Waterfront restaurant hopes to renovate and extend
A waterfront restaurant at Woy Woy hopes to renovate its upstairs manager's unit and build an addition to the rear wharf of the existing restaurant.
Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant has lodged a development application for work estimated to cost $400,000.
The restaurant is located at 50 Brick Wharf Rd, Woy Woy at the intersection of Brick Wharf Rd and The Boulevard.
The applicant is Louise A Williams of LAW Building Design Pty Ltd, who has been employed by the proprietor of Fisherman's Wharf, Tupuseleia Pty Ltd.
Tupuseleia Pty Ltd is the private owner of the buildings and the site is leased as a commercial waterfront from NSW Crown Lands..
The DA was lodged as an integrated development under Section 91 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act which meant prior to making a submission to Gosford Council for DA consent, the proposal required external consent from Fisheries NSW under the Fisheries Management Act 1994 and from NSW Maritime Services under the Water management Act 2000.
A pre-DA meeting was held in March 2015 between the developer and Gosford Council staff and issues were raised which LAW Building Design sought to address in a statement of environmental effects submitted with the development application.
"The site enjoys the natural beauty of the views of Brisbane Water and bush land backdrops," said Ms Louise Williams in the statement of environmental effects.
"The site is located within the W2 Recreational Waterways land use zoning within the Woy Woy Town Centre, where surrounding features include the Woy Woy Channel (W2); mangroves to the north (E1), adjacent public waterfront (RE1); residential development to the east (R1); the Woy Woy Town Centre to the south (B2); and the Woy Woy Railway Station precinct to the west (SP2).
"First built in 1969, the history of the site includes consents in: 1970 to build a boatshed and dwelling; additions in 1983; extensions in 1990; a roof and pergola over the deck was approved in 1992; an awning was given consent in 1997 along with a roof, pergola and refreshment room."
According to the statement of environmental effect, the wharf is currently in a bad state of repair.
"The pylons have deteriorated to the point where they need repair and replacement," the statement said.
"It is a condition of the ... Crown Lands Lease that piers be maintained.
"The proprietors have always maintained piers over the term of their lease (over 40 years)."
According to Ms Williams: "The most economically efficient way to undertake maintenance works on the wharf is to remove the existing covered structure to gain access to the piers to enable to rebuilding of the wharf platform.
"Due to the extent of the maintenance on the existing structure the owners are taking the opportunity to improve the amenity of the existing space by achieving a high quality renovation that will create a positive visual impact.
"The renovated structure will have a gently sloping skillion roof to tie in with the existing building with an outdoor area skirting the perimeter of the wharf.
"This proposal will repair, maintain and result in a small addition to the existing wharf of the restaurant.
"The addition to the wharf will be minor and tacked onto the sides of the existing T-shape ... and will occur when the maintenance and repair of the wharf is scheduled.
"When rebuilding the wharf the footprint will be increased by 67 square metres, which would be an additional 31 square metres of new floor area to the restaurant and additional 36 square metres to the outdoor area.
"A new covered pavilion is proposed to give the wharf a new fresh appearance.
"A new balcony area of the wharf will skirt the new pavilion."
Ms Williams said the site was considered well suited to the development in view of: food and drink premises were permissible use in the WR Recreational Waterways zoning under Gosford Local Environment Plan 2014; proximity to Woy Woy Railway Station; accessible to the waterfront and town centre.
"An enhanced food and drink premises will potentially increase economic activity in the Woy Woy Town Centre and Woy Woy waterfront precincts, particularly through increased competition," the statement said.
"The site has nil endangered vegetation constraints and manageable bushfire, flooding and acid sulfate constraints."
The site is affected by coastal storm surge and catchment flooding which will be appropriately managed by designing the alterations and additions in accordance with 1 in 100 year average recurrence interval flood risk, Ms Williams said.
The existing wharf extends outside the current crown land lease boundaries but the owner is confident that the lease boundary alignment will be adjusted to contain the building structure within a renewed lease contract post-2030.
Fisherman's Wharf currently employs 12 full-time employees and 20 casuals but the proposed alterations could increase opening hours and increase employment opportunities.
"We are seeking a quick approval process so that construction for much needed repairs to the wharf and the rebuilding can occur in the quieter winter months so as not to affect the employment status of long term employees.
Website, 19 Jan 2016
DA49094/2016, Gosford Council planning portal