Council’s region-wide plan to shape the future of parking on the Coast  

Following a consideration of submissions and feedback provided by stakeholders and the community, Central Coast Council has adopted the Central Coast Car Parking Study and Implementation Plan (the Plan). 

The Plan provides Council with a solid framework to improve on the supply, management and overall quality of parking and transport services on the Central Coast. 

Council Administrator Dick Persson AM said the Plan - which has been shaped through community consultation including public exhibition, online surveys, parking interview surveys and business surveys - outlines specific actions to deliver additional parking options across the region. 

“We know that car parking is a significant issue of concern to the community and this Plan provides a consistent integrated approach across the LGA to meet the community’s car parking needs – not just now, but well into the future as the Central Coast’s population continues to grow,” Mr Persson said. 

“Council is committed to delivering essential infrastructure to create parking options and solutions that address the needs of residents, visitors and businesses.”  

The Draft Central Coast Car Parking Study and Implementation Plan was publicly exhibited from 9 June to 6 July 2020 and 3 to 16 August 2020. Submissions received through public exhibition focussed around a number of key themes, including:

•    the appropriateness of locations for potential commuter car parking stations in the Gosford CBD and suggestions to extend the existing Gosford commuter carpark,
•    suggestions to provide more commuter parking at train stations throughout the region,
•    commentary around timed parking, line marking, parking restrictions and parking safety at key areas,
•    suggestions to provide more parking at key areas across the Central Coast.

Council also engaged Woolcott Resarch to undertake a third-party customer research study to determine community feedback in relation to potential commuter car park locations within the Gosford CBD, as well as general directions and actions outlined in the draft Study and Plan. 

This revealed strong support for additional commuter car parking at Lisarow, Tuggerah and Wyong stations, as well as increasing car park capacity in Lisarow, Ourimbah, Terrigal, Warnervale, Woy Woy and Wyong.

The research also demonstrated strong support for actions involving smart parking technology for Gosford, Ourimbah and Woy Woy, with the Central Coast Stadium car park identified as the most preferred location for a commuter carpark for Gosford.

Where appropriate, feedback and submissions received throughout the public exhibition period was incorporated into the Central Coast Car Parking Study and Implementation Plan, which was adopted by Council at the Ordinary Council Meeting on 13 April 2021. 

Council ends negotiations to purchase Davistown Wetlands

Central Coast Council will discontinue any purchase or compulsory acquisition of the land known as Davistown Wetlands, following a standstill in negotiations with landowners. 

Council Administrator Dick Persson AM said that the owners of Davistown Wetlands and Council are at an impasse regarding the valuation of the land.

“Council met with the owners’ representative and landowners in March this year to consider any agreeable solutions regarding the purchase of the Davistown Wetlands,” Mr Persson said. 

“While the owners are keen to sell the land, the price they are proposing is well above the various market valuations which Council has received. 

“The difference of opinion regarding the land value is due to the severe environmental and flooding constraints affecting the site. 

“While these have been discussed with the owners, they are of the opinion that these constraints should not impact the market valuation given historical approvals and developments of neighbouring sites in Davistown. 

“Despite efforts to reach a solution, an agreement on price is unattainable and Council is bound by both its adopted Land Transaction Policy and appropriate governance, which prevent Council from purchasing land for more than its market valuation.”

The owners of the Davistown Wetlands are now considering their options, which may include lodging a Voluntary Planning Agreement to resolve land dedication and planning requirements. 

Masterplan will shape future vision of Central Coast Airport

The NSW Parliamentary repeal of the Warnervale Airport Restrictions Act 1996 provides certainty around the Central Coast Airport at Warnervale. 

Central Coast Council will develop a Masterplan that includes the current runway length of 1200 metres with no extension, and Plan of Management to shape the future vision of the Airport whilst continuing to provide environmental protection for important conservation land, such as Porters Creek Wetlands. 

Both plans will be publicly exhibited once drafted, giving the community, businesses and other key stakeholders the opportunity to review and provide feedback regarding this critical community asset.  

Council Administrator Dick Persson AM said the development of the Central Coast Airport is a landmark project for Central Coast Council with the potential to provide significant economic and social benefits to the Central Coast.

“As the ninth largest region in Australia, the Central Coast is recognised as a substantial growth corridor, yet it remains the only major population centre without a recognised and supported airport,” Mr Persson said. 

“The repeal of the Warnervale Airport Restrictions Act earlier this year has provided the Central Coast community with a clear signal regarding the future of the Central Coast Airport and Council is now getting on with what the State Government has asked of us.         

“Airports form an integral part of the Australian economic infrastructure and are critical to connecting communities and enhancing the broader economic performance of its regions. Without access to local aviation services, the capacity for local trade and tourism to grow and compete with other major regional centres will be constrained.

“Importantly, this is an asset for the benefit of the whole Central Coast community and Council will be guided by what our community wants. There will be opportunities for the community and stakeholders to have their say throughout the process.”

As part of the Masterplan process for Central Coast Airport at Warnervale, Council will provide certainty for the community by including the environmental and proposed conservation land to be protected in a draft plan, and including any proposed employment land to be subdivided from the conservation land.

Council will suspend the development of the Warnervale Conservation Agreement and any agreement with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust to permanently protect the Porters Creek Wetland until the Airport Masterplan, Plan of Management and a subdivision plan is registered that subdivides the Wetland and surrounding E2 land from the employment land in Warnervale. 

“If Council continues with the current Warnervale Conservation Agreement without confirmation of the Airport Masterplan, it stands to cause catastrophic and irreversible sanitisation of primary aviation, education and employment lands,” Mr Persson said. 

“By suspending the Agreement until the Plans are finalised, Council will be able to methodically plan and implement a balanced and harmonised approach that equally considers the important surrounding ecology and employment land within Warnervale.”

As part of the process, Council is also commencing negotiations with the aviation industry to better utilise land surrounding the airport. 

Council will aim to place a Draft Masterplan and Plan of Management on public exhibition at the end of May 2021. Council looks forward to keeping the community updated throughout the process.

Council reviews Terrigal Trojans loan repayment 

Central Coast Council will partially reduce an outstanding debt owed by Terrigal Trojans Rugby Club for its Terrigal Clubhouse in recognition of the Club’s cash contribution to the facility’s maintenance and upgrades.

In 2004, the former Gosford City Council loaned $700,000 to the Club to build a clubhouse with supporting changerooms and amenities at Terrigal Haven, with $554,014.35 outstanding on the loan as at 2021.

The Terrigal Trojans Club requested that the Club’s cash contribution of $318,504 to maintain and make upgrades to the Council asset be utilised to partially satisfy the loan, resulting in an outstanding loan balance of $235,510.45. 

Council has resolved to reduce the outstanding debt based on the cash contribution provided by the Club, which will be reflected in a new Loan Repayment Deed.

Council supports recommendations to improve management of coal ash dams

Council supports the 16 recommendations in the recently released report by the Public Works Committee (Costs for remediation of sites containing coal ash repositories) and will write to Local Members of Parliament and to the Minister for Energy & Environment to seek their support to implement the recommendations.