Caring and protecting the natural environment of the Central Coast was identified as a key issue for the community during the Community Strategic Plan engagement process, which was adopted in 2018.

The Strategy is the first single strategy that combines the progress of the two former Councils in conservation planning and presents a scientifically-robust roadmap for the future of the biodiversity of the Central Coast.

At present, Council is responsible for over 350 natural reserves totalling over 6000 hectares of land across the Local Government Area managed for nature conservation.

The desired outcomes of the Strategy are to protect and enhance the landscape and biodiversity values of the Central Coast. This includes maintaining functional connections between areas of natural habitat, maintaining quality core habitat and preserving threatened and iconic species as well as more familiar species.

The proposed Conservation Management Program covers natural asset planning and management, expansion of Council’s natural area estate and community participation in conservation.

Other components of the Strategy focus on Council’s corporate responsibilities and the link between biodiversity protection and the strategic planning framework.

The Central Coast Council Biodiversity Strategy defines Council’s role in biodiversity conservation in the context of other government strategic conservation planning and private land conservation.

Commonwealth and State Government legislation and planning documents guide and influence local plans and strategies, including this Strategy.

Council does not have jurisdiction in the marine environment, and the Biodiversity Strategy is focussed on areas of Council responsibility (Council-owned land). The core aim of implementing this Strategy is the effective land management of Council reserves, in addition to supporting other Council programs such as the Coastal Management Program and Estuary Management Program, which have a focus on the ‘water’ aspects of the local area.

There are approximately 2,100 native plant species and over 600 native animal species which have been recorded in the Local Government Area. Some of these plant species such as the Somersby mintbush, Charmhaven apple, and Magenta lily pilly are endemic to the region, meaning that they occur nowhere else in the world. Moving forward, it is hoped that the Biodiversity Strategy will play its part in protecting the habitat of these plants and animals, so they can be conserved for future generations.