Draft DCP used for design forum

Gosford Council has decided to use the draft Pearl Beach development control plan (DCP) as the basis for public forums on its "urban design framework" for the area.

Cr Geoff Preece had requested the DCP prepared by the Pearl Beach Progress Association be adopted for formalisation by Council on its meeting of October 24.

"(The Association) feel they have done enough work and consultation with the community," he said.

He said the association was aware of the usual process for DCPs but felt "it may take a great deal of time until it comes to fruition".

"The association has spent many hours and dollars developing the draft," Cr Preece said.

Instead, the draft will be forwarded to a consultant and used in public forums on Council's urban design framework during this month.

An interim report will be presented to Council next month.

The urban design framework is a strategic planning process which aims to provide directions for improvement of the built environment and to "capitalise on the existing strengths of the city's natural environment".

The framework is based broadly upon Council's residential strategy and five-year strategic plan as well as the State Government's Shaping the Central Coast report.

Cr Tony Sansom said he thought the urban design framework was "just another process where we don't achieve anything".

He said he had changed his mind because he had received a number of letters from residents involved in the urban design framework process.

"The letters are not from the usual people, but from people I haven't heard of who went along to the framework workshops," he said.

Cr Sansom then said he wanted to defer the adoption of the Pearl Beach draft DCP until the outcomes of the urban design framework were known.

Cr Lynne Bockholt said she had received many letters in support and none against the draft DCP and that she was in favour of adopting the draft DCP.

Cr Sansom said the reason for deferral of the draft DCP was not because of objections to the document, but the process.

He asked if fast-tracking the draft DCP would cause confusion.

He said there would not be much delay if the draft DCP was to wait for the urban design framework public workshops.

The idea of doing the two different documents concurrently was also mooted.

However, Council decided that this could cause confusion in the community.

Carl Spears, November 9