Not 23 Memorial Ave

Central Coast Council has made an error that has resulted in a development proposal being confused with land that was part of the Council's "land sale strategy", according to planning consultant Mr Matthew Wales.

He said a proposal by Mr Bruce Kerr of Woy Woy was listed by council as at 23 Memorial Ave, Blackwall, where in fact it was located at 19, 21 and 21A Memorial Ave.

Land at 23 Memorial Ave had been listed by council as council-owned "operational land" which was to be sold as surplus to requirements.

The error resulted in a page three article in the last issue of Peninsula News claiming "First proposal submitted for Council land sale site".

Mr Wales said the development application lodged by Mr Bruce Kerr did not relate to land previously owned by the Central Coast Council, as reported in the article.

He said Mr Kerr had owned the subject lands for some considerable number of years.

The lands to the east of the site, which do not form part of Mr Kerr's application were operational land that was recently placed on the market by Central Coast Council as part of the former Gosford Council's land sale strategy.

According to Mr Wales, whose Wales and Associates consultancy prepared the Statement of Environmental Effects that accompanied Mr Kerr's application, Gosford Council had recorded part of Mr Kerr's land and the operational land as located at 23 Memorial Avenue.

The council subsequently confirmed that Mr Kerr's land had been incorrectly addressed and was, in fact, located at 19, 21 and 21A Memorial Avenue.

Mr Wales said the Council's erroneous lot identification had caused Mr Kerr to be criticised for being part of the Central Coast Council's land sale strategy when, in fact, he had nothing to do with that strategy and was intending to develop land that had been in his possession for some time.

Ms Sue Chidgey from Save Central Coast Reserves has been lobbying since September last year for the Council to provide more information about the land sale strategy, including identification of the exact lots listed for potential reclassification and sale.

It was months before the former Gosford Council would even agree to identifying the located of affected land on its website.

The exact ownership of some of the community allotments involved in the land sale strategy is still a subject of debate and disagreement between some community groups and council.

Central Coast Council was expected to consider a report from staff about the land sale strategy at its September 14 meeting but the issue was deferred to the September 28 meeting, which will be held at the Wyong chamber.

The Peninsula News is awaiting answers from council about the identification of the allotments.

Email, 13 Sep 2016

Matthew Wales, Wales and Associates