Central Coast Stadium: Council moves to rezone site to upgrade with retail and food venues
Shops and cafes under the eastern grandstand and options where fans can kick on after games are on the horizon for Central Coast Stadium as the council looks to rezone the site.
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It has the potential to be bigger and better with options of shops, restaurants and cafes on offer.
Central Coast Stadium is being put under the microscope with Central Coast Council looking at rezoning the Gosford site.
It is currently classified “community sportsground” which limits what can be done in terms of upgrading the facility and connecting it to the CBD and waterfront.
“The stadium has to be brought to life,” the council’s interim administrator Dick Persson said.
“It’s currently zoned for just sports activities. Council is currently constrained in how it can improve the site and allow complementary uses such as new retail activity.
“We need to ensure that Central Coast Stadium reaches its potential – this is an outstanding facility located in an exceptional spot – directly adjacent to the beautiful Brisbane Water and within a short walk to the Gosford CBD.”
Mr Persson said within 10 years, he sees a “vibrant water precinct” with an active stadium and venues where young people can go.
The council has a vision for the stadium precinct which includes connecting the site to transport, the CBD, Brisbane Water along with parking facilities and non-event day activities.
The current zoning has been described by the council as a “major hindrance” for future development.
At the most recent council meeting on April 27 a recommendation to lodge a planning proposal to rezone the land to commercial core (B3), mixed use (B4) or enterprise corridor (B6) zone and reclassify it from community sportsground to operational was deferred.
It is currently on public exhibition for community feedback until May 21. The Central Coast Stadium Masterplan is also scheduled to be completed by December 2021.
The council stated that opportunities for the stadium and eastern and western areas included upgrades to the stadium, retail activation on Dane Dr under the eastern grandstand and development of the grassed western area.
The northern area, currently leased to the Gosford Bowling Club, was also raised and described as a “key site which could be developed to a higher and better use”.
In August 2020, the Express revealed the Mariners’ plans for the site which they submitted to council in December 2019.
Mariners boss Shaun Mielekamp went public with a proposal the club had for management rights to Central Coast Stadium which he said was never made public because council staff deemed it not “unique enough”.
The $4m proposal was for a 30-year lease in which the southern end of the stadium would be activated to include cafes, retail, licensed restaurants and a catering school open seven days.
The plan was to generate more local jobs, provide employment training and internships and turn the stadium precinct into a tourist and entertainment hub.
At the time, a council spokeswoman said the plan was assessed and “determined as not meeting the criteria for progression into a formal agreement”.
The Mariners have been contacted for comment on current plans to rezone and activate the site
EARLIER
Naming rights up for grabs at Central Coast Stadium
On February 5, 2021
Central Coast Stadium is under-utilised and operating at a loss.
Visitor numbers have been dropping since 2017/18 and while the stadium continues to host A-League and NRL matches, things are set to change at the Gosford venue.
Central Coast Council has devised a Central Coast Stadium Final Strategy Report, which was deferred at Wednesday night’s council meeting.
Interim Administrator Dick Persson AM deferred the strategy for three meetings to give staff time to speed up timelines for strategies outlined in the report.
“I am not happy with elements of (the strategy),” Mr Persson said.
“Part of the stadium strategy is the relationship with the Mariners. It requires an anchor tenant. I have met with the anchor tenant and there are things they are looking for us to expedite to try and make their business better and make people’s experiences better.”
He said deadlines for certain strategies were the end of 2023 or 2022 which was “too long away” and needed to be advanced.
The report reveals a host of strategies including attracting more events as well as opening expressions of interest (EOIs) for naming rights to significantly boost revenue. The council will also look at pursuing EOI’s for venue management rights indicating there had been “sufficient interest”.
The Stadium, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2020, has had several name changes over the years from Grahame Park, NorthPower Stadium, Central Coast Express Advocate Stadium and Central Coast Bluetongue Stadium. It has remained Central Coast Stadium since 2014 when the council brought management back in-house.
The council strategy has been developed to ensure the stadium remains a highly valued community asset and delivers economic benefit to the region.
At present the venue has annual operating losses between $841,000 to $1.4m.
“The stadium is under-utilised with a relatively limited event calendar both in quantity and diversity of events,” the report stated.
When the report was out for community consultation, issues raised included expensive food and drinks, lack of parking, a desire for more markets/concerts and the lack of activities/accommodation around the stadium. There was also a strong desire from the community for council to continue working with the Mariners and NRL.
The report stated there was a decline in average spectators at Mariners games between 2017/18 to 2018/19 from 6795 to 5032, however council noted that while NRL attendance was strong, the Mariners brought in more visitors annually.
The report states that council’s aim for the stadium is for it to be recognised as a “Tier 2” venue which has a capacity between 20,000 to 40,000, corporate facilities and the ability to be a home ground for national sporting teams.
It plans to provide more opportunities for home-team, national and international sports, greater variety of entertainment and top class amenities along with food at reasonable prices.
The council is also keen to continue its relationship with the Central Coast Mariners.
Challenges in the report including the limited food and drink facilities, limited size of function space and complaints from spectators about a lack of parking.
Council has set a number of targets including having 40 major events a year, staying on top of maintenance and increasing visitors stay and spend.
They will look into options such as refurbishing the corporate spaces and adding a commercial kitchen, providing a larger conference facility, new seating and food and drink options, merchandise outlet, improved Wi-Fi and new signage.
The council is also keen to work with Destination NSW to help attract hirers and events.
Last year, council revealed concept plans for a five level carpark plus mixed use space at the stadium to include office space as well as a commercial kitchen and rooftop venue in the development.
However when it came before councillors it was put on ice until the completion of the Central Coast parking strategy.
The proposed location of the carpark is on the warm up field/stadium office space, between the ticketing booths and the train line. It would be directly opposite the Brian McGowan Bridge carpark.
The Express contacted the Mariners who declined to comment on the proposed rezoning of the site.
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