tech
Central Coast Draws Federal and Local Funds to Drive Smart City Expansion
Targeted investments in sensors, metering and public space tools form part of ongoing efforts to boost economic activity and equity across the region.
How we reported this
Work has started on installing 450 smart parking sensors across Terrigal CBD and Gosford CBD, backed by AU$104,735 in federal funding and more than AU$150,000 in local contributions.
The Smart Central Coast Program, running from 2023 to 2025 and supported by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, examines how technology and data can aid job attraction, economic activity and equity outcomes. These steps sit within wider efforts to apply digital tools to everyday challenges in the Central Coast area.
Parking sensors target congestion in key centres
The sensor rollout places 250 units in Terrigal CBD and 200 units in Gosford CBD. Drivers will be able to check real-time parking availability through apps, which is intended to cut circling traffic. Central Coast Council is contributing the local share of costs alongside the federal grant.
Additional programs add metering and safety data
Central Coast Council launched its smart metering programme in June 2026. The initiative equips 100 high-usage commercial businesses with digital water meters linked to the MyWater dashboard for leak detection and consumption tracking. A separate trial under the Safer Cities: Her Way Program ran in Gosford from December 2023 to January 2024 and combined space upgrades with events, leading to higher late-afternoon activity and better safety perceptions. Transport for NSW is also testing Benchmark NSW smart seating, developed with UNSW and MIT, to study how women and gender-diverse people use public spaces.
These projects build on the established Smart Central Coast Program framework. Funding and trial results provide concrete examples of how technology investments are being applied in Terrigal CBD, Gosford CBD and surrounding commercial sites. Further monitoring of the parking sensors and metering rollout will show how the combined federal and local spending affects traffic patterns and water use over time.