On 14 September 2024, the Central Coast Council will hold its local government election, marking an important milestone for our community.

This election will be the first since the State Government appointed an Administrator following the dismissal of all Councillors by the Minister for Local Government on 17 March 2022. This decision came after their suspension on 30 October 2020 and the outcomes of the 2021 Public Inquiry into the Council.

The Central Coast Local Government area is currently divided into five wards with 15 councillors. Each ward is represented by three councillors.

1. The Entrance Ward
2. Wyong Ward
3. Budgewoi Ward
4. Gosford West Ward
5. Gosford East Ward

Community members will be asked to vote on whether they feel the current structure of 15 Councillors should be reduced to 9 Councillors.

The reduction of Councillor numbers would also require the reduction of Wards in the Central Coast Local Government from five to three, with each Ward to be represented by three Councillors.

Here is the referendum question you will answer:

‘Do you favour a reduction in the number of Central Coast Councillors from fifteen to nine? This will result in three Wards with each Ward electing three Councillors.’

Why is Council undertaking a Constitutional Referendum for reduced Councillors?

In accordance with the Local Government Act 1993, the number of Councillors can only be changed through a Constitutional Referendum.

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on 11 May 2021, Council resolved to hold a Constitutional Referendum on 4 September 2021 for voters to determine whether they favour a reduction in the number of Central Coast Councillors from fifteen to nine. 

However, due to the formal Public Inquiry into Central Coast Council, the Constitutional Referendum on Councillor and Ward numbers and the Central Coast Council election was postponed.

The Constitutional Referendum will be held at the same time as the local government election for Central Coast Council on 14 September 2024.

Who will conduct the referendum?

The NSW Electoral Commission will conduct the referendum. The community already voted on a survey around the constitutional referendum in 2021.

Why are we voting again?

In 2021, Council undertook community consultation asking community members to vote on their preferred option from three scenarios:

1.    Maintain the existing five Wards and 15 Councillors
2.    Reduce the number of wards to three Wards and nine Councillors
3.    Abolish Wards resulting in one region and nine Councillors

This provided an opportunity for the community to submit feedback on the proposed options and allowed Council to better understand community sentiment on how the numbers may be reduced in order to finalise the proposed referendum question.
613 community members voted in an online poll between 1 and 15 March 2021.

When asked if they would like Councillors reduced from 15 to nine, 78 percent voted ‘yes’.

Those who selected ‘yes’ to a reduction in Councillors were then asked to let us know their preferences for Ward structure. 45 percent preferred reducing the number of Wards from five to three, while 55 percent voted to abolish the Wards and have nine Councillors represent the whole Central Coast.

The results of this poll were used to finalise the referendum question.

If the referendum is carried, when will it come into effect?

Any change determined by the Referendum cannot be introduced for at least 12 months from the date of the Referendum.

How are the new wards determined?

If the referendum is carried, section 210A of the Local Government Act 1993 applies.

This states that before altering a council’s Ward boundaries, the council must:
•    consult the Electoral Commissioner and the Australian Statistician to ensure the proposed boundaries of its Wards correspond to the boundaries of appropriate districts and census districts
•    prepare and publicly exhibit a plan detailing the proposed division or alteration (the Ward boundary plan).

If the referendum is carried, Central Coast Council will develop a proposed Ward Boundary Plan, making sure there is less than a 10 percent variation in voters between each Ward. This will be placed on public exhibition so that community members and stakeholders can submit feedback on the proposed plan.

All submissions made throughout the public exhibition period will be considered by Council when determining the new Ward structure.

For more information on electoral boundaries go to NSW Electoral Commission’s website.