Plans to build ‘pop up’ eateries on the waterfront near Brian McGowan Bridge have had a setback, according to the man behind the concept, Mr Tim Gunasinghe, from Commercial HQ.
“Originally, when we did the construction budget, we thought it would cost around $2 million, but then council put a whole lot of conditions on the development, to raise it 1.2 metres above the natural ground level, and to bring all services to the site i.e. sewer, water, gas and electricity, at our own expense,” Mr Gunasinghe said.
“When we went back to re-price the project, the cost blew out to $3.6 million,” he said. Mr Gunasinghe said council could assist to make the project viable by extending the terms of the lease over the land to 20 years, instead of the current fi ve years plus two fi ve-year renewals. “If they increase the lease to 20 years and I increase the rents slightly, the whole project will work,” he said. Mr Gunasinghe said discussions with the new Central Coast Council had been slow “but not dead in the water”. “We’ve got the 10 tenants wanting to get there, we want it to go ahead. “We are developers, but this was always a bit of a love job to get Gosford off the ground.
Interview, Aug 10, 2016 Tim Gunasinghe, Comemrcial HQ Jackie Pearson, journalist