Chamber president welcomes Farnell Rd approval

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has welcomed Central Coast Council's decision to approve a multi-unit residential development on the corner of Farnell and Blackwall Rds, Woy Woy.

"This is a very good decision by Council particularly when this proposal represents a cornerstone opportunity for a development that truly reflects the objectives of both the Gosford Local Environmental Plan and the Gosford Development Control Plan" said Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president Mr Matthew Wales.

"This residential development for the first time takes advantage of the urban consolidation requirements of Council's planning controls over five lots with a total area of over 3700 square metres and delivers a high quality residential outcome that hopefully will set a new design benchmark for medium density housing on the Peninsula".

"Over the years the building industry, Council and the wider community have had a love-hate relationship with the traditional gun-barrel developments of the past and the need to encourage other higher standard residential options for medium density housing through lot amalgamation and urban consolidation," said Mr Wales.

"While traditional units, villas and townhouses have their role, this multi-unit proposal truly reflects the envisaged outcomes of the Peninsula Urban Directions Strategy and the Gosford Development Control Plan provisions.

"This was a unique opportunity to get it right and we are pleased that Council saw the merits of the application", said Mr Wales.

"We won't always have the luxury of being able to consolidate large numbers of lots to deliver such important alternative residential outcomes.

"Lot consolidation inherently involves a high capital outlay and a large amount of market risk.

"In this particular case, the applicant has been able to manage both and it is our understanding that they intend to move forward and develop the site as soon as possible.

"We believe that the proposal also has the potential to act as a catalyst for future high quality development as other property owners see the benefit of moving away from the traditional lineal type villas and townhouses and opting for true multi-unit options that have better communal outcomes, basement parking and more efficient use of valuable medium density land.

"There has always been a fear of change in the local community but change we must in order to improve residential outcomes and for us to be smarter about how we accommodate those who choose to live here.'

SOURCE

Media Release, 22 May 2019

Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce