Old Sydney Town: Central Coast’s biggest lost tourism opportunity

IF YOU ever dreamt of an exciting adventure theme park precinct to replace Old Sydney Town — turn away now. This is the multi-million tourism project Central Coast Council refused to discuss.

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SWIMMING with crocodiles in a glass tank, a mega-ramp skate park and a five hectare wave pool are just three of the adventure tourism possibilities that have slipped from the grasp of the Central Coast since the Old Sydney Town site was sold.

These and other ideas have now been revealed as part of the adventure tourism vision of millionaire property developer Tony Denny which was rejected by Central Coast Council in March.

A 5 hectare artificial wave pool was among proposals for the Old Sydney Town site.

Mr Denny’s multimillion-dollar proposal has never formally been investigated by the council after an urgency motion was voted down.

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The motion was put forward by Cr Bruce McLachlan and requested that council examine the merits of joining Mr Denny in a syndicate to buy the land and develop it for tourism.

The 120 hectare site has since been sold for between $15 and $20 million and it is understood that the Chinese investors have no plans to develop the site for tourism.

Millionaire Tony Denny at his car museum attraction in West Gosford. Picture by Mark Scott

A disappointed Bruce McLachlan has now come forward to detail the “lost opportunity” caused by council’s decision not to fully investigate the Denny proposal.

“Tony Denny’s vision was for Council to retain the Old Sydney Town site on their own freehold lot (at possibly no final cost to Council) and for Council to lease or re-establish a OST cultural precinct,” Cr McLachlan said.

A zip line was also part of the proposal. Picture- Nicole Cleary

He said the adventure tourism plan would have involved input the from the local indigenous community and be closely linked with the Australian Reptile Park which has a long-term lease on part of the site.

“It would have been able to incorporate a “swim with the crocodile — glass tank “ like Darwin’s major attraction,” he said.

A pub, cafes and restaurant would have added to the precinct.

Cr McLachlan said Mr Denny would also have developed, on separate ownership, a 20 million dollar wave park producing 3000 waves per hours with 2m perfect barrels round the clock.

The adventure tourism precinct would also have included a mega-ramp skate park, skate camp coaching accommodation, zip lines, cafes, a pub, music, tourist accommodation, cabin and motor home park.

Possible motorhome park.

All Council was asked was to “take the meeting”, to investigate the possibilities and legalities, of further rezoning the land, and to allow the Directors to consider the merit and costs of the project,” Cr McLachlan said.

“Not to buy it sight unseen, not write a cheque, just simply allow the council directors to sit down with the proponent, and discuss the business plan, of potentially further rezoning to industrial business park plus an adventure tourism precinct, and cultural tourism destination,” he said.

Bruce McLachlan said it was serious lost opportunity.

“If Councillors just continue to oppose, for the sake of opposing, and continue voting along their political party lines, then the Coast stays stuck in the past, and opportunities like this go begging.

“Let’s hope the new owners don’t land Bank the site like the previous Chinese owners did.”