There are a number of community plans and projects that have been undertaken/ are being undertaken by Gosford Council.

A comprehensive list of all Councils documents can be located in the Document Gallery

Quality of Life Strategy 2007-10

The Quality of Life Strategy is an update of the Community Plan 2001. It brings together issues that affect people's well being.

The purpose of the Quality of Life Strategy is to provide an overview of community issues, how Council is responding, and to outline the opportunities for other groups to get involved.

The key areas covered in the document includes: Being Part of Our Community; A Balanced Life; Community Spaces and Places; Community Safety; Home and Travel; and Community and Council.

View the Quality of Life Strategy 2007-10 

Quality of Life and Sustainability of the Central Coast

The Quality of Life and Sustainability project is a joint initiative between Gosford and Wyong Councils and the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation).  The report identifies what quality of life means for Central Coast residents and provides a framework for how this can be measured.

View the Quality of Life and Sustainability Report and appendices

Aboriginal Reconciliation Plan

Council has developed, approved and is currently implementing it's first Aboriginal Development and Reconciliation Plan.

This plan gives priority to the needs of the local Aboriginal community including increasing programs for young people & elders.

View the Aboriginal Development & Reconciliation Plan (PDF File, 661kb)

Access and Equity Statement

The Access & Equity Statement of Intent is a commitment by the whole of Gosford Council to including the needs of everyone in our community by ensuring that Council does not directly or indirectly discriminate against anyone in the community in any of its policies or practices.

It is a policy of inclusion, which aims to develop strategies for reducing social exclusion. The Statement is currently in draft form and will be available in early 2008.

Affordable Housing Strategy 2005

Council adopted the Affordable Housing Strategy in April 2005. The Affordable Housing Strategy provides framework for addressing housing issues across the City of Gosford.

The document presents research and consultation findings highlighting a range of issues relating to the availability of affordable housing along with recommended Council responses.

View the Affordable Housing Strategy

Positive Ageing Strategy

The Positive Ageing Strategy resulted from a Council Resolution on 4th October 2005 to Conduct a review of Aged Care Services in parallel to the Community Plan Review and undertake research relevant to the current Gosford City Council Aged Care involvement.

Since that time a Research Report has been produced by Professor Bill Bellew; Meeting the Needs of an Ageing Population - the Challenges Ahead for Gosford City Council.

This report outlined 12 Strategic Principles and recommended the formation of a Taskforce to determine the outcomes of the recommendations.

The Positive Ageing Strategy is currently being drafted and will be available early in 2008.

Disability Action Plan

Gosford City Council is required to have a Disability Action Plan that outlines Council's strategies for reducing barriers that people with disabilities face when accessing Council services, facilities and infrastructure.

This Plan is currently being re-written and will be available in early 2008.

Community Facilities Plan

Gosford City Council Community Facilities include

• Community Centres
• Child Care Centres
• Senior Citizens Centres
• Youth Centres
• Public Halls
• Community Cottages

Community facilities provide the necessary tools for the community to establish links, create opportunitues and essentially build social capital.  Gosford City Council invests considerable resources to provide these facilities and in turn community service organisations and volunteer management committees deliver essential services, programs and information.

There a number a significant factors that are currently or will in the future, impact on the provision of community facilities Gosford.  These include:

• An ageing population
• State Government Plans to increase the number of people living on the Central Coast
• Decline in volunteers
• Centralisation of State and Federal services
• Ageing buildings
• Climate change and the need to reduce reliance on private vehicles
• Changes to Developer Contributions

The aim of the study is to:

• Identify the current mix of Council's community facilities and assess their ability to meet current and future demand
• Assess the management by Council of community facilities in terms of meeting legislative and regulatory commitments, risk, financial probity and equity.
• Assess the suitability and long-term sustainability of current facility management and governance models.

Council is currently addressing its internal governance systems to ensure consistency, efficiency and clear rationale for the allocation and use of community facilities.   

The final Plan will be available in mid 2008.  The strategies in the plan will roll out over a period of time and will evolve as the environment changes.  Council will partner with the community to further develop and implement the strategies.

Contact: rachel.jones@gosford.nsw.gov.au

Review of Councils Vacation Care

The Vacation Care Review is an opportunity for Council to consider its role in the ongoing provision and management of Vacation Care services.

The review will look at the history of Vacation Care in our community, the demand for and utilisation of Vacation Care including past and current trends, number and capacity of services operating in the area, reasons why parents use the service, key issues in the management and financial operation of the services, compliance with regulations and accreditation standards and possible alternatives to the current structure and provision of Council managed Vacation Care services.

The review will involve consultation with families, child care staff, other Council staff and the community and is expected to take several months culminating in a comprehensive report and recommendations to Council in early 2008.

Community Plan 2001

The Community Plan 2001 was adopted by Council in August 2001. It includes 106 recommendations for Council across 25 community issues.

Over two thirds of all recommendations identified in this document have been implemented or are currently underway. The Community Plan 2001 has been updated by the Quality of Life Strategy.

View the Community Plan 2001