Council adopts urban strategy

Gosford Council has adopted the Draft Peninsula Urban Directions Strategy.

The strategy will see two-storey "garden apartments" built over two allotments, three-storey apartments over three allotments and average town centre building heights of four storeys in Umina, five storeys in Ettalong and six storeys in Woy Woy.

Councillors resolved to adopt the strategy at their meeting of April 11, with Cr Chris Holstein dissenting from the motion.

Amendments moved by Crs Brooks and Doyle, which would have seen lower town centre heights, were defeated on the casting vote of the mayor, Cr Laurie Maher.

The strategy predicts a population increase of 7500 over 20 years, accommodated in 4800 new dwellings.

Garden apartments would provide 55 per cent of this, town centres 30 per cent and semi-detached housing the rest.

Council also resolved that the strategy be clarified so 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.

Medium density housing take up rates will also be reviewed on an annual basis, council resolved, so that if such rates decline significantly a report can be reconsidered by council.

A decline in medium density housing take up rates could possibly adversely impact on council's contribution plan 31c, according to the council staff report.

Council has resolved to review Contributions Plan 31 as part of a comprehensive Contributions Plan for the city, which will address the issue of funding the Peninsula Leisure Centre through a City-wide Contributions Plan.

Council has also resolved to use the provisions of the strategy as part of the review and preparation of its Residential Development Strategy and preparation for a City Planning Strategy and Comprehensive Local Environment Plan for the Peninsula.

The urban directions strategy will form a basis for future planning controls, which will also be subject to further community consultation, as well as identifying other work that will be required as a result of the strategy's recommendations.

Issues impacting on future development of the Peninsula, such as drainage, roadworks and economics, were considered within the strategy report.

Council was told the strategy had been prepared on the basis of limiting the impacts of growth on infrastructure capacities.

Additional infrastructure provision could also be provided through existing contributions plan provisions or normal capital works programming, according to the staff report.

Cr Peter Hale declared a non-pecuniary interest in the matter on the basis of property ownership on the Peninsula, but considered he was capable of making an impartial decision on the matter.

Council agenda ENV.47, April 11