Gosford Kibbleplex plans resubmitted by Lederer Group
Eye-watering $280 million plans for the Gosford site are still alive but documents reveal the council already has concerns.
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The Lederer Group is poised to submit a revised proposal for the Gosford Kibbleplex site but before it has even been formalised Central Coast Council has noted several concerns.
For $280 million, Lederer Group, helmed by Primo smallgoods honcho and Western Sydney Wanderers owner Paul Lederer, wants to construct a “mixed use” residential and retail precinct made up of five high-rise towers, as well as one “podium”.
The largest of these towers would loom 105m above the CBD.
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But in documents obtained by the Express Advocate, Central Coast Council’s principal development planner Robert Eyre raises serious concerns about overshadowing, poor design and the ability of Henry Parry Drive to deal with any increased traffic volumes.
The developer’s preliminary plans were outlined in general terms in a report to NSW Planning lodged in December 2018, which foreshadowed a formal submission of the project to be assessed later this year.
The report makes clear Lederer’s intentions to combine residential, retail, food and beverage, entertainment and leisure offerings all in the same city block.
It goes as far as to suggest a cinema or bowling alley would be at home within the project’s scope.
“The proposed development is an urban renewal project, which will result in the transition of an unappealing carpark site into a lively, attractive, and vibrant precinct to serve the growing needs of the emerging population in and around the Central Coast,” the report read.
Mr Eyre wrote to the NSW Planning in January to ask it to deal with the council’s concerns within their yet-to-be-submitted development proposal.
Of chief worry to the council was the possibility of “unsightly looking carpark frontages” visible to anybody on street level.
Mr Eyre references council’s concerns over carpark frontages no less than five times within his correspondence before concluding any parking facing the street, elevated or not, was “not acceptable”.
“The location of carparking decks should be away from eye sight (sic) of pedestrians and vehicles on the surrounding roads. Often carparks are provided at lower levels below road level, if possible and entirely hidden from sight.”
Council’s traffic engineer added that the proposal was “likely to cause major congestion along Henry Parry Drive” unless a better way to accommodate pedestrians was found.
The intersection of Henry Parry Drive and William St would be “likely to fail” unless an over- or underpass, to connect pedestrians from the site to Kibble Park, was constructed.
The council requests extensive overshadowing modelling be undertaken: “ … it is essential that any development on the site does not overshadow (Kibble) Park.”
In 2016, Lederer withdrew an extensive proposal it had lodged for the site citing uncertainty, particularly during the council merger period. That proposal outlined plans for 730 residential apartments to be built within five years at Kibbleplex.
Gosford City Council sold Kibbleplex to the Lederer Group in 2015 for $13 million.
The council bought it for $11 million in 2011, using a $7 million Federal Government grant.
The Lederer Group also owns the Imperial Centre in the Gosford CBD.
The developer did not respond to the Express Advocate’s requests for comment.
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