Central Coast Council has endorsed a planning proposal for 39 Dell Road, West Gosford.
The decision will expand the existing IN1 General Industrial zoned portion of the land, and rezone the remainder of the land from 7(a) Conservation and Scenic Protection zone to C2 Environmental Conservation.
The decision enables additional opportunities for industrial development on the site, and the dedication of C2 Environmental Conservation zoned land to Council for inclusion in the COSS (Coastal Open Space System).
The council report said: The adoption of this recommendation will result in the transfer of 7.3ha of environmental lands to Council for inclusion into the COSS.
“This will add to Council’s asset base and there will be a marginal cost of maintenance of the land into the future.
“The planning agreement will reduce the financial burden to Council by the inclusion of initial funds for the bush regeneration of the site and the construction of an access track for the RFS (rural fire service) and Council if required for the purposes of maintenance and firefighting.
“Upon expiry of the planning agreement, the marginal cost of maintenance would fall within Council’s annual budget,” the report said.
Administrator, Rik Hart, adopted the recommendation at the April 26 meeting of Council-under-administration.
When the rezoning proposal went out on public exhibition, one public submission suggested the site should be reserved as part of the Very Fast Train Corridor and would be best used as a freight terminal, commuter railway station and car park.
Council said it agreed a Very Fast Train linking the communities along the east coast of Australia was a desirable outcome.
“However, as the site is not within the existing rail corridor nor has it been examined as a site within a possible alternative rail corridor, there is currently no prospect that the site is potentially required for this purpose,” Council said.
“Council has no ability to reserve the site for a future use at such an early stage in that future use’s development.”
Merilyn Vale