Coast’s leading developer Tony Denny fears new council will `roadblock’ progress

THE Central Coast’s leading developer fears the new council will stand in the way of the region realising its full potential if it continues to take an anti-development stance.

Millionaire developer Tony Denny has invested $190 million in new developments across the Coast and says council needs to get its act together when it comes to the growth of Gosford, otherwise savvy and cashed-up investors like him will bail out and spend up big elsewhere. Picture: Troy Snook

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THE Central Coast’s leading developer fears the new council will stand in the way of the region realising its full potential if it continues to take an anti-development stance.

Tony Denny, who came to the Coast nearly three years ago with a $320 million fortune after selling his Europe-based AAA Motor Group, is threatening to take his money elsewhere if the new councillors continue to adopt “road-blocking” measures.

Artist impression of Tony Denny’s development company Central Real’s new office in West Gosford. Image: file.

‘’It would be a shame if we were obstructed trying to achieve positive outcomes for the Central Coast and instead invest in other areas such as Newcastle and the Upper North Shore,” Mr Denny told NewsLocal.

“By this June, we will have directly and indirectly created over 500 new jobs in the region and with council’s support this figure could double within a year.

“The State Government’s plans for the region are great, but we’re now trying to organise meetings to find out more about the new council’s vision for the region.”

A crane over Gosford’s CBD.

Mr Denny has high hopes for Gosford. Picture: Troy Snook

He said councillors’ decision to drop the number of objections from 50 to 15 for a DA to go before a council meeting was “disappointing and harsh”.

“(Independent councillor) Bruce McLachlan put forward a figure of 30. I believe that is a good compromise,” said Mr Denny, who lives at Killcare Heights with his wife, Helena, and two children, Max and Klara.

“One person can easily get 15 objectors together to support their case.

“Gosford needs to kickstart as soon as possible. But there’s a lot of uncertainty and mixed messages. We all need to be on the same page to make sure the region realises it full potential.”

Tony Denny’s Gosford Classic Car Museum has turbo charged tourism to the region. Picture: Troy Snook

Mr Denny’s development company, Central Real, has launched six projects in the past 15 months on the Coast worth $220 million. It has another five projects in the design and planning phase with an additional investment of $215 million.

He also owns the $70 million Gosford Classic Car Museum, which has boosted the region’s tourism industry since it opened in May 2016. Visitation numbers to the car lovers’ paradise are up by 20 per cent compared to 12 months ago.