The Central Coast is a region of New South Wales, Australia, lying on the Pacific Ocean north of Sydney. Towns like Terrigal and Avoca Beach feature expansive beaches and surfing. The Entrance is a resort area offering a range of recreation at the confluence of the ocean and Tuggerah Lake, a saltwater wetland. The city of Gosford is the main commercial hub and visitor gateway.

As a region, we have economic opportunities in front of us – the digital revolution, emerging local industries, smart technologies, a growing innovation eco-system, and a desirable growing visitor economy.

The Central Coast is a region of New South Wales, Australia, lying on the Pacific Ocean north of Sydney. Towns like Terrigal and Avoca Beach feature expansive beaches and surfing. The Entrance is a resort area offering a range of recreation at the confluence of the ocean and Tuggerah Lake, a saltwater wetland. The city of Gosford is the main commercial hub and visitor gateway.

As a region, we have economic opportunities in front of us – the digital revolution, emerging local industries, smart technologies, a growing innovation eco-system, and a desirable growing visitor economy.

The Central Coast is a region of New South Wales, Australia, lying on the Pacific Ocean north of Sydney. Towns like Terrigal and Avoca Beach feature expansive beaches and surfing. The Entrance is a resort area offering a range of recreation at the confluence of the ocean and Tuggerah Lake, a saltwater wetland. The city of Gosford is the main commercial hub and visitor gateway.

As a region, we have economic opportunities in front of us – the digital revolution, emerging local industries, smart technologies, a growing innovation eco-system, and a desirable growing visitor economy.

A considerable amount of employment in the region is centred upon advanced manufacturing such as, food products, high tech software and hardware, fabricated metal products and other specialised manufacturing industries.

The Central Coast Food Innovation Initiative leverages the Central Coast’s underlying existing strengths by growing and innovating the local food, beverage and agricultural industry. In addition to the Gosford University Campus, this includes the Advanced Manufacturing Research Facility in the Bradfield City Centre and the RNA Pilot Manufacturing Facility.

The University of Newcastle Campus in Gosford will be a multi-faculty academic and innovation facility, and will cut the numbers of students forced to leave the Central Coast to study at university.

The National Waste Policy 2018 also noted that just over 9 jobs are created for each 10,000 tonnes of waste recycled. If we apply that to the additional 3 million tonnes that could be recovered by all councils achieving the same as the best performers, we have the potential to create almost 3,000 new jobs in the recycling industry and even more if we utilised those recycled materials by developing the circular economy within Australia instead of export. That’s at least 1 new job for each 3,000 households that could be created locally.

Recognition of the need for a less linear approach to materials flowing through the economy has led to development of the circular economy model, which aligns with the hierarchy but seeks to present a more active indication of pathways and priorities (Figure 3).

To establish a more self-sustaining circular economy, all aspects of the economy need to be considered, from the extraction of resources, to design and manufacturing all the way through to the consumers who use these products and end of life management.

The Central Coast Sustainability and Climate Action Plan includes 27 Actions within five themes, relating to natural systems, water and energy efficiency, community empowerment, waste reduction and improved strategic planning.

Reducing emissions will avoid significant human interference with the climate system so that ecosystems can adapt naturally to climate change.
It will protect food production and enable sustainable economic development.

The shift to a net zero emissions economy will also create opportunities in sectors in which NSW has a competitive advantage, such as professional services, agriculture, advanced energy technology, property management and financial services.

Many types of trees, agricultural land and waterways have climate change mitigation benefits through carbon sequestration. Landowners and managers could participate in growing carbon markets by establishing carbon offsets on private, public or Aboriginal managed lands.

Further, blue carbon sequestration –where mangroves, salt marshes, seaweed and seagrasses remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere–make vegetated coastal ecosystems highly efficient carbon sinks.

The Central Coast is expected to experience an increase in its average, maximum and minimum temperatures for the near future (2030) and far future (2070). Rainfall on the Central Coast is expected to increase in Autumn and Summer and decrease in Spring and Winter.

These changes in climate are likely to increase the risk from natural hazards including coastal processes, storms and floods, bushfires, heatwaves and drought. Natural hazards can disrupt road and rail networks and interrupt access to essential services including water, sewerage, power, telecommunications and digital connectivity.

Residents, tourists, towns and communities can become isolated for extended periods, which can impact social networks. Visiting tourists may not be aware of the dangers and emergency procedures. Over long periods of time this can be detrimental to local economies that rely on tourism.

A more climate resilient region will increase the capacity of individuals, communities, businesses and systems to survive, adapt and thrive no matter what stresses and shocks they face.

The Central Coast is home to a vibrant arts community reflecting the beauty of the region and sense of place across a diverse range of art forms and practices. Central Coast Council engenders arts and cultural practice through facilitating programs, providing spaces and venues, providing funding opportunities for artists and art creation and leading regional planning initiatives.

The University of Newcastle (UON) Ourimbah campus, halfway between Gosford and Wyong, is a key asset of the Central Coast. Other institutions including NSW TAFE Ourimbah campus, Central Coast Community College and TLK Community College also provide further education and pathways to employment for youth. These centres will play a critical role in up-skilling our workforce to help meet current and future demands/challenges.

The University of Newcastle Campus in Gosford will be a multi-faculty academic and innovation facility, and will cut the numbers of students forced to leave the Central Coast to study at university.

The Central Coast is recognised for its agricultural diversity, from citrus farms and poultry farms to flower farms and turf.

The Central Coast has many existing strengths and emerging capabilities in the food production and food services sector. Apart from its food and beverage manufacturing capability, it is home to a diverse sector covering smaller artisan food producers, high quality primary food producers together with food service companies in catering and hospitality.

It is represented in the fresh, dry goods, chilled and frozen supply chains which provides opportunities for exploration of food items or additives that can cut across all these supply chains.

There are two key points that differentiate the Central Coast from most other regions. The first is that it has the largest city population base in Australia, in Sydney, at its door step. Couple with this it has agricultural and industry lands to service the population base and beyond.

Secondly it has two major research facilities in its region with a third being built. The University of Newcastle has a campus at Ourimbah that has its food science school with research capability located there. On the same campus the NSW Department of Primary Industries has its Centre of Excellence for Market Access and Greenhouse Horticulture.

There are internationally branded food manufacturing businesses that produce on the Central Coast – including McCain Foods, Sara Lee, Mars, Sanitarium and George Weston Foods. The existence of these international brands put the Central Coast on the map for further potential investment and showcases that the region has the right ingredients for supporting big industry.

The region is served by two acute hospitals – Gosford and Wyong. Gosford Hospital is the principal referral hospital and regional trauma centre for the Central Coast, Wyong Hospital is a major metropolitan hospital while Woy Woy Hospital and Long Jetty Healthcare Centre provide sub-acute care.

Is Australia’s housing crisis self-inflicted? If so, then we need a series of reforms to reverse it
The best long-term solution to the structural problems of the rental crisis is to build more public and/or affordable housing.

Make renting more Sustainable. Increase rent assistance or look at rental caps, similar to countries in Europe and some US states, long term tenancy agreements with incentives for all parties to the agreement.

Build to Rent
The Build to Rent property sector is growing in Australia – this new class of housing is focused on providing high quality purpose designed and built rental stock, creating an additional housing choice for Australian renters with greater security and service.

Build to Rent developments are typically owned by institutional investors for the long term and the owner could be the developer/ongoing building manager. The format provides tenants with the flexibility of renting with the security of home ownership.

Build-to-Rent developments are usually large-scale residential properties specifically designed, built and managed for long-term ownership and rental.

Social Housing
In the 40 years between 1981 and 2021 the percentage of all Australian households living in social housing (i.e. state owned and managed public housing or community managed housing) has ranged from 4.9 per cent in 1981 to 3.8 per cent in 2021. Such a drop in the proportion of social housing raises the question of has Australia achieved the balance right, and also just what is the right level of social housing for Australia?

In 2018 Statistics Canada said 628,700 Canadian households, more than one in ten renter households nationally (13.5% of 4,652,500), were living in social and affordable housing.
In New Zealand, as of 30 June 2021, there were 74,337 public housing households. This equates to 4.0% of households living in social housing.

In England (in 2018) 17% of households (3.9 million) lived in social housing, while the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development publishes that 1.2 million households live in public housing, which is 0.98 per cent of all housing.

The district contains regionally significant construction, mineral and energy resources such as sand, gravel, hard rock, sandstone (dimension stone), clay and coal deposits. Extraction of these resources supports major infrastructure projects, industries and agricultural businesses.

Chain Valley – Lake Macquarie - Lake Coal
Mandalong – Lake Macquarie – Centennial Coal
Myuna – Lake Macquarie – Centennial Coal

The Central Coast of New South Wales is a vibrant place to live, work and play, with a new story around every corner. Steeped in natural beauty, we've got sustainability at heart as one of Australia's first certified ECO Destinations. Fringed by over 40 beaches, shaped by valuable waterways, and hemmed with lush wilderness, we're just 90 minutes north of Sydney or south of Newcastle.

Our slice of paradise is home to a nationally awarded gourmet foodie scene, array of coastal, hinterland and aquatic treasures, diverse art trails, creative communities, and immersive cultural experiences.