Woy Woy has been added to the list of increased density housing targets around train stations in the region, despite Central Coast Council trying to exclude all of the Coast from the State Government’s plans.
Council says it accepts the addition in principle but only if money is made available for upgrading Woy Woy Rd, which leads to the M1.
The State Government announced on Friday, April 12, that Woy Woy had been added to Wyong, Tuggerah and Gosford as areas near train lines that will be targeted for increased housing density as Transport Oriented Developments (TODs).
It said it had added train stations that had been suggested by councils but Central Coast Council said it did not put Woy Woy forward.
In January Council CEO David Farmer asked that the Central Coast not be included in the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) reform which would involve a new State Environment Planning Policy or SEPP.
Farmer’s submission said a ‘’one size fits all” approach would not work.
“Additionally, concerns were expressed regarding the absence of a funding framework to provide the necessary infrastructure including open space, community facilities and local traffic and transport improvements,” Council said this week.
“Council’s local centre plans are considered to be a more appropriate approach.
“They provide a hyper-local response in catering to each location’s needs, including traffic, infrastructure and servicing requirements when increasing residential densities.”
The CEO’s letter, endorsed by administrator Rik Hart in February, said:
“Council requests that the Gosford, Tuggerah and Wyong TOD locations be excluded from the future TOD SEPP application due to the low opportunity for housing yield … limited land application for the provisions, and the existing approval frameworks in place that have a more locally based strategic direction for these centres”.
Farmer listed more than 13 reasons why the Central Coast areas should be excluded.
Those reasons included the eastern side of the Pacific Hwy at Wyong only having one road to and from the Pacific Hwy, and Wyong having a large number of heritage items at risk through inappropriate development.
Farmer also said there was limited opportunity for development at Tuggerah despite the proposed new provisions and that car parking issues on the Coast, where more than 50 per cent of households have more than one car, would remain until public transport was improved.
He argued a reduction in car parking requirements in new developments would increase street parking and degrade the public domain.
In December last year the government identified 31 railway stations across 13 local government areas around which new housing was to be located within 400m.
In last week’s announcement, the State Government said it had worked with the local councils and had added another six stations to the list, including Woy Woy.
“These stations were all suggested by councils for inclusion,” the State Government press release said.
“Throughout the consultation process, consideration has been given to existing infrastructure capacity or planned upgrades that will support increased density.
“These councils that worked with the department will be permitted to phase the introduction of the TOD SEPP on certain sites to complete master planning and more detailed work on their plan.”
But Council said it had not yet received a response in regard to its submission, nor had it been formally advised of the recent TOD SEPP changes.
“In relation to the TOD program now (being) expanded to include Woy Woy station, while Council did not formally recommend Woy Woy to be added, Council does support Woy Woy being identified as a TOD site in principle, but only if the road network connections, particularly to the M1 via Woy Woy Rd, are allocated required funding for the necessary infrastructure works,” Council said this week.
“Council appreciates the deferred commencement timeframe of July 2024 of the TOD SEPP for Gosford and Tuggerah, with Wyong and Woy Woy proposed to be finalised in April 2024.
“Council also supports the intent of the NSW Government to deliver actions that seek to accelerate housing delivery, however it believes the proposed reforms require further work to address the issues raised and noted above.”
Merilyn Vale
Forget Woy Woy road, what about Blackwall road, Ocean Beach road and Brisbane Water Drive let alone water and sewer utilities together with our third world public transport on the coast. Higher density development on the peninsular just means bedlam.
Woy Woy has some of the worst housing quality I’ve ever experienced in Australia. Fibro shacks and empty houses abound. There many run down and derelict areas that need to be improved just near the station. Woy Woy lacks any good quality Hotels. High rise will be a great benefit to the shopping area by allowing customers to be next to the shops. There would be few who would argue against Woy Woy needing better shopping and housing. It’s time the natural beauty is accompanied by building beauty.