As the new year begins, we thought we’d take a look back at CCN’s major news stories of 2023.
Starting today, we will publish a month’s news highlights every day for the next week as we revisit the major events which affected the Central Coast last year.
We begin today with January.
As 2023 kicked off, a special operation was launched to protect a rare nest of endangered loggerhead turtle eggs at Shelly Beach.
The Tuggerah railway station upgrade powered ahead and the various parties started to announce their candidates for the March State election.
It was reported that 70 per cent of the recommendations made in a 2020 report for improvements to Tuggerah Lakes were either completed, underway, ongoing or planned and the Coast prepared to welcome the Matildas to Industree Group Stadium in February ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Central Coast celebrated Australia Day, with Free Trade Day founder Ryan Wilson announced as the region’s Citizen of the Year.
Residents rallied to try to save a heritage Nissen hut at Ourimbah after nearby amenities were closed temporarily and Coasties were warned to be on the lookout for funnel-webs during their peak season.
The State Government announced it would invest $23M to unlock housing, jobs and opportunities under the Central Coast Strategy for economic growth and residents were asked to have a say in the Hawkesbury Nepean River Coastal Management Program being developed by six councils including the Central Coast.
The Central Coast Disabled Surfers Association geared up for its first event of the year on February 4 and a draft floodplain risk management study and plan for the Woy Woy Peninsula went on public exhibition.
Central Coast Council CEO David Farmer reported that Council was in a strong financial position to kick off the year.