Central Coast Council will reclassify 79 blocks of operational land in 12 suburbs as community land.
This reclassification gives the land a layer of protection as Council cannot sell community land as easily as it can sell operational land.
The land to be reclassified includes four lots of developed land at three sites: part of Berkeley Sports Complex at Glenning Valley; Lakelands Community Centre at Kanwal; and Wamberal’s Memorial Hall.
It also includes nine park and natural area sites totalling 75 lots in all at Buff Point, Davistown, Hamlyn Terrace, Jilliby, Lisarow, Noraville, Springfield and Watanobbi.
St Barnabas at Yarramalong misses out – for the time being.
“The only practical access to Yarramalong cemetery is via St Barnabas; however, this is not legally secure,” Council said.
“Accordingly, it is proposed to create an easement for access over part of the St Barnabas site in favour of the adjoining cemetery to remedy this.
“Investigations to prepare a suitable easement have revealed that some of the St Barnabas site actually lies outside the boundaries of the nominated lot.
“Again, to rectify this, the site must be operational for the time being.”
The proposal to reclassify a large number of lots from operational to community has proved to be “largely uncontentious” Council said, but a report to the Council meeting of January 23 said the community has a list of more land it believes should also become community land.
Community Environment Network (CEN) had submitted a list of more land at Davistown wetlands, Hamlyn Terrace, Jilliby, Lisarow, Watanobbi and Springfield that it believed should be added.
CEN said they were all environmental lands it believed Council had an obligation to protect.
A resident spoke at the public forum before the meeting asking that a reserve at 21-23 Memorial Ave, Blackwall, be added to the list.
“In relation to adding additional lots, that would mean subjecting each extra lot to a detailed investigation to establish whether there is preliminary merit,” Council said.
“The consequence would be a delay in the reclassification process.”
The reclassification takes effect on February 1.
Merilyn Vale