Report suggests purchase unlikely

A staff report to be presented to Gosford Council at its meeting on Tuesday, July 27, on the purchase of land on the corner or Veron Rd and Hillview St, Woy Woy, suggests it is unlikely that Council will purchase the land.

The report was prepared following a meeting on June 1 where councillors asked staff to investigate purchasing the environmentally sensitive land.

The report noted that discussions with developer revealed that a search for sites on the Northern Beaches, North Shore and the Central Coast area had found no other alternatives.

"They further advised that they would consider a land swap if Council could identify a suitable site," the report stated.

It found that Council had no other land that could be used for a land exchange as all potential sites were classified as "Community" land which could not be sold unless they were reclassified as "Operational" land.

The report stated that changing the land over was a complicated process taking over two years "with no guarantee as to the final outcome".

Valuation advice to Council also showed that the value of the land would increase if the current development application for 41 retirement homes was approved.

The report noted that funding to purchase the land could come the Council's COSS program, environmentally-sensitive lands fund or Federal Government's National Reserve System Funding.

The report stated that Council would be unlikely to get funding from the Federal Government - National Reserve System Funding because the Central Coast is a low priority in terms of Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia.

It stated: "In addition to the restriction on Gosford projects, possible funding for the Veron Rd land at Woy Woy would also be highly unlikely for the following reasons:

"The vegetation on the Veron Rd site is represented in a number of Council reserves;

"Although the site might contain foraging habitat for at least two nationally listed species it is not considered to be a key habitat for either; and

"The site is very small and not in close proximity to other significant areas of vegetation.

"Should Council resolve to acquire the site, Council will be required to fund the acquisition of the land, plus any costs incurred for legal fees, survey fees, valuation fees and other service fees."

The report suggests that funding to purchase the land, if Council chooses to do so, would only be like to come from COSS funds or under Environmentally sensitive lands fund.

The Council agenda also noted a petition, with 104 signatures had been received from residents of Woy Woy and Umina requesting that Council refuse the proposed development and purchase the land with money available in the Open Space Acquisition Fund.

Alison Branley, Council Agenda FS 070, P. 053 July 27