The redevelopment of the Gosford waterfront is now in the hands of the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC).
The NSW Government has appointed HCCDC to progress its $8.5M election commitment to fund a business case for the waterfront revitalisation.
HCCDC delivers region-shaping outcomes on behalf of the NSW Government with a focus on creating vibrant places, providing more opportunities for housing and employment and attracting investment, innovation and talent.
The Gosford waterfront has long been recognised as a prime site for development into a vibrant hub connecting the city core with the railway, hospital and education precincts.
Over the past 20 years, many proposals have been put forward for redevelopment and in 2022, Central Coast Council adopted a preferred option for revitalisation.
The plan stretches along the entire waterfront from the railway line to beyond the sailing club and includes a mix of commercial, retail and accommodation options, along with a ferry terminal, outdoor recreational areas and even an amphitheatre.
It also incorporates a public building, a ferry terminal near the rail bridge; a walkway atop a seawall encircling the development; a pedestrian bridge over Dane Dr for access from Leagues Club Park to the waterfront; and an expanded water playground outside Gosford Pool.
With slight design amendments following public consultation, Council forged ahead with its ambitious plan, securing the $8.5M commitment from the NSW government for initial planning and resolving to allocate $2.218M to get things underway (of which just over $1M has so far been spent), with the intention of seeking eventual reimbursement from the Government.
The intention was always to hand the project over to the State Government.
Council CEO David Farmer said in 2022 that this was not a project Council would deliver.
“We are doing the early work, but the intention is to hand this project over to an experienced government agency to take the lead,” he said at the time.
Council Administrator Rik Hart said it was good news that HCCDC had now been appointed by the government to take the lead on the project.
Council has sought reimbursement from the NSW Government for the $1.054M it has already spent on the project and has nominated CEO David Farmer to join the revitalisation executive steering committee representing Council.
Farmer will also enter a Memorandum of Understanding with HCCDC to collaborate on the development of a business case.
Council staff have been meeting with HCCDC over the past few months to provide background information and hand over project-related documentation.
The HCCDC is expected to give an update on next steps in coming weeks.
Terry Collins
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