Iconic sites in old Wyong shire to be abandoned in December
A scheme that was originally set up to encourage developers to build spectacular developments on key sites will lapse at the end of the year and may not be replaced.
Central Coast
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TWENTY-EIGHT iconic development sites in the north of the Central Coast are almost certain to be abandoned.
A bid to extend the iconic sites past December, which offered incentives to developers to build spectacular developments, was voted down at this week’s Central Coast Council meeting.
The key iconic sites were adopted by the former Wyong council in 2011 to promote economic growth and create jobs, and became part of the Wyong Local Environment Plan (LEP) in 2013. Sites covered The Entrance, Wyong, Long Jetty, Toukley, Kanwal, Lake Haven and Warnervale.
Among the sites were key locations such as Warnervale Airport, Wyong Leagues Club, Wyong Racecourse, Dunleith Tourist Park and Diggers club at The Entrance, and Long Jetty Town Centre.
At this week’s council meeting, Councillor Jilly Pilon called for the iconic site provisions to be extended as part of the Central Coast’s consolidated Local Environment Plan (LEP).
She said they were “major key sites that could be made into tourism attractions, employment opportunities and accommodation in the area”.
Cr Pilon said her move to extend the sites was prompted following The Entrance business chamber meeting attended by 30 business owners, developers and investors.
“There were a number of investors and developers who believe that it is critical that we seriously look at renewing these key iconic sites,” she said.
“These are major sites that could be turned into major tourism attractions, employment opportunities and accommodation in the area. These developments can take time, they are large developments. We can’t throw our hands up in the air and walk away from them. If we vote this down, we are sending a message that we are closed for business.”
Cr Best said a fresh look from Central Coast Council staff could see positive results for the iconic site provisions.
“To cut it off now with all the years of staff time and effort behind these iconic sites, I don’t see why you would do that,” he said.
Council’s group leader for environment and planning Scott Cox said out of the 28 sites, the council received around seven development applications. Three were approved including Lakside Gardens, also known as the Rustrum site in Toukley, Lakeside Plaza at The Entrance, the Coles site at The Entrance as well as the key site next to The Entrance KFC. However none of these came to fruition.
“We did have a number of preliminary discussion on other sites, but as I recall only seven formal DAs,” he said.
“The draft consolidated LEP provides that this provision would lapse in December this year, however we expect we may get some feedback during the consultation of the draft LEP.”
Mr Cox said Gosford had its own set of bonus provisions which were now coming to fruition with the cranes in the Gosford CBD.
Mayor Jane Smith said if the incentives become permanent, they are no longer incentives.
“I think the history of things like the iconic sites are to incentivise development but those incentives, it is my understanding, generally only work if they are time limited,” she said.
Cr Doug Vincent said some of the sites were contentious back in 2011.
“In my view the majority of the community would not want these bulk sites to go through as iconic sites,” he said.