Zoning changes usually come after a plan not before it

It is difficult to know whether the designation of Woy Woy as a "principal town centre" (Peninsula News edition 460) is a good thing or a bad thing.

Given the botch that the Council has made of the Gosford Town Centre, one might be a little apprehensive about the effect of this new equal focus on Woy Woy.

Of course, since there is to be no plan of Woy Woy until 2020 (Peninsula News edition 460), one assumes that there is likely to be no immediate effect, although the lack of a plan has not hindered the recent proposal of new zoning regulations to increase densities in Woy Woy, something that usually comes after a plan rather than before it.

We are told that this new designation will allow the Council to "focus on holistic place management and activation, effectively addressing the interdependencies between effective asset management, marketing and promotion, tourism, business development, economic development and delivery of quality events".

Up to now, we're told, only Gosford has had this kind of attention, and we can all see the benefits that have accrued there from this kind of sterling effort, so we can look forward to the results in Woy Woy.

Or maybe not.

Of course, to achieve this grandiloquent "vision splendid", "an expansion of ... staffing would be needed", and "a professional board ... will be considered".

Since businesses already pay a levy, the assumption here must be that ratepayers in general will bear the extra costs of this ambitious new undertaking, although the tangible benefits to them are far from clear.

Wyong, The Entrance and Terrigal, equally threatened by this initiative, should be shaking in their shoes.

Email, 20 Dec 2018

Bruce Hyland, Woy Woy