Gosford waterfront’s residential and retail plans finalised after community battle

Gosford waterfront’s residential and retail plans finalised after community battle
Jennifer DukeDecember 7, 2020

Gosford’s waterfront has had its future defined by new rezoning plans finalised yesterday by the New South Wales government; with plans for dining, shopping and new apartment set to come online.

A 9.9 hectare area has been rezoned on Gosford’s waterfront by the Central Coast Regional Development Corporation. The area was previously known as ‘The Landing’.

The rezoning will allow a combination of residential, commercial, hotel and conference facilities, creating up to 2,000 jobs. It will also allow new regional community facilities, such as a proposed Regional Performing Arts Centre and Conservatorium, public spaces, recreational areas and waterside restaurants and retail facilities.

“This is great news for the revitalisation of Gosford’s waterfront and will help boost the Central Coast’s economy by acting as a catalyst for the renewal of the Gosford CBD,” said Planning and Infrastructure Minister Brad Hazzard.

“As a further bonus, by creating facilities and public spaces that build communities, it will draw more visitors to the area,” said Hazzard.

The plans split the site, which has state significant status, into a number of zones allowing these developments to occur. The Gosford Public School site will be opened up for commercial and residential, while an expanded Breakwater will house the other activities.

seanriley-flickr-gosford-feb-11-breakotu

Photo: Gosford, courtesy Sean Riley/flickr

Minister for the Central Coast, Michael Gallacher, said that earlier plans had been significantly revised to take onboard community concerns.

“These new plans ensure public space is protected and new buildings on the school site are properly scaled to minimise the impact on water views,” said Gallacher.

The views were one of a number of concerns previously expressed, with the development to allow “key view lines” to Brisbane Water, as well as the restriction of building height and the imposing of massing controls to ensure the correct scaling to maximise view corridors between buildings. The War Memorial Park will also be retained.

The redevelopment of the waterfront is still open to community consultation, as each development application will be required to be lodged through Gosford City Council.

The site is bound by Georgina Terrace, Dane Drive, Mann Street and Brisbane Water.

The rezoning will also see the school relocated this year. Expressions of interest for proposals from potential developers and investors for the school site are being called for.

The move of the school has seen significant community backlash and petitioning, including the creation of a website, called ‘Save Gosford’, where they note that more than 10,000 people signed a petition against the loss of the school, while more than 10,700 signed petition against "The Landing" proposal.

There were a number of submissions both for and against the redevelopment.

"Why not have something like Cairns has done with their foreshore. Something that everyone can enjoy not just the rich in high rise apartments,” local resident Julie Guthrie included in her submission against the redevelopment.

Traffic concerns were also noted by some residents. There have already been some mixed responses on the Gosford City Council Facebook Page.

Within the next few months, the restaurant and bar, Iguana Joes, is expected to reopen on the waterfront. The Commonwealth Agency will also be housed on the waterfront, according to a release from Federal MP for Robertson, Lucy Wicks.

Gosford is undergoing a number of changes, under the 2010 masterplan for the city, with the waterfront having been slated for revitalisation since the inception of this plan.

jduke@propertyobserver.com.au

 


Jennifer Duke

Jennifer Duke was a property writer at Property Observer

Editor's Picks