West Gosford Shopping Centre: Decision deferred on $2.2m upgrade including Hungry Jacks
A decision on the upgrade of the tired old West Gosford Shopping Centre has been put on hold, with the applicants given 14 days to come up with solutions to one key issues.
Central Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Central Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Avoca Beach: Man charged over alleged supermarket armed robbery
- Terrigal: BMX champion Lleyton Pal avoids conviction for cocaine possession
The proposed upgrade to the tired old West Gosford Shopping Centre has been put on hold.
The Central Coast Local Planing Panel has deferred its decision on the $2.2 million DA, which includes a Hungry Jacks and removes the Return and Earn facilities at the site.
The applicant, Mintus Properties Pty Ltd, has 14 days to review its landscaping plans, which the panel believe may have implications for parking spaces.
Objections to a proposed 24 hour Hungry Jacks at the West Gosford Shopping Centre were front and centre at the Planing Panel meeting last week.
The Panel met over the DA to upgrade the run down shopping centre with the additions of a Hungry Jacks and 121 space childcare centre. The Brisbane Water Dr development also includes the removal of the Return and Earn facilities at the site.
The DA was brought before panel after receiving 43 “unique” objections.
Local residents, represented by Colin Douglas at the meeting, made it clear they are not interested in a 24 hour fast food outlet due to the food being unhealthy, a 24-hour outlet attracting anti-social behaviour and inappropriate lighting.
The applicant’s town planner Jonathon Wood said the fast food outlet had a plan of management to address issues including CCTV cameras, lighting and compulsory panic alarms. There will also be an acoustic fence between the site and neighbouring properties.
Mr Wood also said the Hungry Jacks located 1km down the road in West Gosford would relocate to the new premises.
Council staff recommended approval of the shopping centre upgrade, which has remained an untouched eyesore for decades.
The developer indicated a staged approach for construction works, with stage one including removal of the Return and Earn and construction of Hungry Jacks.
Stage two includes demolition of the existing tavern and conversion of first floor office space into the childcare centre, while stage three will see a new mall and Coles shopfront, play area and outdoor seating, upgrades to the building facade and landscaping.
Carparking changes will also be staged through the development, with a total of 209 car spaces proposed including six disabled spaces.
Mintus Properties Pty Ltd, a privately owned Parramatta developer, bought the site in June 2019 for $23 million from ISPT and Coles with a promise to “redevelop and reinvigorate the precinct”.
The enormous 17,559 sqm site has been semi-vacant for years, with several shops closing in 2017.
The development originally included a 24 hour gym, however it has been deleted from the plans.