The cultural, social and economic landscape of the Gosford CBD is set to be reshaped, thanks to $175,000 in State Government funding.
The “Gosford Strip” has been named as one of the successful recipients in round three of the Government’s Uptown Grant Program.
The Gosford Strip Precinct group, comprising over 30 local stakeholders, including Newcastle University Gosford Campus, Railway Hotel Gosford – John Singleton Group, Fun Haus Factory Inc and Aland Development Group along with owners of small shops, co-working spaces, food outlets and bars, will now unlock transformative plan to activate theccity’s high street with food, bars, live entertainment, late-night trading, community programming and employment pathways.
The Uptown Program is a cornerstone initiative of the Government’s 24 Hour Economy Strategy, designed to fast-track the formation of local business communities and facilitate the growth of their districts into vibrant going-out hubs.
Gosford Strip Precinct Chair Juan Iocco said without an aligned CBD focus, a collaborative precinct will continue to struggle.
“This collaboration is a game-changer for the future of Gosford’s urban regeneration and marks the first time local businesses and cultural organisations, all with direct skin in the game and a lot of love to give Gosford, are leading the revitalisation of our CBD literally from the inside out,” he said.
“Amazing things happen when the front line of entrepreneurs, creatives and community leaders are enabled to come together and have a voice.”
Juan Iocco
Gosford is one of 37 districts across the state funded under the first-of-its-kind program.
Iocco said over-promising and lack of progress have deeply impacted local community faith, with small businesses buying in to the strip and abandoning buildings.
“Those lemons are now the pillars which have enabled a forward thinking, results driven precinct to come together and it marks a real time, tangible supported rebirth of the Gosford CBD,” he said.
Iocco said the cycle would be broken through the delivery of unique products, experiences and ultimately a new identity against a backdrop of new development and prosperity.
“It’s a fresh new collaborative recipe primed for social, cultural and economic returns,” he said.
State Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said the result was a true credit to the collaborative work of the excellent businesses in Gosford.
“This program will help to rejuvenate the Gosford night-time economy and activate the booming Gosford CBD,” she said.
Businesses have cited a lack of parking as one of the top three challenges in developing a working CBD.
Central Coast Council Councillor Jared Wright recently moved a motion to investigate opening the Baker Street car park after hours.
“I want to thank the Gosford Strip Precinct Committee for their advocacy on this important matter,” he said.
“Council will look to review and increase the technology available at the car park this financial year, with the view to try and get it open for longer.”
Iocco said the project was about reigniting civic pride and create a “vibrant, safe and buzzing CBD as somewhere to go to, not go through”.
For more information or to have your business involved in the Gosford Strip contact precinct@visitgosford.com.au
$175,000 is announced with fanfare, yet the article barely explains what it will actually fund. Events? Marketing? Pop-ups? Staffing? The language is vague, the detail absent. A “bold vision” backed by state government should not be reduced to buzzwords and promises of activation without telling the public what they’re paying for. If this is seed funding, then spell it out. Otherwise it feels like window dressing dressed up as transformation.
I’ll stand by it. If Mann Street is to become a main street, private cars (but not buses/taxis/bicycles) need to be removed from at least Georgiana Terrace to Erina Street. Great way to revitalise the whole area.
Glad to see this fresh round of investment, though. Between this and the Draft SRITP’s proposed main street revitalisation, things are definitely looking up for the Coast as a whole 🙂
It will take decades to restore the faith and wipe our memory of generations who lost their school and playgrounds for the elite to enjoy, and the artists who have to crowd fund and work for free. It must take a lot to suck up pride and act like the Council and the State Government gives two cents while the Coastal Twist festival is under threat.
You will never fix Gosford CBD until you get rid of the Drug rehab and Mental health cottages next to the railway line on the Hospital side.
Sounds wonderful, but a while lot of fantastic words. No real description of the actual nuts/bolts. Will wait and see. We really need something big to happen now so as to not loose this opportunity of all these new apartments and their owners. When will they start moving out the violent criminals/drug users that disrupt the community like in Hull Street. All the violence and the police are not arresting them. The City needs safer streets that surrounds the main strip as well.
Gosford would benefit from a pedestrian walkway over the CC Hwy from the Leagues Club park. I imagine a sweeping walkway over the road to connect the town centre to the waterside. Connection makes all the difference.
I agree that it’s time overdue to enliven Gosford CBD and am glad that a start is being made. Parking is the number one issue I think and puts people off from going into town.
Fantastic to finally have some targetted funding and collaborative approach to strengthen the efforts of everyone working to help Gosford realise its massive potential. It’s easy to criticise and do nothing to contribute to solutions – well done to the Strip committee and everyone involved, thanks for your hard work and visionary leadership.
so does that mean you are cleaning up all of the shit Gosford is another Mt Druit. people sleeping in the streets people throwing them self of buildings that was a couple of weeks ago young feller I moved out from Gosford it was just too much to deal with the trash that live in Gosford.
Great news! A $175,000 grant to spend on…coffee…er.. parties and Friday night drinks at the pub?
What is the grant going to be used for? Transport?
Have a look at the roadside rubbish. Everywhere, every inch is a plastic something. How about some of the grant go to clean up the streets and everyone to sign up with clean up Australia. you get bags and gloves supplied. Then designate a day each week and clean up our streets and side of roads out of town. Make it fun with pizza at the end of the day.
William.
Always love to see more investment in the area but would love to see more detail on what it will be spent on. Hopefully encourages more businesses to move in and with the hotel opening soon, should become a night time hot spot in the next year or two.
I agree with William’s point, there’s quite a lot of trash on the ground about some areas of Gosford, and it’s probably because there’s many streets (including the main one) with zero rubbish bins… yes the Entrance may have spent $40,000 per individual pothole repair in previous years, but surely Gosford deserves a couple of bins?
I moved to Gosford in ’85/’86 and it was a feelgood wholesome town then. had a cinema which would be nice to bring back? I would love to spend more time enjoying what Gosford has to offer but at the moment there’s not alot
what a word salad. really doesn’t say anything. 175k might get you some security lighting and 2 public cubicles. the junkies can have then 2 new places to shoot their dope.
A safe environment for all to enjoy …. Families,groups,singles, couples,tourists, with a fun,CLEAN space,variety food / variety shops and local buskers/ entertainment- Bright and welcoming environments would be a great start.
for years they have been saying that they are going update Gosford and we are still waiting
what about where frogys was still nothing and what about behind frogys bloody nothing
the whole of Gosford needs a big upgrade and the park near Gosford Station needs a upgrade
fix the bloody roads.
have a old shopping centre across from gosford court house that should be pulled down and do something with or build units there..
or is this all talk no action
gmw
GW, have you been to Gosford lately? There is literally half a dozen major developments happening and another half a dozen going to start next year. Gosford is changing. Change takes time but it is finally happening.
Same old story,taxpayers fund it,business gets the profits.