Mayor Lawrie McKinna Central Coast Council

12/06/2026

I would like to congratulate the 8 Central Coast residents honoured in the King’s Birthday Honours List.. This recognition celebrates their passion, generosity and dedication shown through their volunteering and service to our community. This is truly a well-deserved achievement.

Eight Central Coast residents have been named in the King's Birthday Honours List in the General Division. One was appointed a Member of the Order of

09/06/2026

The Central Coast is one of the fastest growing regions in NSW. As we grow, demand for housing, transport, infrastructure and community facilities will continue to increase. That’s why we’ve developed our Key Enabling Projects 2026 document. We’re calling on the state and federal governments to back key projects that can support jobs, improve connectivity and make sure our region continues to be a great place to live, work and invest.

09/06/2026

Proud to see Central Coast Council recognised with the Local Government Professionals Excellence Award for Community Partnerships (Population over 100,000) for our 2025 Carp to Croc campaign.

This award belongs to our community. From families and fishers to first-time participants, your enthusiasm helped turn an environmental challenge into real action for our waterways.

A big thank you to our partners, including the Australian Reptile Park, BCF and OzFish who helped bring this initiative to life.

Congratulations also to our fellow Central Coast Council finalists across the awards – recognised in Customer Experience (Business Mindsets and Human Centred Design Toolkit), Partnerships and Collaboration (Gosford Regional Library MakerSpace), and People, Workplace and Wellbeing (Coast Engage).

Keen to see what it’s all about? Watch our wrap-up video below to learn more about this year’s campaign.

03/06/2026

It was a pleasure to meet the new Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Gavin Morris today. We had a great chat, shared ideas, and plenty of common ground on local issues, proving just how important it is to stay connected and work together to get the best outcomes for our communities.

28/05/2026

Today we hosted our third Building a Strong Foundation for the Future forum, and it was fantastic to see so many people from the development industry join us.

You told us DA assessment times needed to improve and they have.

We’re now preparing to trial an Accelerated DA Framework to
speed up low‑risk applications even further.

We also reaffirmed our commitment to supporting growth in Gosford. In March, Council agreed to take a coordinated approach to fast‑tracking renewal of the city centre and waterfront.

There’s real momentum building, and we’re focused on doing everything we can to support Gosford’s growth and success.

It’s an exciting time for our community.

25/05/2026

Council’s 2026 Carp to Croc fishing event has wrapped up with fantastic results, with 150 participants removing 456 European carp from our local waterways, a huge jump from last year’s 298. A massive thank you to the Australian Reptile Park for their support, and for the unforgettable experience of feeding Elvis the croc, and to BCF for backing the program. A great community effort and a great win for our environment.

We’re stoked to have been part of this year’s Carp to Croc, an amazing initiative that turns invasive carp into food for Elvis! 🐊

Absolute legend, Mayor Lawrie McKinna Central Coast Council , joined us to feed Elvis the first carp of the season.

Carp are a major problem in our local waterways, and this year 456 carp were caught, with 150 donated to us to help feed Australia’s crankiest crocodile. 🐟
A massive thank you to Central Coast Council & BCF - Boating, Camping, Fishing for making this come together

Safe to say, Elvis is pretty thrilled. With plenty of carp coming his way, he’s more than ready to tuck in!

25/05/2026

I was honoured to interview NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley during his visit to Central Coast Sports College last week, where he inspired students as the team held their State of Origin training camp here on the Coast. It was a real boost for our region to be part of their preparations. Wishing the mighty Blues all the best for the 2026 series against Queensland!

25/05/2026

On Saturday, I welcomed the executive board members of the Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) to the Central Coast. It was wonderful to spend time together, strengthen our relationships and share honest conversations about our collective commitment to supporting women in local government across Australia. We are proud the Central Coast will host the 2027 ALGWA Conference next April. It’s an opportunity to welcome people to our region and to showcase what makes it special.
The conference theme, The Next Wave: A New Era of Leadership, reflects how leadership in local government is changing, creating space for both emerging and experienced leaders. We look forward to working closely with ALGWA to deliver a conference that feels thoughtful, impactful and truly memorable.

20/05/2026

Candice Boyd is our May Community Champion. Candice established SheRests, a support network for mums of children on the autism spectrum. Drawing on her own experience, she offers retreats, seminars and social events that give mothers a place to rest, connect and find guidance. Candice’s compassion, fundraising efforts and unwavering commitment have made a real difference to families who often feel isolated. She is a truly deserving Community Champion. Know someone like this? Email me at: [email protected].

19/05/2026

I was honoured to attend the Central Coast District Rural Fire Service’s Volunteer Appreciation Day and District Medals Presentation on Sunday. My sincere thanks to everyone involved. The event featured the annual blessing of the fleet, the presentation of National Medals and Rural Fire Service Long Service Medals, and a heartfelt acknowledgement of the dedication of our volunteers and the invaluable support of their families and friends.

2026 Central Coast VAD - Medal Recipients