The Central Coast Regional Development Authority (CCRDC) has restated its support for a waterfront performing arts precinct.
Seven days after member for Robertson, Ms Lucy Wicks MP and federal treasurer, Scott Morrison announced the former Gosford Public School site was the preferred location for the ATO building, CCRDC and Government Property NSW set about clarifying and defending the land sale.
Government Property NSW CEO, Mr Brett Newman and Central Coast Regional Development Corporation (CCRDC) chairman, Mr Graeme Inchley said the NSW Government had agreed to sell a portion of land at the former Gosford school site to Doma Group. The sale will be effective upon Doma Group and the Australian Taxation Offi ce (ATO) entering into the agreement for the construction and delivery of the ATO’s new premises. According to Mr Newman, the agreement to sell followed a competitive expression of interest and tender process, and the announcement that the ATO had selected the site as its preferred location.
Mr Newman said the sale process for the Doma/ATO portion of the former school site is being undertaken by Government Property NSW (GPNSW). He said GPNSW is working on the sale in collaboration with the CCRDC and the Department of Education, which nominated the site as surplus to needs following the relocation of students to new facilities at Faunce St, Gosford.
“By carefully managing the sale process, GPNSW has been able to deliver the former Gosford school site as the location of the new ATO premises, bringing 600 ongoing jobs for the region, and a much wider economic boost,” Mr Newman said. The ATO building is estimated to be completed in 2017. GPNSW is reviewing options for the remaining portion of the Mann St site. CCRDC chairman, Mr Graeme Inchley said the announcement reflected the NSW Government’s commitment to growing Gosford as a regional centre for employment and economic development.
“With the ATO as an anchor tenant, the proposed development will attract wider commercial interest to the site, boosting jobs, spending and economic growth in Gosford,” Mr Inchley said. He said the proposed ATO development would occupy only part of the former school site, which itself is part of the much larger Gosford waterfront precinct. CCRDC acknowledged that the creation of a cultural hub was an important part of the broader plan for revitalising Gosford. “According to the 2014 Gosford Waterfront Development Control Plan, it is proposed that the waterfront precinct will include a cultural hub and waterfront parklands,” he said. The proposed site for the cultural hub is the Crown Land, now locally referred to as Poppy Park, adjacent to the former school site. A fi nal decision on the location and development of the cultural hub rests with Gosford Council, Mr Inchley said. CCRDC has been assisting Gosford Council to prepare a Commonwealth Government National Stronger Regions funding application.
“The NSW Government has supported construction of the new arts and conference facility, committing $10 million towards the proposal at the election in March this year,” Mr Inchley said. “The opportunities for the Waterfront precinct included the cultural hub, revitalised parklands, the commercial site that will house the ATO, and more, all of which will play an important role in revitalising Gosford, and delivering the community’s vision for a transformed regional city.”
In April 2013, CCRDC undertook a design competition for the regional performing arts centre located within the area identified as the cultural hub in the revised State Significant Site (SSS) documentation. The concepts were assessed by a panel comprising of Gosford Council, Friends of Performing Arts Precinct (FOPAP), Wyong Council and CCRDC. The assessment also included workshops with key stakeholders including Gosford Council, Wyong Council, FOPAP, Gosford Music Society, the Conservatorium of Music and Gosford Council’s nominated Heritage Committee representative.
In August 2013, the preferred concept was considered and endorsed by Gosford Council and utilised to seek funding for the project from the NSW and Commonwealth Governments. He added that the concept of the regional performing arts and conference centre was designed to avoid impact on War Memorial Park, which overlooks the proposed cultural hub site.
Media release, Oct 2, 2015 Stephanie Prouse, Central Coast Regional Development Corporation