Lederer Property intend to lodge a development application with Gosford Council in April for Stage One of their ambitious 15 to 20 year transformation of the Central Coast’s capital city.
Stage One will include the complete redevelopment of Kibble Park and the construction of 400 apartments and townhouses towards the rear of the block that currently houses the defunct Kibbleplex. The company’s general manager of property, Mr Marek Ristwej said Lederer’s 15-year relationship with Gosford as owners of the Imperial Centre made Gosford Alive a natural next step.
He said the company had already spent $20 million to reposition the Imperial Centre and that an additional $650 million commitment to Gosford Alive made it the “biggest transformation project on the Central Coast”. Mr Ristwej said Lederer Property were committed to “doing it right with the right fundamentals” including consulting with the community first, through events like Sundae in the Park on February 28.
“We are starting off with Sundae in the Park where there will be a community information booth to inform the community about what is planned and get their feedback,” Mr Ristwej said. He said Stage One would need to make its way through the normal planning processes but a major component was the transformation of Kibble Park.
“We have delivered other projects of a large scale but this is a significant capital investment. “This is Kibbleplex, bordered by Rumbalara with north, east and west facing views. “We have created a design that picks up on the natural landscape features of the Central Coast including its waves and rockpools.
“It will be far more than what has been delivered in Gosford before; design excellence is our imperative. Director of the project’s architect, Conybeare Morrison International, Mr William Morrison said the architectural and urban design specialists partnering with Lederer had been “doing major CBD renewal projects for a long period of time.
“This one is special and unique,” Mr Morrison said. “You don’t often get three city blocks to be planned, the great thing is you are not just looking in isolation, you have complete focus on the public domain and the concept allows Kibble Park to reach out and touch Rumbalara Reserve,” he said.
He said the redesign of Kibble Park will also allow for links through to Watt St and with council properties on the south side of Donnison St including the new regional library. “It creates a civic heart for the Central Coast, a result that puts Gosford on the map,” he said.
The detail of arrangements between Gosford Council and Lederer regarding the resdesign of Kibble Park have not been finalised but Mr Morrison said the park would remain the community’s property and its ongoing care would be the responsibility of council.
He said he had drawn inspiration from Bryant Park in New York as it provided an outlet for the surrounding urban community and was used as a meeting and recreational space. Mr Morrison said the location of the Kibbleplex site made it ideal for transformation into a residential precinct.
“It is five minutes’ walk from the site to the railway station, so it has all the benefits of people taking public transport to work. “The design will allow for pedestrian movement and healthy lifestyle; the streets will all have active frontages, shops, and cafes to create that whole New York style so the street becomes a social hub,” he said.
Stage one, which will be covered by the first development application, includes a 30-storey residential tower with 400 apartments, including multistorey podium apartments and rooftop gardens. The ground level and rooftops will give a park-like environment intended to be an extension of Kibble Park.
The first stage will also incorporate a childcare centre and some boutique retail including cafes.