Adoption of the Tuggerah to Wyong Economic Strategy at Central Coast Council’s November 30 meeting is more welcome news for the business community in the Northern Growth Corridor.
President of Wyong Regional Chamber of Commerce, Matt Lusted, said a number of changes were made within the final strategy as a result of Council’s consultation with the Chamber.
“These include the Chamber’s concerns around connectivity, the inclusion of high speed internet infrastructure, the implementation of town centre car parking strategies, and the planning and urban development between Church St, Wyong and Johnson Rd, Tuggerah, an area that is being referred to as Southbank,” Lusted said.
“The Chamber is very much looking forward to working with Council on the implementation of this strategy and congratulates Director, Scott Cox, on his re-appointment to Strategic Planning.
“Despite Council’s current financial crisis, which we will comment on separately, we believe that with the Chamber and Council partnering together, we will see positive moves forward for our area, both for businesses and residents alike,” Lusted said.
Administrator, Dick Persson, said community participation and feedback from key stakeholders has made a real impact on the development of the Tuggerah to Wyong Economic Corridor Strategy.
“The adoption of a clear strategy is much more than a plan, it promotes an investment pathway and I’m pleased to say that the strategy provides a literal road map for this Northern Growth Corridor,” he said.
“The strategy is backed by economic analysis and a transport study that identifies several improvements that can be made to public transport, walkways, cycling, roads and parking.
“In the short term, this strategy also enables the alignment of development contributions to help finance the works that are needed,” Persson said.
He said clear strategies created investment certainty and that, in turn, stimulated local job opportunities.
“This 20-year strategy will support a corridor of certainty for the Tuggerah to Wyong area to become a dominant commercial and economic centre for the Central Coast and ensures that both Council and the NSW Government deliver on priorities for this area,” Persson said.
There are three precincts in the Strategy, Tuggerah, Wyong/ East Wyong and North Wyong/ Watanobbi, all connected by the Pacific Highway.
Wyong is promoted as a town centre with “good bones” and many elements of a great regional centre.
The Strategy report says that it’s the civic and cultural heart of the Corridor with its train station, Wyong River, the Art House, Council Chambers and government agencies, and Wyong is strengthened by its distinct heritage character.
Tuggerah is defined in the Strategy as holding a regional retail role while Tuggerah Business Park is for professional and administrative services, and North Wyong and Tuggerah Straight are predominantly for manufacturing and urban services.
To focus on different roles within the Northern Growth Corridor, Council has divided planning for the Corridor into two separate areas, the Tuggerah to Wyong Economic Corridor Strategy and the Greater Warnervale Structure Plan (GWSP), each with a different focus.
The GWSP, currently being prepared by Council, includes the airport at Warnervale, Wyong Employment Zone, a future industrial precinct, and Bushells Ridge, focusing on manufacturing, logistics and warehousing.
It will also consider growth opportunities, predominantly residential and employment, in and around the Warnervale Town Centre and incorporating the surrounding precincts of Charmhaven, Wadalba and expanding health services around Wyong Hospital.
Sue Murray