Central Coast Council has adopted a new area-wide Plan of Management (POM) for community land at last night’s Ordinary General Council Meeting. The POM will come into effect on Wednesday 3 May. 

This resolution now means that there is one POM that covers nearly all Council-owned community land across the Central Coast. A small number of areas are excepted including Kincumba Mountain, Central Coast Stadium and Gosford City Bowling Club, which retain their existing Plans of Management. 

Central Coast Council owns nearly 2500 parcels (lots) of community land with almost 95 per cent of them covered in the single POM. 

An extended community consultation process was held from mid-December to the start of March, during which members of the public were invited to comment on the categorisation of over 1000 lots as natural area, sportsground, park, or general community use. 

As a result of this community feedback, Council has committed to review the categorisation of around 14% of parcels in the adopted POM within the next 12 months. 

Almost 350 community members and organisations made written submissions while just under 150 community members attended a series of independent public hearings held across the local government area in Wyong,(twice) The Entrance, Erina and Woy Woy.

Council Director of Environment and Planning Alice Howe said the adoption of the Plan of Management gives added security and clarity to the community and stakeholders.

“The Plan of Management will supersede the outdated plans currently existing and will allow us to extend leases for community organisations and sporting groups to existing services such as community halls and facilities,” Dr Howe said

 
The categorisation process ensures that community land is used in a manner that best reflects the community’s interest in it and also the characteristics of the land itself.

“The level of engagement by community members, both by making submissions and by attending public hearings, demonstrates just how much the community of the Central Coast cares about land management.

“We will continue to engage with the community about the most appropriate use of community land and will review how individual parcels of land are used over time to ensure that the most sustainable outcomes are achieved,” Dr Howe said.

 Find out more about how community land has been categorised and can be used, as well as the recently released independent public hearing report.