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17 April 2019
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Central Coast Newspapers is a local, family owned business that publishes and distributes three Central Coast Newspapers every fortnight. All staff are also locals and between them, the three papers cover the entire Central Coast. Each paper focuses specifically on an area bound by postcodes as follows: Peninsula News Post Codes 2256 and 2257; Coast Community News Post Codes
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where they can perhaps get more information. All articles are edited and given a heading and are often quite different from what was originally received. Contributions are welcome and are preferred in email form, ideally with any relevant photographs attached. Contributions must include the contributor’s name, address and phone numbers. This is not for publication but name and suburb will be published and anonymous contributions will not be included.
Wyong Regional Chronicle covers: Alison, Bateau Bay, Berkeley Vale, Blue Bay, Blue Haven, Budgewoi, Budgewoi Peninsula, Buff Point, Bushells Ridge, Canton Beach, Cedar Brush Creek, Chain Valley Bay, Charmhaven, Chittaway Bay, Chittaway Point, Colongra, Crangan Bay, Dooralong, Doyalson, Doyalson North, Durren Durren, Fountaindale, Frazer Park, Freemans, Glenning Valley, Gorokan, Gwandalan, Halekulani, Halloran, Hamlyn Terrace, Jilliby, Kangy Angy, Kanwal, Kiar, Killarney Vale, Kingfisher Shores, Lake Haven, Lake
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MARCH 28, 2019
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Draft Greater Lake Munmorah Structure Plan soon to be released Draft Greater Lake Munmorah Structure Plan
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huge “green belt” is one of the main features of the long-term vision for the Lake Munmorah region, in a structure plan soon to be released for public consultation by Central Coast Council.
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The 1,341ha study area for the Draft Greater Lake Munmorah Structure Plan encompasses Lake Munmorah, Doyalson North, Chain Valley Bay, Kingfisher Shores, and a small area of Crangan Bay. A green belt, or biodiversity corridor, takes up a huge portion of that area through the middle of the study area. A report to Council’s Ordinary Meeting on March 11 stated that Council recognised the importance of developing a long term vision and principles for the future development of Greater Lake Munmorah, to guide land use and growth in a sustainable fashion. The key factors in that plan are to: Facilitate growth for short, medium and long term to ensure orderly development of land; Provide greater certainty to land owners, the community, industry groups with regard to land use options; Enhance quality of life through opportunities to improve the recreation network including playgrounds,
A diagram showing the series of precincts in the plan: 1. Green Corridor, 2. Employment Lands, 3. Kingfisher Shores, 4. Sportsground, 5. Saliena Ave, 6. Kamilaroo Ave, 7. Chain Valley Bay, 8. Northern Lake Munmorah, 9. Southern Lake Munmorah and, 10. Carters Rd School Precinct. sports grounds, shared the Crown, Darkinjung pathways; and, Promote Local Aboriginal Land - 65 -Council or Central Coast natural features including waterfront areas, public Council. reserves and wildlife The aim is to protect corridors. this land from future The plan has a series development and or it to of precincts and are: be retained as biodiversity 1. Green Corridor, 2. conservation. Employment Lands, Precinct 2 is earmarked 3. Kingfisher Shores, for industrial use. 4. Sportsground, 5. The Carters Rd Saliena Ave, 6. Kamilaroo Precinct is planned to Ave, 7. Chain Valley get a major overhaul Bay, 8. Northern Lake with new through roads Munmorah, 9. Southern connecting to Chain Lake Munmorah and, Valley Bay Rd and Tall 10. Carters Rd School Timbers Rd, a network of Precinct. pathways to connect the The Green Corridor four schools in Carters is mostly heavily Rd with the local centre, vegetated land which is and there is potential for predominantly owned by a Darkinjung residential
subdivision coupled with new recreation and play spaces. The Draft Greater Lake Munmorah Structure Plan is now ready for community consultation and will be released for public exhibition in about six weeks. There will be two community workshops to include and encourage key stakeholders and the broader community to participate in, while working parents will be accommodated by an after hours workshop. When the draft plan was considered by Council at its March 11 meeting, two main areas of concern
were raised. A Carters Rd resident, Stuart Durie, addressed Council regarding the Green Corridor encroaching on his privately owned land. He said that in previous consultation with Council officers, there was an undertaking that there would not be green corridors through private property and he was now seeking an amendment to the Green Corridor boundary in the draft plan. Councillor, Greg Best, said at the meeting that the former Wyong Council had resolved in 2007 to prohibit green
corridors on private land and he believed the present council was bound by that resolution. Durie is also the Secretary of the Lake Munmorah Progress Association and said that he believed there was “widespread angst” demonstrated on social media about the flood mapping in the plan, and residents were worried about the possible effects of rising sea levels on the low lying areas around Lake Munmorah, especially Anita Ave. Council Director, Environment and Planning, Scott Cox, said “this is just the starting point….it’s a 20 year vision….and through further scientific research, ecological assessments and assessment of the proposal in greater detail, there may be slight changes”. “This is a very high level guiding principle which is looking at the greater good for the Lake Munmorah area so that it is not developed in an ad hoc way. “We are taking submissions and staff will review them on merit and report back to Councillors for consideration,” Cox said.
Office: 3 Amy Close, Wyong Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net
Source: Agenda Item 2.1 Central Coast Council Meeting, Mar 11 Ordinary Meeting Webcast
17 April 2019
3 April 2019
Edition 466
Attachment 2
Issue 162
Issue 161
20 March 2019
Both sitting Members retain their seats
ISSUE 204
Funding announced for 600 additional car spaces at Gosford
Next came Animal Justice Both local Members of Parliament have retained Party’s Mr Patrick Murphy with their seats in Saturday’s 3.58 percent of the vote. The Sustainable Australia State election. Liberal Member for Terrigal Mr Adam Crouch won an outright majority with almost 53 per cent of the primary vote, with more than half of the votes counted. Labor Member for Gosford Ms Liesl Tesch was showing 58 per cent of the two-candidate preferred vote, with one third of the preferences distributed. Ms Tesch had achieved 44.54 per cent of the primary vote by 9am Sunday morning, after the initial count which had tallied 46 per cent of the vote. Liberal candidate Ms Sue Dengate received 35.23 per cent of the vote, or 42 per cent after distribution of preferences. Greens candidate Ms Hillary Morris was next with 9.5 per cent. Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Mr Larry Freeman polled 4.87 per cent.
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Wallarah 2 Land and Environment Court appeal dismissed
Party’s Ms Judy Singer received 2.58 per cent of the primary vote. In Terrigal, Mr Crouch retained his seat with 52.93 per cent of the primary vote, and was showing 62.69 per cent of the two-candidate preferred vote, based on 48 per cent of the preferences distributed, as of 8.30am Sunday. Labor’s Cr Jeff Sundstrom polled 25.54 per cent of the primary vote, and 37.31 per cent on a twocandidate preferred basis. The Greens’ candidate for Terrigal Mr Bob Doyle received 10.38 per cent of the vote. The other four candidates each received less than four per cent of the vote, with independent candidate Mr Gary Chestnut leading these with 3.56 per cent.
Tesch will be ‘getting on with the job’ Ms Tesch said the last two years want is to live a good life and be Ms Liesl Tesch says that, having retained the seat of has been a tremendous learning supported to that end.” Ms Tesch has thanked the Gosford, she will be “getting experience, one that she looked forward to continuing. community for re-electing her as on with the job”. This means “making sure that we get our fair share, that we don’t stay forgotten by government and that we push and agitate to make the Central Coast an even better place to live, work, and play,” Ms Tesch said. “I have absolutely loved every minute of this privileged role in our community, and I really appreciate the support given to me to continue to work for the seat of Gosford, and the whole Central Coast, over the next four years.”
“Thanks to all those conversations, pieces of advice, and challenges, I’ve learnt so much from so many along the way,” Ms Tesch said. “The most wonderful thing about this job is that I get to hear the personal stories and lived experiences of new people every day. “I hear about the good, and the not so good. “Each is unique, but all reflect the same basic principle that all we
the Member for Gosford and also thanked her fellow candidates for a respectful campaign. “We often only hear when campaigns get dirty, but we should also recognise when our democratic processes work at their very best,” Ms Tesch said. “Thank you to my fellow candidates for putting yourselves out there, representing your beliefs, and being part of this campaign.” SOURCE: Media release, 24 Mar 2019 Liesl Tesch, Member for Gosford
THIS ISSUE contains 70 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net
entral Coast commuters were the big winners this week with the announcement on March 27 of a $35m upgrade for car parking at Gosford and Woy Woy railway stations.
Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, said the funds, from the Federal Government’s Urban Congestion Fund, would see $30m invested in 600 additional car spaces at Gosford, and $5m funding 140 more spots for Woy Woy commuters. “This is an issue that has been consistently raised
with me since becoming the Member for Robertson in 2013, and I am so pleased that we’re able to deliver this funding for our hard-working commuters,” Wicks said. “I’ve heard from many commuters about the frustrations of not being able to find a park, from people who park at 5am and sleep for an hour before catching the train, to parents who desperately want to spend time with their kids in the morning, rather than leaving before the sun rises to guarantee a park. “We are backing our commuters by working with Central Coast Council to form a strong plan to provide this vital infrastructure for the more
than 30,000 locals travelling to Sydney or Newcastle for work.” Wicks said securing the funding had been a “hard fought fight”. “This hasn’t been an easy win, but I would like to thank the thousands of people who signed petitions on the matter,” she said. “A lot of decisions are made because of the voice of the people.” Wicks emphasised that the move was not an election commitment, but that funds were already included in the Federal Budget. Consultation would be done with Central Coast Council
on the delivery of the parking spaces, she said. Central Coast Council Mayor, Jane Smith, said the significant increase in car parking spaces would go a long way in addressing the commuter and transport needs on the Coast. “Car parking and commuting are critical issues on the Coast and so this recognition and funding by the Federal Government is very welcome news for our community,” Smith said. “Council’s own Car Parking Strategy identifies the need for innovative parking solutions to meet the needs of our growing population. “This funding will allow
Council to provide the necessary upgrades needed at both stations and make a significant difference to the lives of our residents who currently commute.” The project forms part of a $253.5m congestion-busting funding boost for NSW as part of the Federal Government’s $1b Urban Congestion Fund. Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, said the investment will make life easier for Coast commuters. “Our investment means people can spend more time with friends and family, and tradies can be earning more on site, rather than being stuck in traffic or looking for parking,” he said.
APRIL 11, 2019
we only had two levels of height as the limit. “Surely in this age of technology, designs of the highest standard can be achieved without going outside the parameters.” Mr McDougall said that the community needed to be fully consulted about planning provisions being applied to the Peninsula. He said the Council was currently not helping and the State Government was ignoring the problem. “It is time to bring all people to the table and work together for the benefit of the Peninsula.” He said State parliamentarians, councillors and planning staff should be involved and listen to the community, and not just “the everpresent developers”. SOURCE: Media Release, 3 April 2019 Harvey McDougall, Save Our Woy Woy
“This is a significant investment in tackling the congestion hotspots that are costing people precious time and losing businesses money. “People living on the Central Coast know better than anyone the very real impacts that road congestion has on people’s lives and we are doing something about the pinch points and bottlenecks that lie at the heart of the problem.”
Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net Mobile Website: www.coastcommunitynews.com.au
Source: Media release, Mar 27 Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks Interview, Mar 27 Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks Media release, Mar 27 Central Coast Mayor, Jane Smith
Mr Barry O’Farrell and Mr Alan Hayes (centre) with four Liberal politicians promising to stop Wallarah 2 in 2011
T
he Australian Coal Alliance (ACA) is considering its options after the Land and Environment Court ruled out its appeal against the Wallarah 2 coal mine. The community based group has fought for 20 years against the proposal by the South Korean governmentowned mining company, KORES, to put a longwall coal mine in the Central Coast’s major water catchment
of the Yarramalong and Dooralong valleys. A challenge to the validity of approval, on errors of law, was lodged with the Land and Environment Court in April, 2018, however, the court dismissed the challenge on March 22. ACA campaign Director, Alan Hayes, said: “Although we are disappointed with the decision, the ACA is still moving forward and currently considering the options available to us.” One of the campaign’s strongest supporters,
Wyong MP, David Harris, said it was one of his greatest disappointments that, after such a long campaign, it now looked like Wyong Coal (the Australian arm of KORES) could get its final approval and that the Liberal government did a backflip and changed its mind to allow the mine. “There’s still a few hoops to jump through and we will keep fighting,” he said, “because this will have quite a profound effect.” CFMEU NSW Mining and Northern Energy
District President, Peter Jordan, said the court decision should clear the way for the mine to proceed. “Now let’s get on with it,” he said. “Any further legal interventions to stop or delay this development are ideologically motivated and what our industry needs is fair rules that are consistently applied to give operators, investors and workers some certainty.” It is the security of the catchment and water supply to some
350,000 Central Coast people that the ACA is trying to protect from contamination from the mine. “If we lose our water supply from the water catchment, we do not have the luxury of another catchment area, and the distribution from the Mardi Dam to holding weirs and/or dams, and to Mangrove Dam, will be jeopardised,” ACA Director Alan Hayes said. “The new Mardi to Warnervale pipeline, like all other distribution pipelines from Mardi
Photo: Alan Hayes
Dam, are dependent upon the Central Coast’s major water catchment not being compromised by mining.” Hayes said more than half the water in the dams supplying the Central Coast come from aquifers in the valleys where the mine will be located.
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Palm Beach ferry runs aground He announced: “The ferry The Palm Beach Ferry ran Cottage Point 31 relocated the aground in the Ettalong vessel,” said Marine Rescue that earlier ran aground at Half volunteer Mr Roger Palmer. Tide Rocks at the entrance to Channel on March 9. The ferry ran aground at Half Tide Rocks just before 5:30pm with three Marine Rescue NSW vessels and a team from NSW Police’s Marine Area Command attending. “Thirty-one ferry passengers were safely transferred off the vessel before NSW Police vessel WP 42 and Marine Rescue vessel
“Cottage Point 31 was able to secure a tow line to the ferry’s bow and, with all passengers removed and a solid three knot current, towed the large vessel to deeper water,” Mr Palmer said. The crews were able to get the ferry afloat again and on its way just after 6:30pm.
Brisbane Water is now safely on an emergency mooring and all Marine Rescue NSW vessels have been stood down.”
SOURCE: Social media, 9 Mar 2019 Roger Palmer, Marine Rescue Central Coast Technical failure blamed - Page 4
Office: 3 Amy Close, Wyong Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net
Source: Interview Mar 27 Media statement Mar 31 Alan Hayes, ACA Interview Apr 1 Wyong MP David Harris Media release Mar 23 CFMEU Mining & Energy Journalist Sue Murray
Cr Mehrten said the AGL a renewable energy generation produced 7437.12 megawatts of After the staff response, Cr Local ward councillor Richard Mehrtens has plant was the only registered plant, operated under a long-term electricity which was equivalent Mehrtens said the council response to meeting electricity needs for indicated that it didn’t consider received a response from industrial facility listed in the 2256 contract. Gas generated from within the about 1191 average Central Coast the facility impacted on local air Central Coast Council to postcode area on the Australian Government’s National Pollutant landfill at the Woy Woy tip was homes. quality and, until he was provided questions he asked about air Inventory. captured and converted to energy. The report estimated the with evidence to the contrary, he pollution at Woy Woy tip. He said it was listed as emitting The report stated that the methane destroyed by the facility had no reason to doubt council’s
Cr Mehrtens said a constituent had raised concerns about air quality after reading a report that described the air pollution as medium. Cr Mehrtens asked if council staff were concerned about the pollution generated by the “gas abatement” facility operated by AGL at the Nagari Rd tip. Central Coast Council staff provided the report to the March 25 council meeting in answer to Cr Mehrtens’ questions.
a total of 102,180kg pollutants. The inventory included 61,000kg of carbon monoxide, 28,000kg of nitrogen oxides and 12,000kg of sulphur dioxide. and listed 11 other pollutants including arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, polychlorinated dioxins and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as particulate matter. Council staff reported that the AGL facility at Woy Woy tip was
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ISSUE 205
Preparation of an Environmental Plan is next stage for controversial seismic testing
Three resident actions variances” should not exist in the groups concerned about planning controls. Designers should be able to development standards are likely to come together create properties that both fit within the planning controls and meet a to oppose non-compliant high standard of design, he said. development. “It used to happen before when
Mehrtens questions generator pollution at Woy Woy tip
Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, discusses the parking situation with a commuter at Gosford railway station car park
C
8 April 2019
Development action groups to consider joining forces
A meeting is planned of the Residents for Responsible Ettalong Development, Save Woy Woy Waterfront and Save Our Woy Woy groups. This will “allow members to come together and create a strong group to oppose all non-compliant developments on the Peninsula”, according to Save Our Woy Woy founder Mr Harvey McDougall. Mr McDougall said the community had the right to expect that developments complied with planning controls. “Unfortunately, there are too many which are going through that are non compliant,” he said. Mr McDougall said the council had put itself in a difficult position. With so many non-compliant developments, it made it difficult to refuse others. “The precedent has been set. “What is Council going to do?” Mr McDougall said “allowable
SOURCE: Website, 24 Mar 2019 Virtual tally room, NSW Electoral Commission
2019 OFFICIAL
conversion of the methane enriched gas into electricity at this site was not considered to impact on local air quality. It said the landfill gas was predominately comprised of methane and was converted to electricity through the use of a generator. The resulting electricity was then sold into the grid. From the year to August 2018, the one megawatt generator
was equivalent to 38,197 tonnes of carbon dioxide. This would be equivalent to removing 11,234 cars from the road for one year, the report said. The report stated that the Australian Clean Energy Regulator recognised the greenhouse gas abatement and renewable energy activities undertaken at the tip and the site qualified for Australian Carbon Credit Units and Largescale Generation Certificates.
assessment of the safety. “At this time, I am satisfied with the response provided and have no intention to pursue this further,’’ he said. SOURCE: Central Coast Council agenda 5.7, 25 March 2019 Website, 4 Apr 2019 Woy Woy Landfill, NPI Media statement 5 April 2019 Richard Mehrtens, Central Coast Council
THIS ISSUE contains 61 articles - Read more news items for this issue at www.peninsulanews.info Office: Level 2, 86-88 Mann St, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net
sset Energy is definitely preparing to seek permission to conduct 3D seismic testing in waters off the Central Coast, with pre-planning for a mandatory Environmental Plan already underway, Director, Tobias Foster, has confirmed in an exclusive video interview with Central Coast Newspapers. If given the green light, the testing would be carried out over a 1,000sq km area, much of which is off our regional coastline. “We are at the stage where we are preparing an Environmental Plan,” Foster said. “We are determining how and when we wish to go about that at the moment. “As per federal regulations, we need to engage with the community and stakeholders and present an Environmental Plan to the national regulator, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).” Foster said there was a definite need for the testing to be conducted off NSW waters. “The majority of the gas from Queensland is exported to Asian markets and gas for NSW has predominantly been from Victoria, but the reserves
the environmental regulator.” Foster defended the need for 3D testing, saying comparing it to 2D testing, was “a bit like colour TV compared to grainy black and white”. “It will improve our knowledge of the existence of hydro carbons and ensure development as efficiently and safely as possible,” he said. With drilling, the natural successor to seismic testing, Foster said an incident such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico was unlikely. “In terms of seismic survey, there is no risk of natural hyrdo carbon release,” he said. “As a consequence of Asset Energy Director, Tobias Foster drilling, of course, when we are are declining,” he said. “stretching back to the 80s” understand that noise as an penetrating geological strata, “What the discovery of and conducted as recently as energy source can disrupt we do need to ensure that that natural gas in NSW-would do 2018 off Norah Head, that the particular organisms in certain procedure is undertaken safely and effectively. is that, pending reserves and Sydney Basin contains hydro- contexts,” he said. engineering, we would be able bearing source materials which could yield “multi-
systems in place and that the industry continues to “evolve and improve technology, procedures and practices.” Following several incidents, including Deepwater, NOPSEMA had changed regulations to guard against such events, he said. “In terms of the drilling process, we will ensure all assets, nationally and locally, are in place and ready to act should the worst eventuate,” Foster said. He said the company was aware of, but undeterred by, thousands of vocal opponents to any seismic testing off Central Coast waters. “We undertook 2D testing in April, 2018, and we were certainly aware that local interest groups were concerned about our operations, and we anticipate that will continue into the future,” he said. “Australia must maintain energy security, it must maintain provision of raw materials for manufacturing and to ensure energy prices are kept as low as possible. “People must maintain that in the back of their minds when understanding what the petroleum industry provides “We have to understand each to offer a local source of gas trillion feet of gas”. of the risks, determine how we “We have to prepare an Oil for Australia.” to provide a cheaper energy “That’s a significant resource can mitigate against them, and Pollution Prevention Plan as See the full video interview at source. in anyone’s language,” he said. ensure that we have control part of any Environmental www.coastcommunitynews. “We need to secure an Foster said he did not agree measures during any activity Plan for our petroleum activity com.au/news/video-news/ energy supply for NSW for that any lasting damage would to ensure that any impact we (with) response mechanisms Source: decades to come.” be done to marine eco systems have on any marine organism to mitigate against any Video interview, Mar7 or eco system is managed potential spill.” Foster said it was obvious through seismic survey. Community News Partners Reporter: Terry Collins from 2D seismic work “What we have to do is effectively and acceptable to Foster said there were
He said the company was aware of, but undeterred by, thousands of vocal opponents to any seismic testing off Central Coast waters
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Housing development boom underway W
oongarrah, H a m l y n Terrace, Wadalba and Warnervale are forging ahead as the major growth areas on the Central Coast, and with developers investing billions of dollars on housing estates, it is expected that the commercial sector will follow. “Already, we’ve seen some confidence,” said Wyong MP David Harris, “with the massive expansion of Bunnings at Lake Haven, Tuggerah Lakes private hospital at Wyong, and the opening of HomeWorld at Warnervale. “The commercial sector is seeing the benefits and the opportunities that are being presented for this area and hopefully the State Government and the Council can work together to make sure the services that these new communities need are in place,” he said. Central Coast Council deals with a continual stream of development applications for new housing in the northern region, ranging from dual occupancies to single homes in small estates, to developments of 100 or more blocks. A milestone in the housing market is the start of the first residence to be built in Hilltop Park in the long-awaited Warnervale Town Centre. There are 10 blocks already sold in this 42-block section being developed by Blitz
Aerial view of Hilltop Park, the first housing development to start in Warnervale Town Centre Homes. Wyong MP, David Harris, was there on April 9 for the auspicious occasion of turning the sod of earth for the first building site and said: “I suppose today is the official launch and it is exciting because people have waited for over a decade and now they’re seeing the roads in place and houses being built. “It’s been a painfully long wait, but now we should see the commercial confidence grow and companies investing,” he said. Warnervale Town Centre has been in the spotlight since the 1990s
as the site for a new retail, commercial and community growth centre to be developed over 25 years. It is 119ha of developable land bounded by Hakone Rd to the north, Hiawatha Rd to the east, Sparks Rd to the south and straddles the main northern railway line to the west. About 15ha will be retail and commercial uses, 64ha for residential housing (about 420 homes) and the remainder open space, conservation and special activities including an 8ha nature reserve. The next cab off the
rank at the Town Centre is likely to be the first stage of a 106 lot residential subdivision at 200-222 Hakone Rd, Woongarrah, which was approved by Central Coast Council in February. An estimated value by the Allam Property Group of the three-stage development is $8.26m. The site area of 11.32ha is north of Mataram Rd, and north to Hakone Rd, with its southern boundary adjoining the school. It will be developed in three stages, 44 lots in the first, 48 in the second and 14 in the third. Another leap forward
was the opening on April 7 of HomeWorld’s first display village on the Central Coast, which is expected to stimulate home buyer interest. The village, on Virginia Rd, Warnervale, features 37 display homes from a range of 17 leading builders, including single and double storey homes, and one with a granny flat, showcasing the latest in design trends and innovative floor plans. HomeWorld CEO, Phil Jones, said: “The village is a $42m investment by the builders to the region, showing their commitment to the
growth of new housing and to generating local employment. Principal of McLachlan Partners real estate and independent Central Coast Councillor, Bruce McLachlan, said “the northern sector was seeing the results of the previous strong property market, with developers releasing new projects. “These usually have lead up times of two to five years from acquisition to development application approval and final release, so whilst current activity is strong, it is likely to ease back as the market stabilises,” he said. “New property replacement prices are often higher and drag values upwards of existing home prices, and generally improve values in an area, especially free standing homes. “It is usually medium density or high-rise units that suffer from oversupply and failed projects, with banks selling up developers, and Department of Housing making opportunity purchases, that cause price impacts. “The northern Central Coast is usually owneroccupier markets and more stable than investor orientated high rise markets,” he said. As the area grows, McLachlan said, “Council is recognising the need for more parks and as developer contributions are paid, Council is adding further playgrounds to existing parks. Continued P3
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