Somersby to Erina Corridor Strategy to open for comment

An avenue of trees through West Gosford, a new use for the Old Sydney Town site and public parks around Point Frederick foreshore are just three elements proposed in a major new plan. Here’s how your suburb could be affected.

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An avenue of trees through West Gosford, a new use for the Old Sydney Town site, and public parks and swimming spots around Point Frederick foreshore are just three elements proposed in a major new planning policy.

Central Coast Council’s Draft Somersby to Erina Corridor Strategy will deliver the first cohesive long term vision for land use around and along the 25km stretch of the Central Coast Highway.

Map showing Central Coast Council's draft Somersby to Erina Corridor strategy.

It divides the corridor into six distinct but connected precincts — Somersby, Mt Penang and Kariong, West Gosford, Gosford City Centre, East Gosford and Point Frederick and Erina.

It’s stated number one goal is economic prosperity and jobs — but protecting the environment and agriculture, creating a more attractive city and providing more types of housing are also on the list of aims.

The document will go on public exhibition for 60 days early in 2019.

a large number of expected new jobs will be in the health sector.

KEY POINTS

The draft strategy — which cost $200,000 to produce — was tabled publicly for the first time at a recent Central Coast Council meeting and stated that the corridor would:

■ Have an increase of 6,395 new residents by 2036

■ Contain more than 10 per cent of expected future dwellings on the Central Coast by 2036.

■ Produce almost 40 per cent of future job increases during that period — 9866 (many of them in health).

■ Focus residential development in Gosford City Centre, East Gosford and Point Frederick

■ Spend most investment dollars in Gosford City Centre as the capital of the coast.

■ Transform the corridor into one of the best weekend destinations in NSW.

Better transport is a key area including faster buses.

FASTER BUSES

The strategy includes plans for better transport — including faster buses and more direct routes, more and better walking and cycling pathways, a 60 minute train ride to Sydney and plans to address the city’s chronic parking problems.

More green space will be a focus of the strategy.

TOURISM TRAIL

Tourism and culture are addressed with the proposed introduction of a “Great Weekender Trail” — a trail linking existing and future attractions and experiences along the length of the corridor, all co-ordinated via a phone app with maps, events, food and things to do.

The plan will green up the currently stark industrial entry to the city.

BETTER FRONT DOOR

Another key element of the strategy is to finally transform the ugly suburban sprawl of the city’s West Gosford entry into a “green and beautiful arrival experience”. The idea is for the entire length of the Central Coast Hwy all the way to Erina to be softened by more vegetation.

Aerial view of Gosford and Point Frederick and the Central Coast Hwy.

SIX PRECINCTS

The 160 page draft strategy further breaks down plans for each of the six precincts — including a series of possible “pocket parks” with jetties and swimming areas on public land around the Point Frederick foreshore, getting more green space and cafes into Somserby’s industrial area and turning Mt Penang into an entertainment hub.

Somersby's spectacular natural areas will be protected and enhanced.

SOMERSBY

Plans for the Somersby precinct are focused on making sure it becomes a long term successful employment area, but with a green twist. The vision is areas of green space, better outdoor areas, sporting facilities and even cafes to cater for the people who work in the area. Meanwhile consultants will be brought in to dream up something awesome for Old Sydney Town site which was controversially sold off this year and remains empty. There are some spectacular natural areas in this precinct — including Somersby Falls — and this will be protected.

Mt Penang will become an entertainment and festival hub.

MT PENANG/KARIONG

Mt Penang will become the region’s premier festival and entertainment location with a smattering of commercial pursuits in some areas. One idea is for Mount Penang Forest trails to be developed in bushland to the east of Mt Penang Gardens where bushwalking, mountain biking and trail running would be the focus. The plan for the suburb of Kariong is more vague — with plans for better connections between residential areas and shops and more public open space and recreation areas.

West Gosford shopping Centre will get a much needed revamp. Picture: Peter Clark

WEST GOSFORD

As well a plans to green up the main entry to Gosford, plans will be made to allow more residential development in the suburb over the next 20 years. It’s role as a mixed use employment areas would also be retained. A long awaited revamp of the somewhat drab West Gosford Shopping Centre area is flagged.

Gosford CBD will be more busy and exciting.

GOSFORD CITY CENTRE

Busy and exciting are the words describing the future of the CBD with a Newcastle university campus planned along with a much needed revamp of the train station and bush interchange. natural areas would be retained and developed for better access and more would be made of the potential of Gosford waterfront although the plan doesn’t spell out exactly how this would happen. More allied health, education, training and aged care facilities are likely to be concentrated in the northern areas of Gosford with better transport and connection to Gosford Hospital.

Point Frederick may get more waterside pocket parks.

EAST GOSFORD/POINT FREDERICK

The general idea is for this area to become “more walkable and liveable”. One of the proposals that’s likely to excite some residents is a plan for a series of “pocket parks” with access to picturesque public parkland along Point Frederick foreshore. These would be accessed from Spear Street Harrison Street and Dunn Street. Decking, picnic tables, small jetties and swimming areas are a possible.

Busy Erina commercial and retail precinct will be greener and better connected to Erina Fair.

ERINA

Get ready for a much less ugly Erina commercial precinct under the strategy. Not only will there be more street trees, there will also be better walking links between Erina Fair and other shopping areas, a bit more open space and improved retail areas and dining opportunities.