Report provides Peninsula profile

Gosford Council officers have provided a profile of the Peninsula that was relevant to the preparation of the Draft Peninsula Urban Directions Strategy (PUDS).

The report details the Peninsula's socio-economic, transport, economic, infrastructure and development characteristics.

The report stated that the population of the Peninsula was 32,264 at the 2001 Census.

"It was expected at the time of preparation of Contributions Plan 31 (CP31) in 1992 that the population would grow to 45,000 under existing planning controls in about 30 years time," the report stated.

"The population was growing slowly at a rate of 200 persons per year or a 2000 person increase in 10 years.

"The population is old with 23.8 per cent of the population over 65 compared to 11.9 per cent for the rest of Sydney.

"The largest household group is 'one person' households that constitute 31.4 per cent of households compared to 22 per cent for the rest of Sydney.

"The population is income poor with 46 per cent of households falling into the lowest income category of $500 or less per week compared to 26 per cent for the rest of Sydney.

"Unemployment is high with 7.5 per cent of the workforce unemployed compared to 5 per cent for the rest of Sydney.

"Home ownership is high with 42 per cent of homes fully owned compared to 39 per cent for the rest of Sydney.

"Community/recreational service provision is at similar levels to the rest of Sydney," the report stated.

The report claims that there is insufficient capacity existing on arterial roads feeding the Peninsula during existing peak periods.

The report also states that there is existing capacity in other areas including on arterial roads within the Peninsula, on the local roads, at key intersections and interchanges, on bus services, on footpaths and cycleways and on trains.

"Shop vacancy rates compared to the rest of Sydney are low in Woy Woy, high in Ettalong and average in Umina," the report stated.

"Retail spending is relatively highly self-contained.

"From 1999 to 2003 dwelling prices doubled in most areas of the Peninsula but in Ettalong they tripled.

"There are a total of 19,000 dwellings, 75 per cent of which are detached houses," the report stated.

"Approximately 100 new dwellings are constructed every year, most of which are units.

"A total of 3400 blocks of land are currently available for construction of multi-unit development.

"Some 70 per cent of these blocks need to be amalgamated with an adjoining block to create the minimum lot size for a development under current planning controls.

"Due to various constraints blocks will not be able to be amalgamated in a reasonable timeframe and therefore development will not proceed and population potentials will not be achieved within the original forecast period.

"Development controls for unit development do not encourage development that promotes good design, retention or planting of trees or appropriate treatment of stormwater," the report stated.

"Renewal in the town centres is restricted by a combination of development controls, subdivision, ownership patterns and particularly the costs associated with amalgamating small allotments."

The report also stated that there was capacity in the existing sewerage system and water supply system (subject to use of alternative supply and demand management).

The report stated that there was insufficient capacity in the stormwater system.

The PUDS document stated that population increases mentioned in the strategy could be allowed subject to infrastructure improvements already proposed and changes that only involve marginal improvements in the capacity and efficiency of the infrastructure provided.

It also stated that incentives would be provided to encourage the joining of sites for medium density development and "enable the realization of development potential".

The report stated that the strategy proposes to encourage a more balanced population profile by encouraging different medium density housing types, town centre residential living and retaining existing detached housing areas.

The strategy supports more intense development in and around town centres with reduced densities in areas away from the town centres.

The strategy also focuses on improvements in bus transport rather than light rail.

It also claimed that affordable housing opportunities could be created on council owned land to the northern edge of the Umina Shopping Centre, as well as the variety of housing opportunists across the Peninsula.

The strategy has been recommended for approval by council officers.

Council agenda ENV.44, October 4