Council removes height limits

Gosford Council has voted to remove height limits from a development control plan (DCP) affecting the Ettalong and Umina business areas,

Cr Laurie Maher moved an amendment at the September 13 council meeting to remove the height limit in the two town centres.

He was supported by Crs Vicki Scott, Jim Macfadyen, Peter Hale and Trevor Drake.

Crs Chris Holstein, Craig Doyle and Terri Latella voted against the amendment.

Council resolved to adopt the amendment five votes to three.

Mayor Cr Malcolm Brooks and Cr Robert Bell were not in attendance on the night.

Cr Maher asked that the resolution be amended to say council adopt draft DCP 159, as amended following public exhibition, "subject to the removal of the sentence 'The height of the building should vary up to three storey appearance' in the Umina and Ettalong town centre character statements."

Cr Chris Holstein said he was "disgusted" at the move.

"They have taken any reference to height out of it," Cr Holstein said.

"As far as Labor and Central Coast First are concerned, height has nothing to do with it.

"It's a farce."

Cr Holstein stated the move basically said "Well look, we'll just back the developers."

He said that the Peninsula Urban Directions Strategy (PUDS) would be the next thing to change

"This will be a precursor," Cr Holstein said.

"This could be a sticking point for further high rise development.

"It would appear that this is the removing of credence to any arguments for when PUDS comes back to council."

Cr Holstein said it appeared the move was "trying to loosen the guidelines and rules for people who might want to overstep the lines".

"It's all a bit vague now," Cr Holstein said.

"I don't want to live on the Gold Coast.

"And people don't want 15 Outrigger Resorts on the Peninsula."

Lyle Stone, September 14