It was a Peninsula united at the launch of a new residents’ association this week, with residents coming together to discuss issues of over development, green spaces and housing affordability.
Over 40 residents attended the inaugural Peninsula Residents Association’s (PRA) meeting at Club Umina on February 15.
The group was formed in 2021 by a number of concerned residents who said they want to give the community a greater say in the Peninsula’s development.
Residents were asked about what brought them to the Peninsula, what they most appreciated about the area and what they would like it to become.
Suspended Deputy Mayor, Jane Smith, and Michael Conroy from the Central Coast Community Better Planning Group, discussed the Central Coast Regional Plan 2041 and Community Strategic Plan.
PRA Chair, Mark Snell, said he was pleased with the outcome of the meeting and that issues raised would help generate further discussions.
“I think it achieved what we were after which was to get people involved in the community and thinking about the future of the Peninsula,” Snell said.
“The exercise we did tonight is the kind of exercise we would like to see Council do down here, but in the absence of Council doing it, we will do it ourselves.
“It surprised me that people spoke with one voice, that it was so consistent… it is the message we keep hearing from the Peninsula all the time.
“We continue to be faced with these developments that are non-complying that most of the community are worried about.
“We are worried about the fact that we don’t have any sort of law and order in planning, and that our planning system has lost its integrity.
Mark Snell
“Those are the things that we are encouraging our members to act on immediately.
“I thought what we really need is a local association to give a strong voice that says to the Council that we are not prepared to be treated with that sort of contempt.
“We have a short-term and a long-term game… in my view, we can take on a lot of initiatives as group of residents that don’t need to involve the Council initially, and that eventually the Council will have to take notice of us.”
Snell said the idea to launch the Association became final when the Pelican Park at Woy Woy was suddenly up for demolition in June 2021.
“It came to a head with the Pelican Park playground where the Council acted without any consultation and in the space of two days, over 6,000 people signed a petition,” Snell said.
He said the PRA was now focused on boosting membership numbers and generating debate amongst residents.
Long-time Umina Beach resident, Michael Emmett, said he joined the association because of strong concerns about development in his area.
“I’ve lived here for 49, nearly 50 years and I’m concerned about the way it is changing now where it’s all about development, as opposed to residents,” Emmett said.
“I think the development should be strategic – if you want to have three storeys then you have it in a transport corridor so that the majority of residents have still got the lifestyle that attracted them here in the first place.
“I’m really impressed by what’s been said tonight and I really do think that there should have been more residents here.”
Residents largely agreed that Council must develop a Peninsula-specific plan to help support concerns in the area.
The PRA is expected to hold meetings quarterly.
More information can be found at peninsularesidents.org.au
Maisy Rae