PUDS adoption expected

The Peninsula Urban Directions Strategy is expected to be adopted by Gosford Council at its meeting this week.

The recommendation comes from the council's strategy policy workshops held in February and March, attended by nine of the 10 councillors.

The recommendation is for council to adopt the exhibited Draft Peninsula Directions Strategy and include its provisions as part of the review and preparation of a Residential Development Strategy and preparation of a City Planning Strategy and comprehensive local environment plan (LEP) for the city.

It has also been recommended that the strategy clarify that the building heights achievable in town centres are to be linked to public benefits such as site amalgamation, provision of public spaces and view corridors, as has been used in the Terrigal planning controls.

It has been recommended that medium density housing take up rates be reviewed on an annual basis, and if such rates decline significantly, with potential to adversely impact on Contributions Plan 31C, that a further report be presented to council.

Other recommendations involve the preparation of an Urban Tree Policy for Gosford City as part of the forthcoming Comprehensive LEP and a review of the Peninsula's Contributions Plan 31 be held as part of the comprehensive Contributions Plan for the City.

The review would be used to "address the issue of funding the Peninsula Leisure Centre through a city-wide Contributions Plan".

According to a report from council staff, the Peninsula Urban Directions Strategy was "intended to provide a broad strategic direction for future development within the Peninsula".

The report stated that the strategy would inform future planning controls, which would also be subject to further community consultation, as well as identifying other work that would be needed as a result of the strategy's recommendations.

The report stated that "as a strategic directions document, PUDS has considered all relevant issues, at a strategic level, that will impact on future development within the Peninsula".

The project has considered issues such as drainage, roadworks and economic issues as they relate to setting future development directions for the Peninsula.

The plan was prepared on the basis of limiting the impacts of growth upon infrastructure capacities with additional infrastructure provision being able to be provided through existing Contributions Plan provisions or normal capital works programming.

Council agenda ENV.47, April 11