Coffs Harbour woos NSW government with land swap, cash deal for Jetty Foreshores

City of Coffs Harbour has pitched money and a land swap with the state in a bid to defuse a stand-off over the prized Jetty Foreshores green space – but the local MP has slammed the deal. See what’s on the table.

Coffs Harbour’s Jetty Foreshores is likened to the jewel in the crown – but the land is now at the centre of a tug-o-war between council and the state government. Picture: Chris Knight

The open space at the Jetty Foreshores is arguably the most prized land in Coffs Harbour – so much so it’s been likened to Sydney’s harbourside Barangaroo.

The NSW government currently owns the space and its latest grand plan for the area is to develop it into a cutting-edge recreational and private residential precinct.

City of Coffs Harbour wants to see the land remain wholly in public hands and is moving to compulsory acquisition of the space.

In a bid to end the intergovernmental stand-off, the council proposes to pay the government undisclosed market value for two chunks of land at the Jetty – about four hectares in total.

To sweeten the pie, the council would also throw in two blocks of land it owns in Gordon St in the CBD.

Two leaders, one chunk of land and split visions on how it should be developed. State MP Gurmesh Singh and mayor Paul Amos both want to see the Jetty Foreshores become all that it can.

Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh has lashed the offer.

“This decision to offer up to the NSW government two quarter-acre blocks in Gordon St in exchange for land at the Jetty Foreshores is laughable,” the Nationals MP said.

He said the council “should make public” the size of the cash offer.

Coffs Mayor Paul Amos isn’t blinking, arguing the deal presents a win-win for the state and council.

The revised Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshores master plan would include regional playground.

“The (Gordon St) land is small in size but it’s zoned to go 44 metres high which is around 14 storeys,” Cr Amos said.

“The actual potential for housing there is huge and not only that it’s immediate, but if they (the state) pursue affordable housing (at the foreshores) it will be long and slow.”

Cr Amos said the foreshores will never work as a site for affordable housing given the sky-high land values there.

“(Gordon St) is a much more appropriate place as it’s close to Centrelink, public transport, the library and a supermarket,” he said.

Perfect one moment, gorgeous the next. Coffs Jetty at dusk.

Mr Singh though has backed the state’s masterplan for development of the foreshores, which was tweaked more than a year ago.

“The overwhelming majority of residents who took part in an extensive consultation process supported the draft Jetty Foreshores Masterplan and I urge the NSW (Labor) government to continue with this process,” he said.

The Member for Coffs Harbour claims council has neither a vision nor the resources to develop the foreshores.

Cr Amos counters the city has a ready and solid stream of revenue from the caravan parks it operates.

The revised Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshores master plan would include recreation courts – and also high rise residential housing.

He added there are at least two council plans for the area, though these have not been progressed while the land is in state hands.

“We’d be looking at things which are fun, like restaurants, boat hire, undercover weddings and commercial activities that are appropriate,” he said.

“There would be a village green where bands could play and scope for things like light shows at Christmas carols.”

For its part, the state is pushing ahead to have the foreshores land rezoned through Property and Development NSW to pave the way for the latest masterplan.

The city is moving down the path of compulsory acquisition, and Cr Amos said the proposed land swap and cash payment was the “first step” in this direction.

“This proposal aligns with the NSW government’s commitment to keep state government land in public ownership,” he said.

“It’s an opportunity for the NSW government to enable what a large section of the community wants to see happen at the foreshores.”

Mr Singh said it was only 12 months back that council was crying poor, pausing on $89m worth of infrastructure projects.

“Now they are saying they have an open cheque book … if council has this spare cash they should find a solution for our waste, and that means a new tip,” he said.