Central Coast projects to shape the region over the next year

From luxury apartments to hospital redevelopments and long awaited local projects, here’s a look at 15 projects that will shape the region in the coming year.

The Central Coast region has had a tumultuous year, not only due to Covid but the financial crisis of the council.

The council has approved it’s 2021/22 Budget which has undergone some major cuts to capital works, however there are some much needed projects, maintenance work and road upgrades still on the agenda.

The State Government and local developers are also doing their part to ensure the coast does not lag behind.

Whether construction is just starting or coming to an end, here are 15 projects set to shape the region in the next year.

Foodtown

Residents of the peninsula were relieved to see the burnt out old Foodtown site finally demolished at the end of 2020.

Site owner and millionaire pub mogul Arthur Laundy is set to make his mark on the area with the construction on a new shopping complex, valued between $10-$12 million, at the Ocean Beach Rd site.

First images of Foodtown Umina development

It comes after a 10-year hold up which saw Mr Laundy at loggerheads with the council over the purchase of a laneway which ran through the site.

In March 2020, councillors finally voted to sell Mr Laundy the road at an independent valuer’s price so construction could begin.

Pluim Group, based on the coast, has been tasked with the development which will include three new buildings for retail and speciality retailers, a drive-through bottle shop, 92 carparking spaces.

Gosford Regional Library

It’s been on the books for decades – the money has been allocated – and now Gosford Regional Library is finally forging ahead.

Back in February, Central Coast Council lodged a development application for the library to the NSW Department of Planning to start works.

The library, to be built at 123A Donnison Street Gosford, will also double up as a shop front for council as plans progress to sell council's administration building in Gosford.

Artists impression of the Gosford Regional Library, with initial works kicking off this financial year.

Pans include a dedicated library space, council customer service centre, library administration, meeting rooms, flexible function spaces, maker/creator spaces and collaboration and innovation spaces for the community over four levels.

In its 2021/22 budget released last week, council allocated $1.61m for initial works to be carried out.

While the project will not be completed in this financial year, council’s director of connected communities Julie Vaughan said it was on track for completion in 2024.

Social housing in Gosford

A $15m social housing development in Beane St Gosford is set to create homes for 60 residents and 77 new jobs.

The 41 unit development was fast tracked by the State Government last year with construction starting in August and the building recently reached its highest point.

The development includes 21 one-bedroom units and 20 two-bedroom units, with basement parking for 19 vehicles plus spaces for motorcycles and bicycles.

Artists impression of the social housing project in Beane St Gosford.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the project would not only boost the number of social and affordable houses available in the region, but also boost the local economy.

“Apart from creating local jobs and helping local suppliers, around 15 per cent of the skilled tradespeople at this site are apprentices, which means the project is helping to broaden our construction industry skills base,” Mr Crouch said.

“When the first sets of keys are handed over for these 41 units next year, residents will only be a short walk away from Gosford Station, Gosford Hospital, local schools and nearby shops.”

Medical school

Construction has just finished and the first students are set to start at the Clinical School and Research Institute at Gosford.

Internal fit-out is underway at the highly anticipated $85m school next to Gosford Hospital with the keys handed over to the University of Newcastle and Central Coast Local Health District. The first students are set to walk in on July 19.

Inspection tour of the new Central Coast Medical School and Research Institute at Gosford, set for opening later this year.

The new world-class facility featured a physical containment level 2 lab (PC2) as well as anatomy, histology and molecular laboratories, three simulation wards and one simulation lab, a 100-person lectorial space, teaching spaces, a library, office space and ground level retail outlets.

It has been labelled a game changer for the coast giving students the ability to build their clinical careers in a world class learning and research environment.

New school for Warnervale

The first students are expected to be enrolled for Term 1 2022 at the under-construction Porters Creek Public School in Warnervale.

Construction is pushing ahead on the highly anticipated $39m school at 75 Warnervale Rd which will open with the capacity for 500 students and room to grow.

Artists impression of the new primary school, currently under construction.

Porters Creek Public School will provide 20 new permanent airconditioned classrooms, as well as a library, hall, canteen, administration facilities, a drop-off and pick-up zone and an Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) service.

The school will also have two special education classrooms, two special programs rooms, an upper and lower playground, mini soccer field and carparking for 46 vehicles.

Wyong Hospital redevelopment

The State Budget recently allocated $32.8 million to complete the redevelopment of Wyong Hospital.

The $200m redevelopment is aimed at delivering new treatment models, improving the quality of patient care throughout upgraded facilities, new technologies and a more accessible precinct.

Impression of the redevelopment of Wyong Hospital.

The six storey clinical services building, which topped out in August 2020, will include a new emergency department, intensive care unit, psychiatric emergency care centre, ambulatory paediatric unit and an expanded medical assessment unit.

There will also be more inpatient beds and an additional 114 parking spaces. The highly-anticipated development is set for completion in 2022.

Gosford Private Hospital redevelopment

The $32m Gosford Private Hospital redevelopment is set for completion in September, improving the private health sector across the region.

The new day surgery and maternity ward have already opened with the next stage the two new operating theatres and recovery area.

This will be followed by a new surgical ward, replacing the old maternity ward, which will open in August.

Artists impressions of the Gosford Private Hospital redevelopment

“The redevelopment of Gosford Private is an exciting opportunity for our staff, doctors and the local Central Coast community,” Gosford Private Hospital chief executive officer Matt Kelly said.

“Having additional theatres, beds, a new purpose-built maternity ward and additional carparking allows us to continue to service our local community, with world-class facilities and a patient experience to match.”

The hospital recently acquired a new surgical assistance robot to revolutionise keyhole surgery.

Gosford’s notorious hole

It’s been an eyesore passed by thousands of motorists on Henry Parry Dr in Gosford for decades.

But now a luxurious apartment development at Gosford’s notorious hole in the ground, 86 John Whiteway Dr, is progressing full steam ahead with construction company Pacific Project Group.

Finally, Gosford’s hole in the ground has a future and completion timeline. Picture: Sue Graham

The $60m development, known as Sapphire, will include 97 luxury apartments which are being sold off the plan. Sapphire will also feature a gym, pool and private common courtyard.

The development was previously known as Waterview Apartments and agents Domain Property Group are selling apartments off the plan.

The development has a timeline of 12-18 months with an approximate completion date of April 2022.

Pacific Highway upgrade, Lisarow

The Pacific Highway upgrade in Lisarow is continuing to progress and take shape.

The State Government’s $178 million upgrade, between Ourimbah St and Parsons Rd, will include two lanes in each direction, new bridge over the rail line, replacing the existing narrow bridge near Railway Crescent and new lights Railway Crescent and Tuggerah Street (formerly Macdonalds Road) intersections with the Pacific Highway.

Back in March, 27 girders were lifted into place by a 600 tonne crane

There will also be an upgrade of the existing lights at The Ridgeway, improved pedestrian and cycle paths and improved access to Lisarow Railway Station.

The 1.6km section of the highway is notorious for clogging during busy times, with 30,000 motorists every day.

In March, a major operation was carried out to lift 27 concrete girders into place for a new rail bridge. It took more than 20 semi trailers just to transport the 600-tonne crane to Lisarow for the incredible work.

The Archibald

Construction has started on a development that has been hailed “Gosford’s most significant transformation”.

The $400 million Archibald Development, on the corner of Mann and Donnison streets, will be a two-tower development which will include 300 apartments, a premium hotel with 167 suites as well as a luxurious, sophisticated rooftop bar.

The towers will be 25 and 26 storeys and will also include retail shops, bars and restaurants designed to create a vibrant downtown hub.

Construction has started on The Archibald.

The development was initially approved in May 2015 by the Hunter and Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel.

The project’s architect, Nigel Dickson, said none of the current developments in the CBD would have the “sheer magnitude” or impact on the city’s future like The Archibald.

A display suite is open at the Reliance Building in West Gosford with apartments starting from $573,000.

McGrath Projects is handling the marketing while the project managers are Reform Projects.

West Gosford Shopping Centre

It will be one of the first things people will see as they drive down the Kariong hill into West Gosford.

Construction has started on the $2.2m redevelopment of the run down West Gosford shopping centre.

The first stage is to get rid of the Return and Earn for popular fast food outlet Hungry Jacks while it appears Grill’d has also come on board.

Images of the new look West Gosford Shopping Centre, under construction.

The major revamp was approved by the Central Coast Local Planning Panel in September 2020.

The upgrade includes a new facade for Coles, along with a childcare centre, new mall, outdoor area and office spaces.

Stage two includes demolition of the tavern to make way for more carparking spaces, parents room upgrade, along with converting office space into the 121 place childcare centre.

Stage three transforms the shopping complex, with a new facade and forecourt refurbishment, new mall and shopfront to Coles.

Ravello

Construction on John Singleton’s luxury apartment development Ravello is coming along with a finishing date of late 2021.

The property developer and his team at Bonython are set to complete the apartment block on the old Monti’s Ashore site in between Gosford and Point Frederick.

The block will include 40 apartments comprising of one, two and three bed, and three penthouses plus two levels of underground parking and largely uninterrupted views over Brisbane Water.

Ravello by Bonython - John Singleton's development has a completion date of 2021.

When Mr Singleton spoke to the Express at the sod turning ceremony in 2019 he said “people want quality places on the coast, but nobody is providing them”.

“If Bonython was responsible for putting Gosford and the Central Coast back on the map, then Ravello will skyrocket us to become one of Australia’s most desirable destinations,” he said.

Manns Rd upgrades

The federal budget has allocated $52.8m for road upgrades, including a major upgrade to the Manns Rd intersections at Narara Creek Rd and Stockyard Pl.

These particular sections of the have had a history of crashes mainly near intersections and driveways.

“Upgrades to this arterial road will benefit both motorists and businesses across the Central Coast, it is expected to support 150 direct and indirect jobs based,” Robertson federal Liberal MP Lucy Wicks said.

The Manns Rd and Narara Creek Rd intersection has had many accidents over the years.

Manns Rd connects the Central Coast Highway to the industrial area of West Gosford and Pacific Highway at Narara. The road is in desperate need of an upgrade with the Narara Creek Rd intersection nearby St Philip’s Christian College.

Stockyard Pl is the intersection which runs into the Super Amart and BCF shopping complex.

Work on the upgrade is expected to start in 2022.

Train station upgrades

The State Budget came with positive news for our train stations and accessibility.

New lifts and accessibility upgrades are underway for Point Clare, Lisarow, Narara and Niagara Park stations.

Commuter carparking received funding for Tuggerah Station, however the community are keen to see the construction start on lifts at the busy station this year.

The community has been rallying for lifts at Tuggerah Station for years. Picture: Sue Graham

The lifts have been funded and Central Coast Parliamentary Secretary Adam Crouch said they were a priority.

“$34 million has already been allocated to make this project a reality and site investigations have been conducted by the dedicated team of Transport for NSW staff,” he said.

“Concept design work for this multimillion-dollar upgrade is also underway, and later this year I’ll be inviting the community to comment on the proposed scope of works.”

Church St Terrigal developments

Church St in Terrigal is a hive of construction workers as two mixed use developments are underway.

The old Church St carpark is set to be transformed into a $10m commercial/shop top housing development with five storeys.

Azure Terrigal is now under construction.

The 19.8m development will include 12 apartments as well as two shops on the ground floor and carparking.

A major residential/commercial six storey development is also underway on the corner of Kurrawyba St and Church St.

The development, called Azure, will have 23 two, three and four bedroom apartments with retail on the ground floor.