Kibble Park facelift to kick start Gosford CBD revitalisation
KIBBLE Park will get another facelift under the first of three recommendations by the Government Architect to revitalise Gosford.
Central Coast
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KIBBLE Park will get another facelift under the first of three recommendations by the Government Architect to revitalise Gosford.
The facelift will include cafes, restaurants and shops around the edges and better connectivity to Manns St along with a planted boulevard up to Rumbulara Reserve.
Announced with much fanfare by NSW Planning Minister Anthony Roberts, the recommendation is the first of two further reports which will be released in coming weeks to focus on the corridor between Gosford Hospital to the train station in the north and the waterfront precinct in the south.
“The first recommendations for the complete revitalisation of the centre of what is the capital city of the Central Coast, is focused on its beating heart — Kibble Park and surrounds,” Mr Roberts said.
Mr Roberts also announced the appointment of Hunter Development Corporation CEO Michael Cassel as the new boss of the Central Coast Regional Development Corporation, which has been “repurposed” to support the delivery of Gosford City Centre’s renewal.
Mr Cassel was touted as being instrumental in transforming Newcastle into a thriving city at the helm of Hunter development and the government hopes he can do the same with Gosford, where he will wear both hats.
“I look forward to working with Coordinator General for the Central Coast Lee Shearer, Central Coast Council and many other stakeholders to help bring the bold vision for the region and its capital to life,” Mr Cassel said.
The NSW Government Architect Peter Poulet said it was crucial that the first stage of the project to revitalise Gosford concentrated on the very heart of the region’s capital.
“Our focus is to enhance Kibble Park to create a significant area for people to gather and celebrate — a centre that is both a green space and a place of civic and commercial activity in the heart of the city,” Mr Poulet said.
While the Department of Planning and Environment is co-ordinating the delivery of the Urban Design Implementation Framework, the Central Coast Regional Development Corporation has been tasked with identifying development opportunities to drive economic growth in the region.
Meanwhile Central Coast Mayor Jane Smith said the “devil will be in the detail”.
She said councillors and staff would be looking very closely at the proposed activation of the area including the benefits of locating the heart of the CBD around Kibble Park.
“Council is pleased that the Government Architect has released the plans for the public to see and I can assure you that our staff will be looking closely at these over the coming weeks and preparing a report for council,” Ms Smith said.
“As the closest tier of government to this, Council needs to be at the centre of decision making going forward and work with the State Government on the detail contained in these plans. While we welcome the design principles, the devil can be in the detail so we need thorough, open and transparent consultation as we progress these plans to reality.”
Ms Smith said some of the issues council wanted to understand included what the proposed Gosford CBD activation would deliver for business and the community, how it would stimulate economic development, the impacts on traffic, congestion and parking, impacts on local planning controls and consents and how these plans align with the long term vision for the city of Gosford.
