Food Town Umina plans: Arthur Laundy vision to redevelop site closer
It has been a 10-year saga between Laundy Hotels and council, however there is finally hope for a major shopping complex — which will also include a medical centre — at a Central Coast suburb.
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Pub baron Arthur Laundy has been in a 10 year battle to develop the eyesore that is Food Town at Umina Beach.
The dilapidated site on Ocean Beach Rd was given a lifeline last night with Central Coast Council voting to sell Mr Laundy the final piece of the puzzle at 357A Ocean Beach Rd at an independent valuer’s price.
The section of land, which was previously a road, has been holding up development of the site which was destroyed by fire in 2019. It has remained a fenced off eyesore ever since.
“It’s really exciting to hear we can come to an agreement,” Arthur Laundy’s son Craig told the Express.
“We are shovel ready, DA approved and excited to create something the people of Umina Beach and the Central Coast will be proud of.”
Mr Laundy said the development, to include a shopping complex with a medical centre, parking and a variety of other stores, was valued at $10 to 12 million and would generate 150 to 200 local jobs.
Laundy Hotels has had DA approval for the site since 2010 with plans for it to be completed by 2015.
In 2017, Arthur Laundy spoke exclusively to the Express about the frustrations they had encountered with the former Gosford Council and new Central Coast Council.
It all centred around an old dilapidated road running through the site.
Mr Laundy had a deal with Gosford Council to purchase the road at a price determined by an independent valuer.
However when Central Coast Council was formed he was told the sale process had been terminated and the new council would sell him the roadway at an original inflated price – which was $600,000 more.
At this week’s meeting, council did not disclose the latest price of the land however Craig Laundy was confident to hear things were progressing.
“Has it been a long, drawn out process – bloody oath it has,” he said.
“But we can put all of that behind us and get cracking to deliver something special.”
Councillor Richard Mehrtens spoke in favour of selling the land, saying the community has been calling for action on the site.
“It’s gone to rack and ruin, the entire outside is covered in graffiti,” he said.
“Hopefully it will be sold so the DA can be progressed. People in community will be happy to have this finally done.”
Cr Mehrtens said all the laneways and road areas that existed before the fire would be retained.