The Central Coast is making strides in both healthcare and telecommunications infrastructure, providing crucial services to its residents and ensuring the region remains connected as it grows.

In healthcare, the region boasts two major public hospitals, with emergency departments located at Gosford Hospital and Wyong Hospital. Gosford Hospital, the largest in the area, has 460 beds and is strategically located near the Gosford CBD, while Wyong Hospital, with 274 beds, serves the northern section of the region. Smaller health facilities are also available, including a public hospital in Woy Woy and a Health Care Centre at Long Jetty. For private healthcare, Gosford Private Hospital is the largest facility, located at North Gosford, with other private hospitals like Brisbane Waters Private in Woy Woy and Tuggerah Lakes Private in Kanwal offering additional options. With 21 aged care facilities and seven ambulance stations across the region, healthcare services are well-positioned to serve the Central Coast’s diverse needs.

In telecommunications, the region is served by both fixed-line telephone services and mobile networks. Despite challenges posed by the area’s topography, mobile network services like 3G, 4G, and 5G from Optus, Telstra, and Vodafone are available, although black spots remain. The Federal Government has announced plans to improve coverage along the railway, which should help alleviate some of these connectivity issues. Broadband services are widely accessible, including ADSL, fixed-wireless, and fibre-optic networks, with high-speed ADSL2 available at most exchanges. The National Broadband Network (NBN) has begun its rollout in key areas, including Kincumber, Gosford, and Berkeley Vale, bringing high-speed fibre-to-the-premise installations with speeds of up to 100/40 Mbit/s. However, the broader rollout of the NBN remains uncertain after a change in government, with future plans including trials of fibre-to-the-node technology in areas like Umina Beach and Woy Woy.

As the Central Coast continues to develop, investments in both health services and telecommunications infrastructure aim to meet the growing demands of the region’s population, ensuring access to quality healthcare and reliable connectivity.