New planning proposal to rezone Peat Island and part of Mooney Mooney

From left an aerial view of the locality and, right, the proposal site outlined in red

The latest version of a planning proposal to rezone the former psychiatric facility on the Crown Land of Peat Island has been recommended for adoption by Central Coast Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds.
The planning proposal would see land on the island, and in Mooney Mooney, rezoned to permit a mix of residential, community, environmental, recreation and employment land uses.
Mr Reynolds was expected to accept the staff recommendation at Council’s ordinary meeting on Wednesday, March 22, which would result in the preparation of a planning proposal to amend the Gosford Local Environmental Plan (GLEP) to rezone the land from the SP2 Infrastructure zone to the suggested mix.
If Mr Reynolds did accept the staff recommendation, the planning proposal would need to be forwarded to the Department of Planning and Environment (DP&E) to request a gateway determination and a delegation, so that Council could finalise and make the draft Local Environmental Plan in accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.
The amendment to the existing Development Control Plan (DCP) would then have to be prepared and exhibited, if DP&E allowed a gateway determination.
Community and government agency consultation would follow.
An initial planning proposal from Property NSW was supported by the former Gosford Council on December 9, 2014 and the Gateway process initiated.
However, in September 2015, Property NSW and Gosford Council were advised by the DP&E that additional information was required before the proposal could be considered for Gateway determination.
The modified planning proposal was lodged with Central Coast Council on October 18, 2016, “which responded to issues outlined in correspondence received from the DP&E.”
The site includes land east and west of the M1 Motorway at Mooney and the entirety of Peat Island, and includes the former Mooney Mooney Public School.
Peat Island, formerly known as Rabbit Island, has historically been Crown Land since European settlement.
The island was dedicated for use as an asylum for alcoholics.
Construction of the buildings associated with the asylum commenced in 1902, and since then, the site has been used as a psychiatric facility, home for boys, and as a disability institution until its permanent closure in 2010.
“This land is now redundant and surplus to the needs of the NSW State Government and is proposed to be sold,” the staff report to Mr Reynolds said.
According to the report, the Mooney Mooney Public School opened in 1939, but a decline in enrolments and an increase in the availability of alternative schools within the locality resulted in the closure of the school in 2007.
The amended proposal has introduced SP3 Tourism as a land use for Peat Island.
“This change provides opportunity for the future development of the site with a view towards tourism that will enable the preservation of the historical significance of the island,” the report said.
A private recreation zone has also been introduced to the proposal to enable the development of a marina.
“This use supports a recreational and tourism approach to the long-term use of the site.
The number of dwellings included in the proposal has also been reduced from between 400 and 500 down to 268, and the proposed building height has been reduced from 17 metres to 12 metres.
The mix of dwellings proposed has changed to approximately 82 low density, 22 town houses and 164 apartments.
The amount of land dedicated to national park has been increased from 2.6 hectares to 11.3 hectares.
Land made available for publicly accessible open space has gone from 2.6 hectares to 10 hectares.
Land currently used on the side of the M1 by RMS and Ambulance Services is proposed to be redeveloped for a convenience store-service station for both local and M1 business.
“The Mooney Mooney locality is typical of many isolated communities where the current level of development and hence population is insufficient to support a basic level of service provision.
“The rezoning of the redundant Hospital zoned land provides an opportunity to generate a population level that can support an increased range of services.
“The provision of the business zoned land is an important component of the provision of services to the local community.
“The planning and design provisions for this land will need to be carefully crafted to ensure the needs of all potential users are satisfied,” the report to the Administrator said.
It said a number of matters would require further studies after the Gateway Determination: a detailed community needs assessment; a master plan for the sensitive coastal location land; and, a conservation management plan

Agenda item 2,2,
Mar 22, 2017
Central Coast Council ordinary meeting