Moves to defer plan defeated

Moves to defer consideration of the Peninsula's new Section 94 Contributions Plan were defeated at a meeting of Gosford Council on February 24.

Cr Debra Wales moved that the matter be referred to the Council's Environmental Planning section for a review and recommendations, that Council seek legal advice on the changes to developer contributions and that the matter be deferred until the Peninsula Integrated Urban Strategy was compelted by the Department of Planning, Infrastructure and Natural Resources.

Cr Wales said that it was projected in 1991 that an extra 14 000 would move to the Woy Woy Peninsula area.

"This plan is totally dependent on 14 000 plus people in order to fund the Peninsula Leisure Centre."

"That's 4000 extra in Woy Woy, 3000 at Ettalong and 7000 at Umina."

"In order for this plan to work, we need every single one of these people to come to the Peninsula and live in medium density housing."

"Let's not forget that this is money that we don't have yet," she said.

Cr Malcolm Brooks seconded Cr Wales motion for deferment.

"I found population figures in the report way beyond what Council resolved regarding Woy Woy population.

"I'm looking to see what DIPNR will find in their report," he said.

Cr Craig Doyle said that 20 percent of Sydney's population growth would come to the Central Coast.

"At the end of the day, chances are we might get some people up here and they're going to go where it's zoned (medium density)," he said.

"Cr Bockholt and Cr Penton fought long and hard to get community facilities to the Peninsula, we need a contribution plan in line with this," he said.

"Council's going to have to put some of this forward but so are the developers.

"What we are suggesting here is not a great deal, but it is a plan. The scary part is the community is going to agree with us."

Cr Preece said that the Peninsula Integrated Strategy could take a while.

"I think its dangerous to keep waiting for another review.

"We can review the contributions plan to suit the Peninsula Integrated Urban Strategy not wait until it is finished."

Cr Samson said the Peninsula does deserve a first class swimming facility, but not a regional facility.

"We already have one. It's Mingara," he said.

Cr Lynne Bockholt said that the Peninsula Urban Integrated Strategy is not to lessen density on Peninsula.

"What they may do is move it around a bit, move it closer to public transport to get more development right on main roads.

"If anyone imagines were not getting less population they've got rocks in their head we are going to be taking more not less," she said.

Cr Judith Penton said that the Peninsula "absolutely needed" such a big facility

"I'm sick and tired of going to other council areas, compared to what we have here with the largest budget in NSW but what facilities do we have, not very much.

Here it is developers making lots of money out of Gosford.

"It's time they put something back."

"We Gosford deserve to have this facility and we need it from now on.

"We should be building things all the time."

Cr Holstein disputed Cr Wales facts regarding an extra 14 000 population

"That's a 1991 figure. Five thousand are already here," he said.

Cr Holstein said contributions plans were based on 50 per cent up take

"You can adjust by 80 per cent and it still comes through."

He said more money would go towards sporting fields, and the Ettalong Beach plan of management.

"I'm about seeing community facilities built.

"The contribution plan does not dictate growth. We do," he said.

The plan is on public exhibition in March for 28 days and community feedback is encouraged.

The plan will be available on Council's web page www.gosford.nsw.gov.au and at Woy Woy and Umina Libraries and the Council Customer Service Centre at Woy Woy.

Alison Branley, March 3