As we continue our series on the major Central Coast news stories of 2023, we put a spotlight on May.
Council announced it would trial a new system for the public forum prior to council meetings, moving it to the Monday evening prior to the Tuesday meeting.
The idea was quickly abandoned after a short trial amid community backlash.
The RSPCA animal shelter at Tuggerah closed unexpectedly, leaving nine staff members without jobs.
There were calls for more community consultation as the Federal Government announced plans to establish a wind farm in the ocean off the Central Coast and Hunter regions and a Central Coast teenager was selected for the senior men’s basketball team to represent Australia at the 2023 World Dwarf Games to be held in Germany in July.
The Federal budget saw some relief for Coast families with a range of cost of living relief measures and increased access to bulk-billed GP appointments and the Sanitarium Health Food Company, based at Berkeley Vale, celebrated its 125th birthday.
Council adopted a controversial plan of management for community land and the Hunter Community Environment Centre called for a rehabilitation fund of $20M per year from Lake Macquarie power stations to replace seagrass it claimed was killed by operations at Vales Point and Eraring power stations.
Community meetings took place on the proposed wind farm and there was strong opposition to a proposed cattle feed station at Mangrove Mountain.
The Central Coast Mariners secured an A-League grand final birth after a second semi-final win against Adelaide and residents were invited to have a say on three options for a revamped Pelican Park at Woy Woy.
Plans were lodged for a new $102M development adjacent to the Lake House at The Entrance comprising 414 residential apartments and 11 retail spaces across six buildings, ranging from six to nine storeys.