Association wants local planning provisions

The Wagstaffe-Killcare Community Association believes the council area is too big for one simple plan.

Association president Ms Peta Colebatch said there should not be the same development control for all areas.

She said the group was working on a response to the proposed new consolidate Local Environment Plan that Central Coast Council has on public exhibition at present for public comment.

While the council says the planning controls are being consolidated to deliver efficiencies and simplify planning for the whole community, the association does not agree.

"Council needs to recognise the Coast is a huge area and ranges from highly urban areas such as Woy Woy, Gosford and Wyong to predominantly rural, bush and beach areas," Ms Colebatch said.

"We want to see a separate chapter for us where there should be primacy of landscape over the built environment,'' she said.

The Consolidated Local Environmental Plan, a blending of the development controls of the former Wyong and Gosford councils, is on public exhibition, with a deadline for public submissions is February 28.

The Central Coast is currently operating under four different planning instruments, each with different controls.

Council director Mr Scott Cox said staff had worked with all government agencies to develop a balanced plan that would protect and embellish the Coast's natural beauty whilst enabling more flexibility in terms of low density housing.

"This will mean that we can now deliver a consistent approach to development controls, making the process simpler, more efficient and transparent," Mr Cox said.

"The ultimate goal here is to have one Local Environmental Plan and one Development Control Plan that will help improve our local environment and encourage investment, create new jobs and quality housing for the growing population of the Central Coast.

"So if you are a property owner on the Central Coast or plan on becoming one, and want to build, renovate or develop, now is the time to find out how the consolidation of planning controls may affect you."

A Consolidated Development Control Plan will also be exhibited, aimed at simplifying and harmonising the current development controls of both former Councils.

Mayor Cr Jane Smith said it was important for all of the community to get involved and to take time to understand how development controls applied to local areas and the broader Central Coast.

"There is a need to unify development controls across the Coast and I encourage the community to have a look at how it could affect their neighbourhoods as there will be changes," Cr Smith said.

"The next stage, a "comprehensive" plan, will be crucial, as that is when there is real opportunity for the community to have a say in the planning controls that will apply to and shape their local areas."

The exercixe will involve undertaking land use studies on a variety of issues across the Coast.

These will include studies on employment, residential, town centres, and rural and environmental lands.

These land use studies will provide an up to date analysis on all the major planning issues.

"This will take some time and involve extensive consultation and community engagement to work through location specific challenges," Cr Smith said.

"That is why we are taking this initial step to establish Consolidated Plans, one set of rules based on the best option from the two former Council's planning instruments that will form a basis for more detailed discussion with the community into the future.

"I encourage everyone in the community to get involved now, make a point of finding out what rules may affect you, what may change for your street or suburb, and if you have an opinion on the changes, make a submission to Council."

Source:

Media release, 5 Dec 2019

Jane Smith, Central Coast Council

Interview, 23 Jan 2019

Peta Colebatch, KTWCA

Reporter: Merilyn Vale