City of Coffs Harbour forges ahead with plans to buy Jetty Foreshores land, despite rejection

Long-standing angst over the future of some of Coffs Harbour’s most pristine waterfront land has resulted in the council putting its foot down – but the battle isn’t done and dusted yet.

One of most prized waterfronts on the Mid-North Coast continues to be fought over by local and state governments. Picture: Chris Knight/Coffs Coast Advocate

A decades long feud over development of a pristine section of waterfront public land has pushed Coffs Harbour council into action after its moves to buy the site were “rebuffed”.

City of Coffs Harbour councillors decided at a meeting on February 8 to proceed with a compulsory purchase of the state lots of land at the Jetty Foreshores.

The council forged on “after a bid to purchase the land was rebuffed by NSW Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper in late January”, the council stated in a press release.

Masterplan documents released last year.

“We have decided to take this path as the City believes it is vital to retain the land in public ownership for the benefit of the community,” Mayor Paul Amos said.

“The state’s model for the land would see some of it carved off for private residential development and given the prized waterfront nature of the location there is no way that could be seen as affordable housing.”

The decision authorises general manager Natalia Cowley to make an application to the Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig and NSW Governor Margaret Beazley for approval to buy the land.

Mayor Paul Amos (at right) says the foreshore consultation process has been flawed since day one. He complains a major announcement took place days after he told Coffs MP Gurmesh Singh he would be away.

At one end of the debate has been those keen for high-rise luxe apartments, retail and restaurants in the booming regional city. Others want green space preserved.

Mr Amos was not pleased with Coffs MP Gurmesh Singh’s take on the situation.

“The local member has said some outrageous things,” he said.

“He said the government’s masterplan only takes up residential 1.5 per cent of the area.

“Well that’s wrong in itself because it doesn’t include all the residential, break walls, beaches, 300 metres of railway line, sand dunes … the figures he’s quoting are just outrageous.”

The spat came to a head after the council offered Property and Development NSW $6.7 million for the land, along with two city-owned blocks of land in the CBD – allowing builds of up to 14 storeys.

But Mr Kamper said in a letter to the council its proposal failed for reasons including transport and housing priorities.

Mr Amos said the government has wanted to develop the prime real estate for more than 40 years, but its plans never aligned with community needs.

Harbourside Markets at Jetty

He said the government was seeking to capitalise on the prime location and there was “no way” the area would end up being used for affordable housing.

Mr Singh said a government masterplan was underway and a planning proposal considered rezonings and height of buildings.

He was blunt when speaking of the council’s push.

“A compulsory acquisition against the state government in this instance is highly unlikely to succeed,” Mr Singh said.

“Any money that council spends in this endeavour could certainly have been spent elsewhere in these challenging times.”

Residents have expressed split opinions on the government’s plans, with some confident in what they see as a comprehensive masterplan, and others speaking out against potential overdevelopment.