Message from the Chair / CEO - September 2026

The big news this quarter is the opening of the new Central Coast Food Innovation Hub at Ourimbah by Senator Tim Ayres, and member for Dobell, Emma McBride. The hub can house up to 8 “scale-up” businesses and will further strengthen the Central Coast regions $2 billion food and beverage sector. The building was funded by the federal government ($17.14M) and the land was provided by Central Coast Council. Further funding has been secured from the NSW State Government to provide a training room.

The Chair and CEO of RDA Central Coast have spent much time rolling out the “2026 Central Coast Regional Snapshot” of regional economic growth analysis to all our stakeholders including all three levels of government. The general feedback has been positive and with the 2026 Census now complete, an update will be provided next year with the new Australian Bureau of Statistics census results.

RDA Central Coast continues to work with the Peak Bodies Alliance in reviewing needed infrastructure on the Central Coast and looking particularly at the growth of Gosford as an education and wellbeing centre, as well and looking further north on the Central Coast, to facilitate growth particularly with the new Wyong road upgrade now started.

RDA Central Coast is continuing to look at Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) on the Central Coast and have had the pleasure of being invited to tour two companies on the Central Coast being Manor Homes and FABPREFAB. It is interesting to see the timeframe for building when it is not weather dependant, and the amount of individualisation still available using MMC. As the High-Speed Rail as well as the NSW Government is advocating for MMC, we are continuing to create awareness and understanding of what MMC can mean for the Central Coast.

We have assisted Business NSW with some judging of the Central Coast Business Awards, with the 2026 Central Coast Business Awards Gala to be held on September 25^th at the Gallery Conference and Events Centre inside the Gosford RSL Club. We wish all the finalists good luck!

We are currently doing some professional development, with our CEO undergoing the Economic Development Australia National Education and Training Program, and our Chair spending time at the Australian Institute of Company Directors, funded partially by a grant we received.

The Chair and CEO have also spent time with other NSW RDA Chairs and CEOs by attending forums held virtually, in Orange and at the NSW Parliament House, where the NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park addressed the NSW RDAs about the challenges for health care, particularly in rural and remote areas of NSW.

We are continuing to work with our Central Coast stakeholders for better regional identity, for continued support for regional growth and development, to keep attracting people to live and work on the Central Coast and for developers to continue to invest here on the Central Coast.

Gai Cottrilll Lisa Barnes

Chair CEO/DRD