowspan="1" width="1px" {{Australian party style|labor}}|&nbsp;
| rowspan="1"|Garry Whitaker
| rowspan="1"|{{Australian politics/name|labor nsw}}
| rowspan="1" width="1px" {{Australian party style|independent}}|&nbsp;
| rowspan="1"|Greg Best
| rowspan="1"|{{Australian politics/name|independent}}
|-
| ''2022''
| colspan=9; align=center | '''''Council dismissed'''''
|-
| '''[[2024 Central Coast Council election|2024]]'''
| colspan=9; align=center | ''[[2024 Central Coast Council election|TBC]]''
|}

===Gosford East Ward===
{|class="wikitable"
|+
|-
! Year
! colspan="2"|Councillor
! Party
! colspan="2"|Councillor
! Party
! colspan="2"|Councillor
! Party
|-
| '''[[2017 Central Coast Council election|2017]]'''
| rowspan="1" width="1px" {{Australian party style|liberal}}|&nbsp;
| rowspan="1"|Rebecca Gale-Collins
| rowspan="1"|{{Australian politics/name|liberal nsw}}
| rowspan="2" width="1px" {{Australian party style|labor}}|&nbsp;
| rowspan="2"|Jeff Sundstrom
| rowspan="2"|{{Australian politics/name|labor nsw}}
| rowspan="2" width="1px" {{Australian party style|country progressive}}|&nbsp;
| rowspan="2"|Jane Smith
| rowspan="2"|NEW Independents
|-
| ''2020''
|
|
| colspan=2 | ''Vacant''
|-
|-
| ''2022''
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| colspan=9; align=center | '''''Council dismissed'''''
| Louise Greenaway
|-
| Independent
| '''[[2024 Central Coast Council election|2024]]'''
| colspan=9; align=center | ''[[2024 Central Coast Council election|TBC]]''
|}

===Gosford West Ward===
{|class="wikitable"
|+
|-
! Year
! colspan="2"|Councillor
! Party
! colspan="2"|Councillor
! Party
! colspan="2"|Councillor
! Party
|-
| '''[[2017 Central Coast Council election|2017]]'''
| rowspan="2" width="1px" {{Australian party style|labor}}|&nbsp;
| rowspan="2"|Richard Mehrtens
| rowspan="2"|{{Australian politics/name|labor nsw}}
| rowspan="1" width="1px" {{Australian party style|liberal}}|&nbsp;
| rowspan="1"|Troy Marquart
| rowspan="1"|{{Australian politics/name|liberal nsw}}
| rowspan="2" width="1px" {{Australian party style|independent}}|&nbsp;
| rowspan="2"|[[Chris Holstein]]
| rowspan="2"|{{Australian politics/name|independent}}
|-
| ''2020''
|
|
| colspan=2 | ''Vacant''
|-
|-
| ''2022''
| {{Australian party style|Liberal}}|&nbsp;
| colspan=9; align=center | '''''Council dismissed'''''
| Chris Burke
|-
| Liberal
| '''[[2024 Central Coast Council election|2024]]'''
| Gosford City Councillor 2008–2016
| colspan=9; align=center | ''[[2024 Central Coast Council election|TBC]]''
|}
|}

===The Entrance Ward===
{|class="wikitable"
|+
|-
! Year
! colspan="2"|Councillor
! Party
! colspan="2"|Councillor
! Party
! colspan="2"|Councillor
! Party
|-
| '''[[2017 Central Coast Council election|2017]]'''
| rowspan="1" width="1px" {{Australian party style|labor}}|&nbsp;
| rowspan="1"|Lisa Matthews
| rowspan="1"|{{Australian politics/name|labor nsw}}
| rowspan="1" width="1px" {{Australian party style|liberal}}|&nbsp;
| rowspan="1"|Jilly Pilon
| rowspan="1"|{{Australian politics/name|liberal nsw}}
| rowspan="1" width="1px" {{Australian party style|independent}}|&nbsp;
| rowspan="1"|Bruce McLachlan
| rowspan="1"|{{Australian politics/name|independent}}
|-
| ''2022''
| colspan=9; align=center | '''''Council dismissed'''''
|-
| '''[[2024 Central Coast Council election|2024]]'''
| colspan=9; align=center | ''[[2024 Central Coast Council election|TBC]]''
|}

===Wyong Ward===
{|class="wikitable"
|+
|-
! Year
! colspan="2"|Councillor
! Party
! colspan="2"|Councillor
! Party
! colspan="2"|Councillor
! Party
|-
| '''[[2017 Central Coast Council election|2017]]'''
| rowspan="1" width="1px" {{Australian party style|labor}}|&nbsp;
| rowspan="1"|Kyle MacGregor
| rowspan="1"|{{Australian politics/name|labor nsw}}
| rowspan="1" width="1px" {{Australian party style|country progressive}}|&nbsp;
| rowspan="1"|Louise Greenaway
| rowspan="1"|NEW Independents
| rowspan="1" width="1px" {{Australian party style|liberal}}|&nbsp;
| rowspan="1"|Chris Burke
| rowspan="1"|{{Australian politics/name|liberal nsw}}
|-
| ''2022''
| colspan=9; align=center | '''''Council dismissed'''''
|-
| '''[[2024 Central Coast Council election|2024]]'''
| colspan=9; align=center | ''[[2024 Central Coast Council election|TBC]]''
|}

== History ==
===Early history===
The traditional Aboriginal inhabitants of the lands now known as the [[Brisbane Water]] were the [[Guringai]] people of the [[Eora]] nation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guringai.com.au/ |title=Guringai history |work=Services |publisher=Guringai Tribal Link Aboriginal Corporation |year=2010 |access-date=1 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421193944/http://guringai.com.au/ |archive-date=21 April 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Darkingung people occupied large areas inland west towards [[Rylstone]], and north to [[Cessnock, New South Wales|Cessnock]] and [[Wollombi]].<ref name="GosfordHistory">{{cite web |title=Some Significant events in Gosford History |url=http://www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/library/local_history/Suburbs/documents/history.html/ |publisher=Gosford City Council |access-date=1 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140624025651/http://www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/library/local_history/Suburbs/documents/history.html/ |archive-date=24 June 2014}}</ref>

In 1811, the [[Governor of New South Wales]], [[Lachlan Macquarie]], gave the first [[land grant]] in the region to William Nash, a former marine of the [[First Fleet]]. No further grants were made in the area until 1821.<ref>Bennett, F. C., ''The Story of the Aboriginal People of the Central Coast of New South Wales'', Brisbane Water Historical Society, 1968, p. 9.</ref> In 1839 Governor [[George Gipps|Sir George Gipps]] named the town of Gosford after his friend, [[Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford|The Earl of Gosford]].<ref name="GosfordHistory"/> In 1840, the Brisbane Water Police District was proclaimed covering the area from the Hawkesbury River to Lake Macquarie and which administered local government under the control of magistrates.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230138392 |title=POLICE DISTRICTS. |newspaper=[[New South Wales Government Gazette]] |issue=52 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=26 August 1840 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=821 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Gosford District Historical Research Association (GDHRA) |title=City of Gosford: History of Local Government |date=1981 |publisher=Gosford District Historical Research Association and Gosford Printing Pty. Ltd. |location=Gosford |page=10}}</ref> In 1843, the Brisbane Water District Council was proclaimed on the same boundaries as the Police District, and replaced the appointed magistrates with an elected council as part of an early attempt to establish local government administration throughout the colony.<ref>GDHRA, p. 12.</ref> This experiment in local government was not very successful, with much public opposition focused on the issue of increased taxation, and a lack of oversight and faulty administration led to the collapse of many of these District Councils. The Brisbane Water District Council had ceased to exist by 1855, and the NSW Parliament passed the ''Municipalities Act'' in 1858, which allowed for the creation of Municipalities and Boroughs if a petition of as few as 50 signatures was presented to the government.<ref name="WDC">{{cite web |title=Agency 3085: Windsor District Council |url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/agency/3085 |publisher=NSW State Archives and Records |access-date=8 March 2019}}</ref> However, no petition was ever sent from the residents of Brisbane Water to the government under this act, and local matters reverted to the police magistrates for determination.<ref name="GDHRA, p. 14">GDHRA, p. 14.</ref>[[File:SLNSW 796360 School of Arts Gosford.jpg|right|300px|thumb|upright|The School of Arts on the corner of Mann Street and Georgiana Terrace, Gosford, was the council seat of Gosford from 1886 to 1907, and Erina from 1907 to 1912. It was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1927 with only the sandstone base remaining.]]

===Gosford Borough===
Under the succeeding ''Municipalities Act, 1867'', which allowed for residents to petition the Colonial Government for incorporation, a petition signed by 59 Gosford residents, amongst a population of approximately 1,000 at the time, was sent to the Governor on 10 June 1886 requesting the establishment of the "Borough of Gosford" with two wards, East Gosford and West Gosford.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article221686016 |title=GOSFORD.—PETITION FOR A MUNICIPALITY. |newspaper=New South Wales Government Gazette |issue=321 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=10 June 1886 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=3989 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The petition was subsequently accepted and on 11 November 1886, the "Borough of Gosford" was proclaimed by the Governor [[Charles Wynn-Carington, 1st Marquess of Lincolnshire|Lord Carrington]], with an area of 1,840 acres in and around the Town of Gosford.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223782683 |title=Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation |newspaper=New South Wales Government Gazette |issue=639 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=11 November 1886 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=7801 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The first election for the six aldermen and two auditors was held at Gosford Courthouse on 1 February 1887, and the first mayor, John Bennett Whiteway, was elected at the first Council meeting on 20 February 1887.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223782511 |title=Government Gazette Proclamations and Legislation |newspaper=New South Wales Government Gazette |issue=743 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=29 December 1886 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=8815 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224183094 |title=BOROUGH OF GOSFORD. |newspaper=New South Wales Government Gazette |issue=153 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=15 March 1887 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=1907 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224183093 |title=BOROUGH OF GOSFORD. |newspaper=New South Wales Government Gazette |issue=153 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=15 March 1887 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=1907 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> From 1888, the Borough Council meetings were held in the Gosford School of Arts building at 38 Mann Street.<ref>GDHRA, p. 16.</ref>

===Erina Shire===
The remaining area of the Brisbane Water Police District outside of Gosford continued to be administered by the police magistrates until 1906.<ref name="GDHRA, p. 14"/> From 7 March 1906, this area became the [[Erina Shire]], when it was proclaimed by the NSW Government Gazette along with 132 other new Shires as a result of the passing of the ''[[Local Government (Shires) Act 1905]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226474400 |title=PROCLAMATION |newspaper=Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales |issue=121 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=7 March 1906 |access-date=16 May 2018 |page=1593 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> On 16 May 1906, the Shire was divided in to three Ridings (A, B, C) and five temporary Councillors were appointed (John Bourke of Kincumber, John Martin Moroney of Woy Woy, Harold Stanley Robinson of Penang, Manasseh Ward of Gosford, and Alexander Wilkinson of Wyong).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229308308 |title=NOTIFICATION |newspaper=Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales |issue=161 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=16 May 1906 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2927 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229308305 |title=PROCLAMATION |newspaper=Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales |issue=161 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=16 May 1906 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2981 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The Temporary Council first met at Gosford Courthouse on 13 June 1906 and Manasseh Ward was elected as the chairman.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136219058 |title=ERINA SHIRE COUNCIL. |newspaper=[[The Newcastle Herald|Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate]] |issue=9861 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=18 June 1906 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The first election was held on 24 November 1906 and the first meeting of the elected nine-member Council was held at the Gosford Courthouse on 5 December 1906, with Councillor Ward elected to continue serving as the first Shire President.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161289489 |title=ERINA SHIRE ELECTIONS. |newspaper=The Gosford Times And Wyong District Advocate|location=New South Wales, Australia |date=30 November 1906 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161290944 |title=PERMANENT COUNCIL |newspaper=[[The Gosford Times and Wyong District Advocate]]|location=New South Wales, Australia |date=7 December 1906 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
[[File:SLNSW 796359 Council Chambers Gosford.jpg|right|300px|thumb|upright|Erina Shire Chambers in Gosford, built 1912.]]
With the coming into effect of the ''Local Government Act, 1906'', the Borough of Gosford became the Municipality of Gosford, as well as the power of Councils to petition the government to dissolve and merge with other Councils. In July 1907 a petition from the Municipality of Gosford was published in the Government Gazette requesting to merge with Erina Shire, the first Council to do so under the 1906 act.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226593036 |title=LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1906. |newspaper=[[Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales]] |issue=81 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=10 July 1907 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=3892 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> However, owing to objections from the Wyong Progress Association and the Erina Shire Council, a public inquiry was established by the Secretary for Public Works, where it was heard that the Gosford Municipality was in debt and desired to merge with Erina to resolve its financial issues.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238074038 |title=LOCAL GOVERNMENT. |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |issue=8825 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=13 September 1907 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Despite objections, the commissioner returned a recommendation for the merger and a proposal for a six-ward model was considered and accepted at a conference held on 30 September 1907.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134692439 |title=GOSFORD MUNICIPALITY. |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate |issue=10,247 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=12 September 1907 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161289110 |title=Erina Shire Council. |newspaper=The Gosford Times And Wyong District Advocate|location=New South Wales, Australia |date=4 October 1907 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The proposal for a six-ward Erina Shire with Gosford becoming F Riding was subsequently proclaimed and came into effect on 23 January 1908.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226586454 |title=PROPOSED RECONSTITUTION OF ERINA SHIRE AND THE MUNICIPALITY OF GOSFORD, BY UNITING THE TWO AREAS. |newspaper=Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales |issue=148 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=27 November 1907 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=6439 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article226588182 |title=PROCLAMATION |newspaper=Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales |issue=4 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=15 January 1908 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=281 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138401149 |title=NEW ERINA SHIRE. |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=24 January 1908 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The new Shire Council Chambers on Mann Street, Gosford, were officially opened on 4 May 1912.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article102919164 |title=SHIRE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, ERINA. |newspaper=The Land |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=31 May 1912 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

===Woy Woy Shire===
However, with the substantial size of Erina Shire covering the entirety of the Central Coast region, some local groups began to organise to separate from the shire and manage their own areas. This occurred in D Riding in particular, where in 1921, a group of ratepayers angered by what they saw as a general neglect of their local area, formed an organisation to work towards the separation of the [[Woy Woy]] Peninsula area from Erina Shire.<ref name="WoyWoy">{{cite web |last1=Gosford City Library |title=History of Woy Woy |url=http://www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/library/local_history/Suburbs/documents/history-of-woy-woy |publisher=Gosford City Council |access-date=1 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623224550/http://www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/library/local_history/Suburbs/documents/history-of-woy-woy |archive-date=23 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118881581 |title=Cinderella |newspaper=Evening News |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=9 January 1922 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> On 27 April 1928 a proposal for separation was received and the [[Woy Woy Shire|Shire of Woy Woy]] was subsequently proclaimed on 1 August 1928.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219948160 |title=LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919. |newspaper=Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales|issue=54 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=27 April 1928 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=1863 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{Gazette NSW| title = Local Government Act 1919. Proclamation| issue = 97| page = 3532| date = 27 July 1928| url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/219951602| access-date = 22 October 2018| via = National Library of Australia}}</ref> The first Council meeting was held at the Woy Woy Masonic Hall on 11 August 1928, and land developer and businessman Charles Jefferis Staples was elected as the first Shire President.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161478373 |title=Shire of Woy Woy |newspaper=The Gosford Times And Wyong District Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=16 August 1928 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> During his tenure as president moves were made to construct a Council Chambers building in the centre of Woy Woy, which was designed by Clifford H. Finch, built by G. J. Richards, and officially opened on 14 March 1931 at the cost of £1845 (now the Woy Woy Library).<ref name="WoyWoy"/>

Following severe dysfunction from late 1939 in Woy Woy Shire Council, which was unable to meet or elect a president due to boycotts of councillors over a declining financial position, on 14 February 1940 the Minister for Local Government dismissed Woy Woy Shire Council and appointed Keith William Britton as Administrator.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225079952 |title=LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919. |newspaper=Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales |issue=26 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=14 February 1940 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=831 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article178546903 |title=WOY WOY SHIRE |newspaper=Glen Innes Examiner |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=15 February 1940 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141044879 |title=WOY WOY SHIRE |newspaper=Dungog Chronicle: Durham And Gloucester Advertiser |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=12 January 1940 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> A subsequent investigation by the Administrator found the council's finances "unsound" and subject to an "insidious drift".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166937546 |title=Woy Woy Shire |newspaper=The Gosford Times And Wyong District Advocate |issue=2991 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=19 April 1940 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

===Gosford Municipality and Brisbane Water County Council===
[[File:Meeting Chamber, Gosford Council Chambers in Building magazine 24 May 1939.jpg|left|250px|thumb|upright|The meeting chamber of Gosford Council Chambers on Mann Street, completed in 1939.]]
In March 1936, three Councillors of Erina Shire were dismissed from office for having held office while subject to a special disqualification, and it was also revealed that Council staff had not been paid since February.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141521469 |title=COUNCILLORS FINED. |newspaper=Dungog Chronicle: Durham And Gloucester Advertiser |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=24 March 1936 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237873307 |title=ERINA SHIRE EMPLOYEES NOT PAID |newspaper=The Labor Daily |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=13 March 1936 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> As the council could not meet due to lack of quorum, on 24 March 1936 the Minister for Local Government, [[Eric Spooner]], dismissed the council and appointed an Administrator, B. C. Hughes.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230818786 |title=ERINA SHIRE |newspaper=The Sun |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=24 March 1936 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=9|via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237881644 |title=ADMINISTRATOR IS LIKELY |newspaper=The Labor Daily |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=6 March 1936 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Spooner commissioned Hughes to undertake an inquiry into the administration of Erina Shire and, following a January petition from Gosford and Point Clare residents for a new Gosford municipality, also to investigate the question of the separation of Gosford from the Shire.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139240701 |title=ERINA SHIRE |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=6 June 1936 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224753252 |title=LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919. |newspaper=Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales |issue=21 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=24 January 1936 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=426 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The inquiry found in favour of a separation of Gosford, which was accepted by Spooner, and Erina Shire was divided again to re-form the Municipality of Gosford on 24 October 1936, including the areas of the former Gosford Municipality abolished in 1908 and also new areas from Narara to Woy Woy and Point Clare.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17280705 |title=GOSFORD. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |issue=30,825 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=19 October 1936 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{Gazette NSW| title = Local Government Act 1919. Proclamation| issue = 4401| page = 166| date = 23 October 1938| url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/223041156| access-date = 22 October 2018| via = National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>GDHRA, p. 25.</ref> A nine-member provisional council was appointed the same day, and at the first meeting on 24 October 1936 [[William Calman Grahame]] was elected as the first Mayor and Charles Staples, the former Mayor of Woy Woy, was elected Deputy Mayor.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17285711 |title=NEW MUNICIPALITY. |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=26 October 1936 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Following the first Council election on 23 January 1937, Grahame and Staples were re-elected to their positions on 29 January.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135197929 |title=ALD. W. C. GRAHAME |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=30 January 1937 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229876350 |title=GOSFORD- ERINA QUARREL |newspaper=The Sun |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=29 March 1938 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In March 1938, the first permanent supply of town water was delivered to [[Gosford]], with the opening of a new water supply direct from Lower Mooney Dam on the [[Mooney Mooney Creek]].<ref name="GosfordHistory"/> On 22 April 1939, the Gosford Council Chambers on Mann Street, designed in the Inter-war Art Deco style by architects Loyal Figgis and Virgil Cizzio and built by A. E. Catterall at a cost of £5,785, was officially opened by the Minister for Local Government, Eric Spooner.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166935491 |title=New Council Chamber |newspaper=The Gosford Times And Wyong District Advocate |issue=2914 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=23 March 1939 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166931907 |title=GOSFORD'S GODFATHER |newspaper=The Gosford Times And Wyong District Advocate |issue=2923 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=24 April 1939 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167382380 |title=THE GOSFORD SHIRE COUNCIL CHAMBERS |newspaper=The Gosford Times And Wyong District Advocate|location=New South Wales, Australia |date=27 October 1953 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=5|via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Following significant debate about the provision of electricity undertakings across the Central Coast, including over the split between Erina Shire and Gosford,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133638100 |title=MINISTER ACTS |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=17 February 1938 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> on 16 October 1942 Gosford Municipality combined with the Shires of Erina and Woy Woy to form the [[Brisbane Water County Council]] to provide electricity to the combined area of the three councils. The County Council operated as an [[public utility|electricity and gas supplier and retailer]] and was managed by representatives of the three councils. The County Council operated until its amalgamation with the [[Sydney County Council]] from 1 January 1980.<ref name=BWCC>{{cite web|title= AGY-3490 – Brisbane Water County Council|url=http://search.records.nsw.gov.au/agencies/3490|website=State Records Archives Investigator|publisher=NSW State Records|access-date=1 December 2020|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626141035/http://search.records.nsw.gov.au/agencies/3490|archive-date=26 June 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Gosford and Wyong Councils ===
[[File:Gosford Council Chambers in Building magazine 24 May 1939.jpg|right|300px|thumb|upright|Gosford Council Chambers on Mann Street, completed in 1939 was the council seat until 1974, when it was demolished for the present Gosford Administration Building.]]
In June 1945, Erina Shire resolved to investigate the reconstitution of local government on the Central Coast into two shires and following further discussions a formal proposal was presented to the Minister for Local Government, [[Joseph Cahill]], in October 1945.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134999900 |title=Move to Regroup Areas of Gosford Councils |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=13 June 1945 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222031971 |title=LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919. |newspaper=Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales |issue=113 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=26 October 1945 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2022 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Nevertheless, the proposal proved divisive, with Gosford and the Wyong section of Erina Shire in favour and the rest of Erina Shire and Woy Woy Shire opposed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140600432 |title=Inquire Into Shire Regrouping |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=13 February 1946 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The formal government inquiry subsequently supported the proposal and in April 1946, Cahill notified the councils of his intention to proceed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17977132 |title=NEW SHIRES IN GOSFORD AREA |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=22 April 1946 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In response, Woy Woy Shire held a plebiscite in July 1946 on the question which on a low turnout resolved to opposed amalgamation, a vote that Cahill considered a waste of public money considering the decision was already made.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133164790 |title=Few Vote on Shire Abolition |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=29 July 1946 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> On 1 January 1947, part of Erina Shire, all of Woy Woy Shire and the Municipality of Gosford formed [[Gosford City Council|Gosford Shire]], and the remainder of Erina Shire north and east of Kulnura, Central Mangrove and Lisarow formed [[Wyong Shire]].<ref>{{Gazette NSW| title = Local Government Act 1919. Proclamation| issue = 145| page = 2967| date = 20 December 1946| url = https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224795681| access-date = 22 October 2018| via = National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Following the changes, the new Wyong Shire Council initially rented the old Erina Shire offices in Gosford, but soon acquired some army huts from Cowra and had them moved to Wyong to serve as temporary Council Chambers, which were officially opened by Minister Joseph Cahill on 4 February 1948.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134231404 |title=Wyong Council May Have Temporary Home In November |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=10 September 1947 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134230948 |title=Wyong Council In Own "Home" |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate|location=New South Wales, Australia |date=23 December 1947 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article161358904 |title=WYONG COUNCIL CHAMBERS |newspaper=National Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=5 February 1948 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> These chambers were later replaced by a more substantial Council Administration Building at 2 Hely Street Wyong completed in 1959.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wyong Shire Council Building |url=https://apps.environment.nsw.gov.au/dpcheritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=2720066 |website=NSW State Heritage Inventory |publisher=Heritage NSW |access-date=1 December 2020}}</ref>

In August 1948, Gosford Shire established the first Library Service, with branches opening on 13 August at Woy Woy (in the old Council Chambers) and on 16 August on Mann Street next to the Council Chambers.<ref name="GosfordHistory"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167381358 |title=Gosford Library Now Five Years Old |newspaper=The Gosford Times And Wyong District Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=14 August 1953 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> An expanded Gosford Branch Library was opened in 1951 by the Minister for Education, [[Bob Heffron]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18242321 |title=LIBRARY AT GOSFORD |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|location=New South Wales, Australia |date=3 December 1951 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> New Libraries were subsequently opened at Gosford (Donnison St, 1969), Umina (1983), Kariong (2002) and at Kincumber, Wyoming and Erina (2003).<ref>{{cite web |title=Library Branches & Service Points |url=http://www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/library/branches/index_html |publisher=Gosford City Council |access-date=1 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140623193735/http://www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/library/branches/index_html |archive-date=23 June 2014}}</ref> Wyong Shire took longer to deliver its own Library Service by 1959, having delayed a proposal on cost grounds in 1951, and held a referendum on the question in December 1953 which was resolved in favour of adopting the ''Library Act, 1939''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139509022 |title=Wyong Library "Pigeonholed" |newspaper=Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate|location=New South Wales, Australia |date=14 February 1951 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167375856 |title=Wyong Move For Public Library |newspaper=The Gosford Times And Wyong District Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=28 July 1953 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167379502 |title=REFERENDUM ON WYONG LIBRARY |newspaper=The Gosford Times And Wyong District Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=25 August 1953 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167377041 |title=Wyong Shire's Library Plan |newspaper=The Gosford Times And Wyong District Advocate |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=18 December 1953 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Wyong Shire Council formally adopted the act in 1958 and opened the first public library service on the ground floor of the Council Chambers in May 1959.<ref>{{cite news |title=75 years of public libraries |url=https://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/about-council/council-news/media-releases-2015/media-releases-2014/75-years-of-public-libraries |access-date=17 December 2020 |agency=Wyong Shire Council |date=21 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218071128/https://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/about-council/council-news/media-releases-2015/media-releases-2014/75-years-of-public-libraries |archive-date=18 December 2015 |format=Media Release}}</ref> The Wyong Library Service eventually expanded to five branches at Toukley, The Entrance, Tuggerah (1995), Lake Haven (2002), and Bay Village.<ref>{{cite web |title=Library Information |url=http://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/libraries/libraries_info.html |publisher=Wyong Shire |access-date=1 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060224004635/http://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/libraries/libraries_info.html |archive-date=24 February 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Council celebrates 20 years of Tuggerah Library |url=https://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/about-council/council-news/media-releases-2015/council-celebrates-20-years-of-tuggerah-library |access-date=17 December 2020 |agency=Wyong Shire Council |date=26 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616101351/https://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/about-council/council-news/media-releases-2015/council-celebrates-20-years-of-tuggerah-library |archive-date=16 June 2016 |format=Media Release}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lake Haven Library Turns Five! |url=http://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/whatson/media_releases_september_7_Lake_Haven_Library_5.htm |access-date=17 December 2020 |publisher=Wyong Shire Council |date=12 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007080048/http://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/whatson/media_releases_september_7_Lake_Haven_Library_5.htm |archive-date=7 October 2009 |format=Media Release}}</ref>

In 1974–1976, the 1939 Gosford Council Council Chambers were demolished and replaced by the Gosford Administration Building, a [[Brutalist]] style tower with a pre-cast concrete facade designed by prominent architects, McConnell Smith & Johnston.<ref>{{cite web |title=Central Coast Council Administration Building (Gosford Office) |url=https://apps.environment.nsw.gov.au/dpcheritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=1620245 |website=NSW State Heritage Inventory |publisher=Heritage NSW |access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> On 9 November 1979, the Shire of Gosford was proclaimed as the City of Gosford, with effect from 1 January 1980.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219973307 |title=LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1919.—PROCLAMATION |newspaper=Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales |issue=150 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=9 November 1979 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=5561 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gosford Shire (1947-1979) / City of Gosford (1980- ) |url=http://search.records.nsw.gov.au/agencies/3814 |website=NSW State Records |publisher=The State Records Authority of New South Wales |access-date=1 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625080954/http://search.records.nsw.gov.au/agencies/3814 |archive-date=25 June 2014}}</ref>

===Establishment of Central Coast Council===
In 2015 a [[Local government areas of New South Wales#Reviews of local government areas|review of local government boundaries]] by the [[Government of New South Wales|NSW Government]] [[Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South Wales|Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal]] recommended that Wyong Shire and Gosford City Councils should merge to form one single council to cover the whole [[Central Coast (New South Wales)|Central Coast]] region with an area of {{convert|1681|km2}} and support a population of approximately 331,007.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dpc-olg-ss.s3.amazonaws.com/8b58f3fc8164536b82053820c30c42b7/Gosford-Wyong.pdf |title=Merger Proposal: Gosford City Council, Wyong Shire Council |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=January 2016 |access-date=1 December 2020 |page=8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201084151/https://dpc-olg-ss.s3.amazonaws.com/8b58f3fc8164536b82053820c30c42b7/Gosford-Wyong.pdf |archive-date=1 December 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> This proposal was supported by Wyong Shire and Gosford City councils, who had submitted the proposal to merge as part of the NSW Government's ''Fit for the Future'' reform process.<ref>{{cite news |title=Gosford and Wyong Councils agree to historic merger |url=https://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/about-council/council-news/media-releases-2015/gosford-and-wyong-councils-agree-to-historic-merge |access-date=17 December 2020 |publisher=Wyong Shire Council |date=16 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616101109/https://www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/about-council/council-news/media-releases-2015/gosford-and-wyong-councils-agree-to-historic-merge |archive-date=16 June 2016 |format=Media Release}}</ref>

On 12 May 2016, with the release of the ''Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016'', the Central Coast Council was formed from Wyong Shire and Gosford City councils.<ref name=LGP/> The first meeting of the Central Coast Council was held at the Wyong Civic Centre on 25 May 2016, with meetings alternating between Gosford and Wyong.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Denice |title=Historic first meeting of the new Central Coast Council is short, sharp but not sweet for some |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/historic-first-meeting-of-the-new-central-coast-council-is-short-sharp-but-not-sweet-for-some/news-story/13f8eb0610c71f8a491378b71c8d7410 |access-date=1 December 2020 |agency=Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate |date=26 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Council meetings now reduced to once a month |url=https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2016/10/council-meetings-now-reduced-month/ |access-date=1 December 2020 |agency=Coast Community News |date=26 October 2016}}</ref> From amalgamation on 12 May 2016 to September 2017, the Central Coast Council area was administered by the former General Manager of [[Blacktown City Council]] (2000–2005), Ian Reynolds, with former Wyong Shire Acting General Manager Rob Noble appointed as Interim General Manager and Gosford City General Manager Paul Anderson appointed Deputy General Manager.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/about-council/general-information-rates/latest-news/may-2016/2016/05/12/central-coast-council-officially-underway|title=Central Coast Council Officially Underway|publisher=[[City of Gosford]]|date=12 May 2016|access-date=14 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610064858/http://www.gosford.nsw.gov.au/about-council/general-information-rates/latest-news/may-2016/2016/05/12/central-coast-council-officially-underway|archive-date=10 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The first election for the new 15-member Council across five wards was held on 8 September 2017, with 6 Labor, 5 Independent and 4 Liberal councillors elected.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Clement |first1=Jessica |title=Major parties dominate after Central Coast votes in first council election |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/major-parties-dominate-after-central-coast-votes-in-first-council-election/news-story/21a9dc0606f7e4b73b22e72878fd8e56 |access-date=1 December 2020 |agency=Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate |date=9 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=David |title=Central Coast Council election results finalised |url=https://www.lakesmail.com.au/story/4929637/coast-elects-first-councillors/ |access-date=1 December 2020 |agency=Lakes Mail |date=18 September 2017}}</ref>

===Administration===
On 30 October 2020, the Minister for Local Government, [[Shelley Hancock]] announced the suspension of the elected Council and the appointment of [[Dick Persson]] as the new interim Administrator of Central Coast Council for an initial period of three months. This occurred following the reveal of an $89 million debt in Council finances and an emergency $6.2 million loan provided by the NSW Government in order for Council to pay its own staff.<ref name=hancock/><ref name=BK>{{cite news |last1=Kontominas |first1=Bellinda |title=NSW Government suspends Central Coast Council, appoints administrator over $89 million debt |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-30/nsw-government-suspends-central-coast-council-over-debt/12832878 |access-date=30 October 2020 |agency=ABC News |date=30 October 2020}}</ref> Persson's appointment was announced with the task of ensuring "greater oversight and control over the council’s budget and expenditure to restore its financial sustainability and importantly reinstill the community’s trust in the effective functioning of their council."<ref name="CCC">{{cite news |last1=Hancock |first1=Shelley |title=Central Coast Council suspended |url=https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/central-coast-council-suspended/ |access-date=30 October 2020 |publisher=Office of Local Government NSW |date=30 October 2020}}</ref> Persson, a former administrator of [[Northern Beaches Council]] and [[Warringah Council]] in [[Sydney]], and the [[Port Macquarie-Hastings Council]] in the [[Mid North Coast]] region was also appointed with Rik Hart on the administration operations team, with whom he had worked on the transformation at Warringah Council in 2007–2008.<ref name="CCC"/> On 26 October 2020, following Hancock's notice of her intention to suspend the council on 21 October, Councillors Rebecca Gale (Gosford East; Liberal) and Troy Marquart (Gosford West; Liberal) resigned from the council.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Sue |last2=Vale |first2=Merilyn |title=Two Liberal councillors bail out of Council |url=https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2020/10/two-liberal-councillors-bail-out-of-council/ |access-date=30 October 2020 |agency=Coast Community News |date=28 October 2020}}</ref>

On 3 November 2020, Persson announced that the Council CEO, Gary Murphy, would continue on extended leave, and Rik Hart was appointed as Acting CEO.<ref name=Hart>{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Sue |title=Rik Hart appointed acting CEO of Central Coast Council |url=https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2020/11/rik-hart-appointed-acting-ceo-of-central-coast-council/ |access-date=1 December 2020 |agency=Coast Community News |date=4 November 2020}}</ref> Rik Hart is a former Chief Executive of [[Lower Hutt|Hutt City Council]] (2001–2006) and General Manager of Warringah Council (2007–2016) and [[Inner West Council]] (2016–2019). In Mar–Sep 2019 he was Acting CEO of the [[City of Parramatta Council]] following the early termination of the previous CEO.<ref>{{cite news |title=City of Parramatta Council Appoints New Acting CEO |url=https://www.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/about-parramatta/news/media-release/city-of-parramatta-council-appoints-new-acting-ceo |access-date=1 December 2020 |publisher=City of Parramatta Council |date=6 March 2019 |format=Media Release}}</ref> On 30 November 2020, Persson announced that he had terminated Murphy's employment as CEO, effective immediately.<ref>{{cite news |title=Office of the Administrator Media Release - Administrator terminates the employment of the CEO |url=https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/council/news/media-releases/office-administrator-media-release-administrator-terminates-employment |access-date=1 December 2020 |publisher=Central Coast Council |date=30 November 2020 |format=Media Release}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kelly |first1=Matthew |title=Central Coast Council administrator, Dick Persson, terminates the employment of the council's chief executive Gary Murphy |url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/7034745/central-coast-council-chief-sacked/ |access-date=1 December 2020 |agency=The Newcastle Herald |date=30 November 2020}}</ref>

On 2 December 2020, Persson delivered his first 30-day interim report which revealed "catastrophic budget mismanagement", including accumulated losses of $232 million since 2016, increased debt from $317 million (2016) to $565 million (2020), and an estimated operating loss of $115 million for 2020/2021 financial year.<ref name="AdminReport">{{cite web |last1=Persson |first1=Dick |title=Administrator's 30 Day Interim Report |url=https://cdn.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/Administrator/Administrators_30_Day_Interim_Report_-_2_December_2020.pdf |publisher=Central Coast Council |access-date=20 December 2020 |date=2 December 2020}}</ref> Persson found that while no evidence of corruption could be found, poor financial decisions by senior management including the CEO and Chief Financial Officer, including the use of restricted reserve funds for capital works, contributed to the poor financial position of the council, and that the elected council failed to hold management to account: "This is a story about the failure of a council to understand or practise the basics of sound financial management."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Skatsoon |first1=Judy |title=Council faces $115m loss after 'catastrophic' mismanagement |url=https://www.governmentnews.com.au/council-faces-115m-loss-after-catastrophic-mismanagement/ |access-date=20 December 2020 |agency=Government News |date=2 December 2020}}</ref> Persson noted that several actions were required to put the council in a stronger position including asset sales of at least $40 million, an increase in rates and council charges, and a substantial reduction in Council staff to 2016 amalgamation levels including a significant reduction in upper and middle management positions.<ref name="AdminReport"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Projects valued at $65M have been cancelled, deferred or reduced |url=https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2020/12/projects-valued-at-65m-have-been-cancelled-deferred-or-reduced/ |access-date=20 December 2020 |agency=Coast Community News |date=20 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Sue |last2=Vale |first2=Merilyn |title=Workforce at Central Coast Council to be slashed by 242 |url=https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2020/12/workforce-at-central-coast-council-to-be-slashed-by-242/ |access-date=20 December 2020 |agency=Coast Community News |date=9 December 2020}}</ref> While acknowledging that most staff were "working hard to deliver services to their community [and] what has occurred is not their fault", Persson also noted the hardship and impact that "previous financial mismanagement will have on all residents and ratepayers of the Central Coast", "they don't expect to see things go from what seemed to be okay to what I'm calling the greatest financial calamity in the history of local government in New South Wales".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vince |first1=Mary-Louise |last2=Simkin |first2=Emma |title=Central Coast Council's dire finances, including more than $565 million of debt, laid out in damning report |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-12-02/central-coast-council-runs-up-565-million-in-debt/12944496 |access-date=20 December 2020 |agency=ABC Central Coast |date=2 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="AdminReport"/> On 14 December 2020 Persson formally adopted the first region-wide Central Coast Local Environmental Plan (CCLEP) and Development Control Plan (CCDCP), consolidating the Gosford and Wyong plans.<ref>{{cite news |title=Council adopts consolidated LEP |url=https://coastcommunitynews.com.au/central-coast/news/2020/12/council-adopts-consolidated-lep/ |access-date=20 December 2020 |agency=Coast Community News |date=20 December 2020}}</ref>

On 21 January 2021, the Minister for Local Government announced the extension of Persson's term for an additional three months to 29 April 2021, noting: "There is no doubt that [Persson] needs more time to develop and implement his recovery strategy to restore stability and address the significant reputational, financial and organisational issues. In particular, Mr Persson is focusing on recruiting a new general manager and putting a new budget in place for next financial year. Mr Persson and acting general manager Rik Hart have done an outstanding job to date and I thank them for their efforts in these very challenging circumstances."<ref name="OLGNSW"/> On 2 February, Persson delivered his 3-month progress report announcing a number of further changes, including that Rik Hart be appointed as Financial Controller once the new CEO takes office, the securing of new loans of $150 million and a referendum to reduce the number of councillors.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Persson |first1=Dick |title=Administrator's 3 Month Progress Report |url=https://cdn.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/Administrator/office-administrator-media-release-administrator-updates-community-his-3-month-progress-report_7_2.pdf |publisher=Central Coast Council |access-date=22 March 2021 |date=2 February 2021}}</ref>

On 2 March 2021, Persson announced the appointment of David Farmer as the next council CEO, commencing his term on 12 April 2021.<ref name="DF1"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Giles |first1=Darrell |title=Ipswich CEO David Farmer appointed to lead larger NSW council |url=https://www.ipswichfirst.com.au/ipswich-ceo-david-farmer-appointed-to-lead-larger-nsw-council/ |access-date=22 March 2021 |agency=Ipswich First |date=2 March 2021}}</ref> Farmer has served as the CEO of [[Ipswich City Council]] (2019–2021), General Manager of [[City of Wollongong|Wollongong City Council]] (2007–2019), CEO of [[City of Cairns|Cairns City Council]] (2000–2007), and General Manager of [[Mid-Western Regional Council|Mudgee Shire Council]] (1996–2000).<ref>{{cite web |title=David Farmer - Chief Executive Officer Ipswich City Council |url=https://cdn.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/Administrator/Bio_-_Mr_David_Farmer.pdf |website=City of Ipswich |publisher=Central Coast Council |access-date=22 March 2021}}</ref> The following day on 3 March, Persson also announced that he had approved a referendum to be held at the next local government elections, scheduled for September 2021, to request the reduction of the number of councillors from 15 to 9, with the option of a no-ward or three-ward models.<ref>{{cite news |title=Administrator's Column - Referendum |url=https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/council/news/media-releases/administrators-column-referendum-march-3 |access-date=22 March 2021 |publisher=Central Coast Council |date=3 March 2021 |format=Media Release}}</ref>

On 15 April, Persson sent his final report to Minister Hancock expressing his view that "by far the greatest reason CCC became insolvent was due to mismanagement of their budget over the years following the merger and leading up to their suspension" and recommending that the Local Government Minister, "take whatever action necessary to prevent the return of the currently suspended councilors, and to delay the September 2021 election to allow a formal Inquiry to determine what is needed to achieve the successful merger of the two previous Councils."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Persson |first1=Dick |title=Administrator's Final Report |url=https://cdn.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/office-administrator-media-release-administrator-recommends-minister-do-what-necessary-to-keep_0.pdf |publisher=Central Coast Council |access-date=28 April 2021 |date=15 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hancock |first1=Shelley |title=Central Coast Council interim administrator's final report |url=https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/central-coast-council-interim-administrators-final-report/ |access-date=28 April 2021 |publisher=Office of Local Government |date=15 April 2021 |format=Media Release}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Wainwright |first1=Sofie |last2=Simkin |first2=Emma |title=Central Coast Council administrator recommends NSW government prevent councillors' return |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-15/central-coast-council-administrator-hands-down-final-report/100070550 |access-date=28 April 2021 |agency=ABC Central Coast |date=15 April 2021}}</ref> Persson's recommendations were subsequently supported by Shelley Hancock, who on 26 April 2021 announced the convening of a public inquiry headed by Roslyn McCulloch, a partner of Pikes & Verekers and former commissioner in the 2019 public inquiry into [[Balranald Shire]], as the commissioner. Hancock announced that, as a result, the council would remain suspended, the elections scheduled for September 2021 would be postponed to September 2022, and Persson's term as administrator would be extended for a further two weeks to May 2021. Former acting CEO [[Rik Hart]] was also announced as the next administrator following Persson's decision to step down, and he took up office as the new administrator on 13 May 2021.<ref name="inquiry"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vince |first1=Mary-Louise |last2=Farquhar |first2=Liz |title=Minister announces inquiry into Central Coast Council's $200m budget blowout |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04-26/minister-announces-inquiry-into-central-coast-council/100096174 |access-date=28 April 2021 |agency=ABC News |date=26 April 2021}}</ref><ref name="RH"/>

On 10 February 2022, Commissioner McCulloch handed down her report into the council, which was tabled in Parliament by the Minister (now [[Wendy Tuckerman]]) on 17 March 2022. The government supported in principle all eight recommendation of the report, including that "civic offices at Central Coast Council be declared vacant, effective immediately".<ref>{{cite news |title=NSW government sacks entire Central Coast council after inquiry into financial management |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/17/nsw-government-sacks-entire-central-coast-council-after-inquiry-into-financial-management |agency=Australian Associated Press |publisher=The Guardian Australia |date=17 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Public Inquiry |url=https://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au/council/about-council/public-inquiry |publisher=Central Coast Council |access-date=20 September 2023}}</ref> Other recommendations included mandatory financial and company director level management training for local councillors, that the ''Local Government Act 1993'' be amended "to make it clear that money received as a result of levying rate or charges under any other Act may not be used otherwise than for the purpose for which the rate or charge was levied", and that Central Coast Council be removed as a water authority under the ''Water Management Act 2000'' "to enable it to administer its water supply and sewerage services in the same way as other NSW councils".<ref>{{cite web |last1=McCulloch |first1=Roslyn |title=Report of Public Inquiry into Central Coast Council |url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/tp/files/81719/Report%20of%20Public%20Inquiry%20into%20Central%20Coast%20Council.pdf |publisher=Parliament of New South Wales |access-date=20 September 2023}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
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== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.centralcoast.nsw.gov.au Central Coast Council website]


{{The Hawkesbury River}}
{{New South Wales cities}}
{{Local Government Areas of New South Wales}}
{{Local Government Areas of New South Wales}}
{{NSW Local Government amalgamations 2016|state=collapsed}}
{{NSW Local Government amalgamations 2016|state=collapsed}}
{{Suburbs of Central Coast (New South Wales)}}
{{Suburbs of Central Coast (New South Wales)}}
{{coord missing|New South Wales}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Central Coast}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Central Coast}}
[[Category:Central Coast Council (New South Wales)| ]]
[[Category:Local government areas of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Local government areas of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Central Coast (New South Wales)]]
[[Category:Central Coast (New South Wales)]]

Latest revision as of 11:27, 12 December 2024

Central Coast Council
New South Wales
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates33°25′S 151°20′E / 33.417°S 151.333°E / -33.417; 151.333
Population346,596 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density206.18/km2 (534.02/sq mi)
Established12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)
Area1,681 km2 (649.0 sq mi)[2]
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10)
 • Summer (DST)AEDT (UTC+11)
MayorLawrie McKinna (Independent)
Council seatGosford and Wyong
RegionCentral Coast
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)
WebsiteCentral Coast Council
LGAs around Central Coast Council:
Cessnock Lake Macquarie Tasman Sea
Hawkesbury Central Coast Council Tasman Sea
Hornsby Northern Beaches Tasman Sea

The Central Coast Council is a local government area in the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. It is adjacent to the Pacific Highway, Central Coast Highway, the Northern railway line and the Pacific Ocean. The council was formed on 12 May 2016 following the merger of the City of Gosford and Wyong Shire Councils.[2]

The council comprises an area of 1,681 square kilometres (649 sq mi) and is bounded to the east by the Tasman Sea, to the south by Broken Bay and the Hawkesbury River, and to the west by the Yengo National Park northwards to Bucketty before heading eastward along George Downes Drive, encompassing the Olney State Forest and crossing the Pacific Motorway, meeting the southern edge of Lake Macquarie at Mannering Park and eventually reaching the coast north of Moonee. The Central Coast Council has over 40 beaches and over 90 kilometres (56 mi) of coastline. As at the 2021 census the council area had an estimated population of 346,596.[1]

The Mayor of the Central Coast Council is Cr. Lawrie McKinna who is part of the Independent Team Central Coast political party since 8 October 2024, and the Deputy Mayor of the council is Cr. Douglas Eaton who is part of the Independent Liberal political party since 8 October 2024.[3]

Towns, suburbs and localities

[edit]

The local government area includes a moderately densely populated coastal strip that extends from the Hawkesbury River in the south and is bounded by the Watagan Mountains to the west and north to Lake Macquarie and the Pacific Ocean to the east. It is an extensive sparsely-populated region to the west of the Pacific Highway that is largely native bush.

The towns and villages located within Central Coast Council include:

Demographics

[edit]

At the 2021 census the population of the Central Coast local government area was 346,596. The median income for the Central Coast Council Local Government Area (LGA) was lower than the nation compared to $1,746 nationally, and the state at $1,829 and $1,507 in this LGA.[1]

Selected historical census data for Central Coast local government area
Census year 2016[4] 2021[1]
Population Estimated residents on census night 327,736 346,596
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales 3rd
% of New South Wales population
% of Australian population
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses
English 31.3% Increase 42.6%
Australian 30.2% Increase 39.9%
Irish 9.3% Increase 12.0%
Scottish 7.5% Increase 10.5%
German 2.5% -
Australian Aboriginal 4.7% Steady 4.7%
Language,
top responses
(other than English)
Spanish 0.5% Steady 0.5%
Mandarin 0.5% Increase 0.6%
Italian 0.4% Decrease 0.3%
German 0.3% -
Cantonese 0.3% Steady 0.3%
Tagalog - 0.3%
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses
No religion 27.6% Increase 39.4%
Catholic 24.7% Decrease 21.7%
Anglican 22.5% Decrease 16.8%
Not Stated 8.2% Decrease 6.1%
Uniting Church 3.2% Decrease 2.4%
Median weekly incomes
Personal income Median weekly personal income $600 Increase $727
Family income Median weekly family income $1,560 Increase $1,954
Household income Median weekly household income $1,258 Increase $1,507

Council

[edit]
A map of the five wards, showing party representation as of the 2017 local elections (note that the council was not up for election in 2021).

The Council comprises fifteen Councillors elected proportionally, with three Councillors elected in five wards.[5] Councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office, with the first term to last for three years.[6] The Mayor is elected by Councillors for a period of two years, the Deputy Mayor is elected for one year. On 30 October 2020, the Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock announced the suspension of the elected Council and the appointment of Dick Persson as the new interim Administrator of Central Coast Council for an initial period of three months.[7] On 21 January 2021, Hancock announced the extension of Persson's term for an additional three months to 29 April 2021, which was later extended to May 2021.[8] The Council meets fortnightly, with meetings held at the Wyong Civic Centre.[9]

Office Term Notes
Administrator Ian Reynolds 12 May 2016 – 26 September 2017 [5]
Mayor Jane Smith 26 September 2017 – 23 September 2019 [10]
Lisa Matthews 23 September 2019 – 30 October 2020 [11]
Deputy Mayor Chris Holstein 26 September 2017 – 23 September 2019 Mayor of Gosford City Council 2002–2010[10]
Jane Smith 23 September 2019 – 30 October 2020 [10][11]
Administrator Dick Persson 30 October 2020 – 13 May 2021 Administrator of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council 2008–2009, Northern Beaches Council 2016–2017 and Warringah Council 2003–2008
Rik Hart 13 May 2021 – 14 September 2024 [12][13]
Mayor Lawrie McKinna October 8 2024 – present Mayor of Gosford City Council (2012–2016)
Deputy Mayor Douglas Eaton October 8 2024 – present Mayor of Wyong Shire Council (2012–2016)
General Manager/CEO[14] Term Notes
Rob Noble 12 May 2016 – 20 September 2017 Acting General Manager of Wyong Shire Council 2015–2016[5]
Brian Bell 20 September 2017 – 2 February 2018 General Manager of Lake Macquarie City Council 2006–2017[15][16]
Brian Glendenning (Acting) 2 February 2018 – 2 July 2018 [17]
Gary Murphy 2 July 2018 – 30 November 2020 General Manager of Lismore City Council 2011–2018[17]
Rik Hart (Acting) 3 November 2020 – 12 April 2021 [18][19]
David Farmer 12 April 2021 – present [20][19]

Previous composition

[edit]

The most recent election was held on 14 September 2024. The makeup of the council, is as follows:

Party Councillors
  Labor 5
  Independent 5
  Liberal 4
  Independent Liberal 1
Total 15
Ward Councillor Party Notes
Budgewoi Ward   Helen Crowley Labor
  Douglas Eaton Independent Liberal Previously Mayor of Wyong Shire Council (1995–1996, 2010–2011, 2012–2016)
  John Mouland Independent
Gosford East Ward   Lawrie McKinna Independent Previously Mayor of Gosford City Council (2012–2016)
  Sharon Walsh Labor
  Jared Wright Liberal
Gosford West Ward   Trent McWaide Liberal
  Belinda Neal Labor Previously Gosford City Council Councillor (1992–1994), Senator for NSW (1994–1998), federal member for Robertson (2007–2010)
  Jane Smith Independent Previously Mayor (2017-2019)
The Entrance Ward   Margot Castles Labor
  Rachel Stanton Liberal
  Corinne Lamont Independent
Wyong Ward   John McNamara Liberal Previously Wyong Shire Council Councillor (2008-2012)
  Kyle Macgreggor Labor
  Kyla Daniels Independent

Election results

[edit]

2024

[edit]
2024 New South Wales local elections: Central Coast
Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Labor 60,882 31.19 +1.17 5 Decrease 1
  Liberal 47,232 24.20 -0.50 4 Steady
  Team Central Coast 38,867 19.91 +19.91 3 Increase 3
  Independent Liberal 7,364 3.77 +3.77 1 Increase 1
  Central Coast NEW Independents 4,744 2.43 -7.97 1 Increase 1
  Greens 6,029 3.09 -4.71 0 Steady
  Ratepayers Choice Central Coast 4,239 2.17 +2.17 0 Steady
  Animal Justice 4,032 2.06 +2.06 0 Steady
  Central Coast Heart 3,799 1.95 +1.95 0 Steady
  Independent One Nation 757 0.39 +0.39 0 Steady
  Independent 12,946 6.63 -10.37 1 Decrease 2
 Formal votes 195,196 91.53 -0.74
 Informal votes 18,058 8.47 +0.74
 Total 213,254 100 15
 Registered voters / turnout 260,408 81.89 +6.29

2017

[edit]
2017 New South Wales local elections: Central Coast[21][22][23]
Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Labor 57,265 30.2 +7.0 6 Increase 1
  Liberal 46,751 24.7 −6.5 4 Decrease 2
  Independents 32,279 17.0 −12.6 3 Decrease 3
  Central Coast NEW Independents 19,774 10.4 +10.4 2 Increase 2
  Greens 14,834 7.8 −1.6 0 Decrease 1
  Save Tuggerah Lakes 10,986 5.8 −0.8 0 Decrease 2
  Fighting for the Forgotten North 4,012 2.1 0
  Next Generation Independents 2,789 1.5 0
  Animal Justice 544 0.3 +0.3 0 Steady
  Sustainable Development 407 0.2 +0.2 0 Steady
 Formal votes 189,641 92.3
 Informal votes 15,893 7.7
 Total 205,534 100 15
 Registered voters / turnout 250,818 75.6

Past councillors

[edit]

Budgewoi Ward

[edit]
Year Councillor Party Councillor Party Councillor Party
2017   Doug Vincent Labor   Garry Whitaker Labor   Greg Best Independent
2022 Council dismissed
2024 TBC

Gosford East Ward

[edit]
Year Councillor Party Councillor Party Councillor Party
2017   Rebecca Gale-Collins Liberal   Jeff Sundstrom Labor   Jane Smith NEW Independents
2020 Vacant
2022 Council dismissed
2024 TBC

Gosford West Ward

[edit]
Year Councillor Party Councillor Party Councillor Party
2017   Richard Mehrtens Labor   Troy Marquart Liberal   Chris Holstein Independent
2020 Vacant
2022 Council dismissed
2024 TBC

The Entrance Ward

[edit]
Year Councillor Party Councillor Party Councillor Party
2017   Lisa Matthews Labor   Jilly Pilon Liberal   Bruce McLachlan Independent
2022 Council dismissed
2024 TBC

Wyong Ward

[edit]
Year Councillor Party Councillor Party Councillor Party
2017   Kyle MacGregor Labor   Louise Greenaway NEW Independents   Chris Burke Liberal
2022 Council dismissed
2024 TBC

History

[edit]

Early history

[edit]

The traditional Aboriginal inhabitants of the lands now known as the Brisbane Water were the Guringai people of the Eora nation.[24] The Darkingung people occupied large areas inland west towards Rylstone, and north to Cessnock and Wollombi.[25]

In 1811, the Governor of New South Wales, Lachlan Macquarie, gave the first land grant in the region to William Nash, a former marine of the First Fleet. No further grants were made in the area until 1821.[26] In 1839 Governor Sir George Gipps named the town of Gosford after his friend, The Earl of Gosford.[25] In 1840, the Brisbane Water Police District was proclaimed covering the area from the Hawkesbury River to Lake Macquarie and which administered local government under the control of magistrates.[27][28] In 1843, the Brisbane Water District Council was proclaimed on the same boundaries as the Police District, and replaced the appointed magistrates with an elected council as part of an early attempt to establish local government administration throughout the colony.[29] This experiment in local government was not very successful, with much public opposition focused on the issue of increased taxation, and a lack of oversight and faulty administration led to the collapse of many of these District Councils. The Brisbane Water District Council had ceased to exist by 1855, and the NSW Parliament passed the Municipalities Act in 1858, which allowed for the creation of Municipalities and Boroughs if a petition of as few as 50 signatures was presented to the government.[30] However, no petition was ever sent from the residents of Brisbane Water to the government under this act, and local matters reverted to the police magistrates for determination.[31]

The School of Arts on the corner of Mann Street and Georgiana Terrace, Gosford, was the council seat of Gosford from 1886 to 1907, and Erina from 1907 to 1912. It was destroyed by fire and rebuilt in 1927 with only the sandstone base remaining.

Gosford Borough

[edit]

Under the succeeding Municipalities Act, 1867, which allowed for residents to petition the Colonial Government for incorporation, a petition signed by 59 Gosford residents, amongst a population of approximately 1,000 at the time, was sent to the Governor on 10 June 1886 requesting the establishment of the "Borough of Gosford" with two wards, East Gosford and West Gosford.[32] The petition was subsequently accepted and on 11 November 1886, the "Borough of Gosford" was proclaimed by the Governor Lord Carrington, with an area of 1,840 acres in and around the Town of Gosford.[33] The first election for the six aldermen and two auditors was held at Gosford Courthouse on 1 February 1887, and the first mayor, John Bennett Whiteway, was elected at the first Council meeting on 20 February 1887.[34][35][36] From 1888, the Borough Council meetings were held in the Gosford School of Arts building at 38 Mann Street.[37]

Erina Shire

[edit]

The remaining area of the Brisbane Water Police District outside of Gosford continued to be administered by the police magistrates until 1906.[31] From 7 March 1906, this area became the Erina Shire, when it was proclaimed by the NSW Government Gazette along with 132 other new Shires as a result of the passing of the Local Government (Shires) Act 1905.[38] On 16 May 1906, the Shire was divided in to three Ridings (A, B, C) and five temporary Councillors were appointed (John Bourke of Kincumber, John Martin Moroney of Woy Woy, Harold Stanley Robinson of Penang, Manasseh Ward of Gosford, and Alexander Wilkinson of Wyong).[39][40] The Temporary Council first met at Gosford Courthouse on 13 June 1906 and Manasseh Ward was elected as the chairman.[41] The first election was held on 24 November 1906 and the first meeting of the elected nine-member Council was held at the Gosford Courthouse on 5 December 1906, with Councillor Ward elected to continue serving as the first Shire President.[42][43]

Erina Shire Chambers in Gosford, built 1912.

With the coming into effect of the Local Government Act, 1906, the Borough of Gosford became the Municipality of Gosford, as well as the power of Councils to petition the government to dissolve and merge with other Councils. In July 1907 a petition from the Municipality of Gosford was published in the Government Gazette requesting to merge with Erina Shire, the first Council to do so under the 1906 act.[44] However, owing to objections from the Wyong Progress Association and the Erina Shire Council, a public inquiry was established by the Secretary for Public Works, where it was heard that the Gosford Municipality was in debt and desired to merge with Erina to resolve its financial issues.[45] Despite objections, the commissioner returned a recommendation for the merger and a proposal for a six-ward model was considered and accepted at a conference held on 30 September 1907.[46][47] The proposal for a six-ward Erina Shire with Gosford becoming F Riding was subsequently proclaimed and came into effect on 23 January 1908.[48][49][50] The new Shire Council Chambers on Mann Street, Gosford, were officially opened on 4 May 1912.[51]

Woy Woy Shire

[edit]

However, with the substantial size of Erina Shire covering the entirety of the Central Coast region, some local groups began to organise to separate from the shire and manage their own areas. This occurred in D Riding in particular, where in 1921, a group of ratepayers angered by what they saw as a general neglect of their local area, formed an organisation to work towards the separation of the Woy Woy Peninsula area from Erina Shire.[52][53] On 27 April 1928 a proposal for separation was received and the Shire of Woy Woy was subsequently proclaimed on 1 August 1928.[54][55] The first Council meeting was held at the Woy Woy Masonic Hall on 11 August 1928, and land developer and businessman Charles Jefferis Staples was elected as the first Shire President.[56] During his tenure as president moves were made to construct a Council Chambers building in the centre of Woy Woy, which was designed by Clifford H. Finch, built by G. J. Richards, and officially opened on 14 March 1931 at the cost of £1845 (now the Woy Woy Library).[52]

Following severe dysfunction from late 1939 in Woy Woy Shire Council, which was unable to meet or elect a president due to boycotts of councillors over a declining financial position, on 14 February 1940 the Minister for Local Government dismissed Woy Woy Shire Council and appointed Keith William Britton as Administrator.[57][58][59] A subsequent investigation by the Administrator found the council's finances "unsound" and subject to an "insidious drift".[60]

Gosford Municipality and Brisbane Water County Council

[edit]
The meeting chamber of Gosford Council Chambers on Mann Street, completed in 1939.

In March 1936, three Councillors of Erina Shire were dismissed from office for having held office while subject to a special disqualification, and it was also revealed that Council staff had not been paid since February.[61][62] As the council could not meet due to lack of quorum, on 24 March 1936 the Minister for Local Government, Eric Spooner, dismissed the council and appointed an Administrator, B. C. Hughes.[63][64] Spooner commissioned Hughes to undertake an inquiry into the administration of Erina Shire and, following a January petition from Gosford and Point Clare residents for a new Gosford municipality, also to investigate the question of the separation of Gosford from the Shire.[65][66] The inquiry found in favour of a separation of Gosford, which was accepted by Spooner, and Erina Shire was divided again to re-form the Municipality of Gosford on 24 October 1936, including the areas of the former Gosford Municipality abolished in 1908 and also new areas from Narara to Woy Woy and Point Clare.[67][68][69] A nine-member provisional council was appointed the same day, and at the first meeting on 24 October 1936 William Calman Grahame was elected as the first Mayor and Charles Staples, the former Mayor of Woy Woy, was elected Deputy Mayor.[70] Following the first Council election on 23 January 1937, Grahame and Staples were re-elected to their positions on 29 January.[71][72]

In March 1938, the first permanent supply of town water was delivered to Gosford, with the opening of a new water supply direct from Lower Mooney Dam on the Mooney Mooney Creek.[25] On 22 April 1939, the Gosford Council Chambers on Mann Street, designed in the Inter-war Art Deco style by architects Loyal Figgis and Virgil Cizzio and built by A. E. Catterall at a cost of £5,785, was officially opened by the Minister for Local Government, Eric Spooner.[73][74][75]

Following significant debate about the provision of electricity undertakings across the Central Coast, including over the split between Erina Shire and Gosford,[76] on 16 October 1942 Gosford Municipality combined with the Shires of Erina and Woy Woy to form the Brisbane Water County Council to provide electricity to the combined area of the three councils. The County Council operated as an electricity and gas supplier and retailer and was managed by representatives of the three councils. The County Council operated until its amalgamation with the Sydney County Council from 1 January 1980.[77]

Gosford and Wyong Councils

[edit]
Gosford Council Chambers on Mann Street, completed in 1939 was the council seat until 1974, when it was demolished for the present Gosford Administration Building.

In June 1945, Erina Shire resolved to investigate the reconstitution of local government on the Central Coast into two shires and following further discussions a formal proposal was presented to the Minister for Local Government, Joseph Cahill, in October 1945.[78][79] Nevertheless, the proposal proved divisive, with Gosford and the Wyong section of Erina Shire in favour and the rest of Erina Shire and Woy Woy Shire opposed.[80] The formal government inquiry subsequently supported the proposal and in April 1946, Cahill notified the councils of his intention to proceed.[81] In response, Woy Woy Shire held a plebiscite in July 1946 on the question which on a low turnout resolved to opposed amalgamation, a vote that Cahill considered a waste of public money considering the decision was already made.[82] On 1 January 1947, part of Erina Shire, all of Woy Woy Shire and the Municipality of Gosford formed Gosford Shire, and the remainder of Erina Shire north and east of Kulnura, Central Mangrove and Lisarow formed Wyong Shire.[83]

Following the changes, the new Wyong Shire Council initially rented the old Erina Shire offices in Gosford, but soon acquired some army huts from Cowra and had them moved to Wyong to serve as temporary Council Chambers, which were officially opened by Minister Joseph Cahill on 4 February 1948.[84][85][86] These chambers were later replaced by a more substantial Council Administration Building at 2 Hely Street Wyong completed in 1959.[87]

In August 1948, Gosford Shire established the first Library Service, with branches opening on 13 August at Woy Woy (in the old Council Chambers) and on 16 August on Mann Street next to the Council Chambers.[25][88] An expanded Gosford Branch Library was opened in 1951 by the Minister for Education, Bob Heffron.[89] New Libraries were subsequently opened at Gosford (Donnison St, 1969), Umina (1983), Kariong (2002) and at Kincumber, Wyoming and Erina (2003).[90] Wyong Shire took longer to deliver its own Library Service by 1959, having delayed a proposal on cost grounds in 1951, and held a referendum on the question in December 1953 which was resolved in favour of adopting the Library Act, 1939.[91][92][93][94] Wyong Shire Council formally adopted the act in 1958 and opened the first public library service on the ground floor of the Council Chambers in May 1959.[95] The Wyong Library Service eventually expanded to five branches at Toukley, The Entrance, Tuggerah (1995), Lake Haven (2002), and Bay Village.[96][97][98]

In 1974–1976, the 1939 Gosford Council Council Chambers were demolished and replaced by the Gosford Administration Building, a Brutalist style tower with a pre-cast concrete facade designed by prominent architects, McConnell Smith & Johnston.[99] On 9 November 1979, the Shire of Gosford was proclaimed as the City of Gosford, with effect from 1 January 1980.[100][101]

Establishment of Central Coast Council

[edit]

In 2015 a review of local government boundaries by the NSW Government Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal recommended that Wyong Shire and Gosford City Councils should merge to form one single council to cover the whole Central Coast region with an area of 1,681 square kilometres (649 sq mi) and support a population of approximately 331,007.[102] This proposal was supported by Wyong Shire and Gosford City councils, who had submitted the proposal to merge as part of the NSW Government's Fit for the Future reform process.[103]

On 12 May 2016, with the release of the Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016, the Central Coast Council was formed from Wyong Shire and Gosford City councils.[5] The first meeting of the Central Coast Council was held at the Wyong Civic Centre on 25 May 2016, with meetings alternating between Gosford and Wyong.[104][105] From amalgamation on 12 May 2016 to September 2017, the Central Coast Council area was administered by the former General Manager of Blacktown City Council (2000–2005), Ian Reynolds, with former Wyong Shire Acting General Manager Rob Noble appointed as Interim General Manager and Gosford City General Manager Paul Anderson appointed Deputy General Manager.[106]

The first election for the new 15-member Council across five wards was held on 8 September 2017, with 6 Labor, 5 Independent and 4 Liberal councillors elected.[107][108]

Administration

[edit]

On 30 October 2020, the Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock announced the suspension of the elected Council and the appointment of Dick Persson as the new interim Administrator of Central Coast Council for an initial period of three months. This occurred following the reveal of an $89 million debt in Council finances and an emergency $6.2 million loan provided by the NSW Government in order for Council to pay its own staff.[7][109] Persson's appointment was announced with the task of ensuring "greater oversight and control over the council’s budget and expenditure to restore its financial sustainability and importantly reinstill the community’s trust in the effective functioning of their council."[110] Persson, a former administrator of Northern Beaches Council and Warringah Council in Sydney, and the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council in the Mid North Coast region was also appointed with Rik Hart on the administration operations team, with whom he had worked on the transformation at Warringah Council in 2007–2008.[110] On 26 October 2020, following Hancock's notice of her intention to suspend the council on 21 October, Councillors Rebecca Gale (Gosford East; Liberal) and Troy Marquart (Gosford West; Liberal) resigned from the council.[111]

On 3 November 2020, Persson announced that the Council CEO, Gary Murphy, would continue on extended leave, and Rik Hart was appointed as Acting CEO.[18] Rik Hart is a former Chief Executive of Hutt City Council (2001–2006) and General Manager of Warringah Council (2007–2016) and Inner West Council (2016–2019). In Mar–Sep 2019 he was Acting CEO of the City of Parramatta Council following the early termination of the previous CEO.[112] On 30 November 2020, Persson announced that he had terminated Murphy's employment as CEO, effective immediately.[113][114]

On 2 December 2020, Persson delivered his first 30-day interim report which revealed "catastrophic budget mismanagement", including accumulated losses of $232 million since 2016, increased debt from $317 million (2016) to $565 million (2020), and an estimated operating loss of $115 million for 2020/2021 financial year.[115] Persson found that while no evidence of corruption could be found, poor financial decisions by senior management including the CEO and Chief Financial Officer, including the use of restricted reserve funds for capital works, contributed to the poor financial position of the council, and that the elected council failed to hold management to account: "This is a story about the failure of a council to understand or practise the basics of sound financial management."[116] Persson noted that several actions were required to put the council in a stronger position including asset sales of at least $40 million, an increase in rates and council charges, and a substantial reduction in Council staff to 2016 amalgamation levels including a significant reduction in upper and middle management positions.[115][117][118] While acknowledging that most staff were "working hard to deliver services to their community [and] what has occurred is not their fault", Persson also noted the hardship and impact that "previous financial mismanagement will have on all residents and ratepayers of the Central Coast", "they don't expect to see things go from what seemed to be okay to what I'm calling the greatest financial calamity in the history of local government in New South Wales".[119][115] On 14 December 2020 Persson formally adopted the first region-wide Central Coast Local Environmental Plan (CCLEP) and Development Control Plan (CCDCP), consolidating the Gosford and Wyong plans.[120]

On 21 January 2021, the Minister for Local Government announced the extension of Persson's term for an additional three months to 29 April 2021, noting: "There is no doubt that [Persson] needs more time to develop and implement his recovery strategy to restore stability and address the significant reputational, financial and organisational issues. In particular, Mr Persson is focusing on recruiting a new general manager and putting a new budget in place for next financial year. Mr Persson and acting general manager Rik Hart have done an outstanding job to date and I thank them for their efforts in these very challenging circumstances."[8] On 2 February, Persson delivered his 3-month progress report announcing a number of further changes, including that Rik Hart be appointed as Financial Controller once the new CEO takes office, the securing of new loans of $150 million and a referendum to reduce the number of councillors.[121]

On 2 March 2021, Persson announced the appointment of David Farmer as the next council CEO, commencing his term on 12 April 2021.[20][122] Farmer has served as the CEO of Ipswich City Council (2019–2021), General Manager of Wollongong City Council (2007–2019), CEO of Cairns City Council (2000–2007), and General Manager of Mudgee Shire Council (1996–2000).[123] The following day on 3 March, Persson also announced that he had approved a referendum to be held at the next local government elections, scheduled for September 2021, to request the reduction of the number of councillors from 15 to 9, with the option of a no-ward or three-ward models.[124]

On 15 April, Persson sent his final report to Minister Hancock expressing his view that "by far the greatest reason CCC became insolvent was due to mismanagement of their budget over the years following the merger and leading up to their suspension" and recommending that the Local Government Minister, "take whatever action necessary to prevent the return of the currently suspended councilors, and to delay the September 2021 election to allow a formal Inquiry to determine what is needed to achieve the successful merger of the two previous Councils."[125][126][127] Persson's recommendations were subsequently supported by Shelley Hancock, who on 26 April 2021 announced the convening of a public inquiry headed by Roslyn McCulloch, a partner of Pikes & Verekers and former commissioner in the 2019 public inquiry into Balranald Shire, as the commissioner. Hancock announced that, as a result, the council would remain suspended, the elections scheduled for September 2021 would be postponed to September 2022, and Persson's term as administrator would be extended for a further two weeks to May 2021. Former acting CEO Rik Hart was also announced as the next administrator following Persson's decision to step down, and he took up office as the new administrator on 13 May 2021.[12][128][13]

On 10 February 2022, Commissioner McCulloch handed down her report into the council, which was tabled in Parliament by the Minister (now Wendy Tuckerman) on 17 March 2022. The government supported in principle all eight recommendation of the report, including that "civic offices at Central Coast Council be declared vacant, effective immediately".[129][130] Other recommendations included mandatory financial and company director level management training for local councillors, that the Local Government Act 1993 be amended "to make it clear that money received as a result of levying rate or charges under any other Act may not be used otherwise than for the purpose for which the rate or charge was levied", and that Central Coast Council be removed as a water authority under the Water Management Act 2000 "to enable it to administer its water supply and sewerage services in the same way as other NSW councils".[131]

See also

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References

[edit]
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  4. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Central Coast (C) (NSW)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 6 February 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
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  14. ^ Chief Executive Officer from 8 June 2016.
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