Council is inviting the community to review and comment on its draft plans for the years ahead. The Draft Delivery Program 2025-29, Operational Plan 2026-27, Fees and Charges 2026-27 and updated Long Term Financial Plan are now on public exhibition.

Together, these draft plans show how Council is proposing to turn shared priorities into actions, projects and budgets, from roads and recreation to housing, youth programs and environmental initiatives. They set Council’s focus and outline what is proposed to be delivered in the next financial year, including the annual budget, rates and charges.

These plans have been developed following extensive community consultation and identified Councillor priorities that reflect community values and focus on what matters most to residents.

Each year, we are delivering projects and services that support the community’s vision and help plan for the region’s future.

We are now preparing for the second year of our four‑year Delivery Program and invite you to have your say on our proposed plans for 2026-27.

Council updates its Delivery Program and Operational Plan each year, for engagement history click through the tabs below.

To share your feedback on the draft Delivery Program 2025-29 and Operational Plan 2026-27 you can:

• Complete the online survey (below)
• Complete the 'spend $100' activity (below)
• Email: engagement@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
• Write to Council: PO Box 20, Wyong NSW 2259

It's time to spend $100! The task is to allocate a budget across the Council services which matter most to you.

Rules of the activity:

• Use the sliders to determine how much you would spend on each service
• You have $100 exactly to spend
• Spend $0 on services that are not a priority for you.

This activity won’t directly inform the plan, but it will help Council understand the community's priorities for our service delivery and make informed decisions.

To look through all previous years plans, click the link below.

Delivery Program and Operational Plan | Central Coast Council

Click through the tabs below to learn more about what we have heard from the community over the years in developing our Delivery Plans.

Central Coast Council’s draft Community Strategic Plan, Delivery Program, Operational Plan and resourcing strategies will be placed on exhibition for community feedback from 1 May to 2 June 2025.

The plans have been developed following extensive community consultation and respond to the community’s vision for the future.

We encourage the community to view the draft plans, understand what’s happening in your area, and have your say.

Following consideration of all submissions, the updated plans will be referred to Council before adoption in June.

At the Council meeting on 23 April 2024, it was resolved to put the draft Operational Plan for 2024-25 on public exhibition for community feedback. The Operational Plan highlights the activities and capital works projects, budget, rating structure and fees and charges for the 2024-25 financial year.

The Operational Plan is prepared annually to set out a roadmap for Council’s deliverables against its services and in line with the five themes of the Community Strategic Plan (CSP)- belonging, smart, green, responsible, and liveable. The Operational Plan includes:

• Information about the area
• Planned actions and capital works projects
• Financial position
• Statement of revenue
• Fees and charges

This plan focuses on transitioning back to an elected body, as well as continuing financial stability and strengthening the community confidence through service delivery. It is proposed that in 2024-25 Council will receive $723.5M in operational revenue and spend $712.8M on services and operational functions. Council’s capital works program invests $309.9M to renew and upgrade existing assets.

Following the feedback received during public exhibition, Council staff reviewed all submissions and prepared a report on the outcome of the public exhibition process for Council's consideration. It was presented to Council at the 25 June 2024 Council Meeting - Item 2.3 Operational Plan 2024-25, Rates and Annual Charges - Submissions and Adoption.

Those who made submissions were notified prior to the Council Report being considered.

The final Operational Plan 2024-25 and Fees and Charges 2024-25 was adopted by Council. Council also noted the Long Term Financial Plan 2024-25 to 2033-34. All documents have been made available to the public on the Council website.

Council will now work to deliver the individual projects and actions set out in the Operational Plan over the next financial

At the Council meeting on 28 March 2023, it was resolved to put the Draft Operational Plan for 2023-24 on exhibition for community feedback. The Operational Plan highlights the activities and capital works projects, budget, rating structure and fees and charges for the 2023-24 financial year.

The Operational Plan is prepared annually to set out a roadmap for Council’s deliverables against its services and in line with the five themes of the Community Strategic Plan (CSP)- belonging, smart, green, responsible, and liveable. The Operational Plan includes:

• Information about the area
• Planned actions and capital works projects
• Financial position
• Statement of revenue
• Fees and charges

Council’s commitment to ratepayers and residents going forward is to maintain financial sustainability and is proposed that in 2023-24, Council will receive $656.4M in operational revenue and spend $653.6M on services and operational functions, resulting in a small surplus of $2.8M (excluding capital grants and contributions). Council’s capital works program commits $202.4 million to improve and expand Council’s asset portfolio. Key indicators for success are achieving the Delivery Program, continued productivity improvements, identification of alternative revenue streams and continued fiscal accountability.

Below is a map of the draft Capital Works Program 2023-24 which includes suburb specific projects. Projects classified as 'Region Wide' are not able to be included on the map, but details can be viewed in the Draft Operational Plan 2023-24

Central Coast residents provided a total of 42 submissions on Council’s planned actions and capital works projects.

Themes from the feedback included:

• road and drainage upgrades and renewals
• playground upgrades and renewals
• coastal, natural bushland, reserve and asset protection renewals and upgrades

View the full Engagement Summary here.

The Delivery Program (including the Operational Plan is a three year plan that covers the 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 financial years. The Delivery Program details the actions that Council will take (through projects, programs and other activities) to deliver the Community Strategic Plan (CSP).

The Delivery Program 2022-2025 (including Operational Plan) was previously exhibited between 20 December 2021 and 21 January 2022. At the time, Central Coast Council made a commitment to the community to re-exhibit the Delivery Program (including the Operational Plan) following the decision from IPART on the Special Variation.

The development of the Delivery Program 2022-2025 (including Operational Plan) has been informed by Councils Financial Recovery Plan, feedback provided by the community during the earlier exhibition and reflects IPART’s determination on the Special Variation and determination on the water, sewer and stormwater drainage pricing.

Council also committed to establishing a Community Reference Group (CRG) to provide advice and guidance on the Delivery Program 2022-2025 and Revised CSP, helping to ensure both are appropriate, effective and focus on the needs of the Central Coast and its residents.

As a result, this draft Delivery Program (including Operational Plan) has been informed by the CRG’s input.

The community were invited to view the draft Delivery Program 2022-2025 (including the Operational Plan) available in the document library on this page.

Submissions were to be addressed to Chief Executive Officer, Mr David Farmer between 25 May and 21 June 2022.

Your attention is drawn to the provisions of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 which allows for possible access to certain public and personal documentation. View our privacy statement.

Thank you to those who provided submissions and feedback on the draft Delivery Program 2022-2025 (including the Operational Plan). All feedback has been thoroughly reviewed and were considered in the adopted document.

At the meeting of Council on 28 June 2022, Council noted submissions received during the public exhibition and resolved to adopt the Delivery Program 2022-2025 (including the Operational Plan) with amendments.

The main amendments for the 2022/23 Operational Plan and Budget related to addressing some service areas where Council is not meeting community expectations and necessary updates to reflect IPART’s (Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal) May 2022 determination on the water, sewer and stormwater drainage pricing.

In the adopted Plan there is increased budget allocation for key service areas of local roads maintenance, vegetation management, for more staff resources in development assessment and to meet the legislative requirements to develop Plans of Management.

Council are also taking a cautious budgetary approach and have allocated a contingency for increased electricity costs due to current volatility in the electricity market.

The adopted plan is responsive to the communities needs and demonstrates Council’s financial stability after a period of turmoil.

At its meeting, held 27 April 2021, Council resolved to put on exhibition the draft Operational Plan for 2021-22. The Operational Plan sets out the activities and infrastructure projects, budget, rating structure and fees and charges for the 2021-22 financial year.

The draft Operational Plan provides a roadmap for Council’s services for the 2021-22 financial year and includes an overview of our:

• essential services
• planned programs and capital works projects
• financial position (both short and long term)
• statement of revenue
• fees and charges.

As part of Council’s plan towards financial recovery, the Operational Plan 2021-22 forecasts Council’s operating income as $666.8 million (if IPART determine a 15% Special Variation). Of this, Council will spend $659.8M on services and operational costs, resulting in a modest surplus of $7M. This excludes capital grants and contributions, which will be allocated towards the repayment of the restricted reserves debt.

It is also proposed that $173.5M will be spent on capital works projects, with a focus on maintaining Council’s existing infrastructure. This includes over 350 capital works projects in 2021-22, with the draft Operational Plan 2021-22 also including details of capital works projects for the following three years.

Should IPART’s determination differ from a 15% Special Variation, the above numbers Council is working to would reduce accordingly.

Submissions were to be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Mr David Farmer between 29 April and 26 May 2021, via:

• email: ask@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au
• post: PO Box 20, Wyong NSW 2259
• post: PO Box 21, Gosford NSW 2250
• or the online submission form (now closed).

Council will receive a further report to consider the submissions received during the public exhibition period.

Something you need to know: Under the Government Information (Public Access) Act, 2009 (GIPA ACT), members of the public can seek access to the submissions and Council cannot give assurance that the document will remain confidential.

At its meeting, held 29 June 2021, Council adopted the Operational Plan for 2021-22. The plan is available on Council's website.

Between 31 March and 4 May 2020 Council invited the community to have their say on services, programs and projects planned for the Central Coast for the 2020-21 financial year by placing the Draft Operational Plan 2020-21 and Draft Fees and Charges on public exhibition.

This draft plan was developed prior to the impacts of COVID-19. A COVID-19 impact report was added to the public exhibition on 24 April.

A total of 100 submissions were received during the exhibition period.

The Operational Plan 2020-21 is the third year of implementation for the Delivery Program and outlines projects and initiatives for the year ahead. This year, our spending is focused on delivering essential services within its financial means without jeopardising the long-term goals of the Central Coast Community.

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on Council’s Draft Operational Plan 2020-21.

The plan was adopted at the 27 July 2020 Council meeting. Further information and a copy of adopted plan can be viewed on Council’s main website.