The State Government has announced a shared pathway from Point Clare as the first step in the revitalisation of the Gosford waterfront precinct, but Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch says the plan fails the people of the Central Coast.
In September 2022, Central Coast Council unveiled a mammoth revitalisation plan stretching along the entire waterfront from the railway line to beyond the sailing club and including a mix of commercial, retail and accommodation options, along with a ferry terminal, outdoor recreational areas and even an amphitheatre.
The plan also featured: a public building (with a purpose yet to be identified); multi-storey buildings jutting into Brisbane Water to house residences, retail, and dry boat storage; a ferry terminal over by 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.
The the then State Opposition leader Chris Minns visited Gosford in October that year (2022) to pledge an initial $8.5M to conduct geotechnical and planning work.
The Council was to conduct preliminary works and then hand over management of the project to the Government.
State Government MPs gathered on the waterfront on July 17 to say its initial focus is on enhancing public space and improving connectivity in the short term while providing opportunities for longer term investment.
Following market sounding and feasibility studies on how to best revitalise the area in line with its $8.5M election commitment, the Government is designing and costing an active transport shared pathway between Gosford and Point Clare.
This would cut the time to cycle and walk between the two destinations and improve connections further south to Tascott, Koolewong and Woy Woy via the Brisbane Water cycleway.
The Government will also prepare a targeted public domain plan and deliver improvements to the public domain in the next 18 months.
It is inviting the community to have a say on what features and projects they would like to see in the public domain plan and help prioritise their delivery.
This could include features like better lighting and visibility, fitness equipment, children’s playground equipment, picnic tables and seating, or a boardwalk.
The Government is also identifying projects that can be delivered in the longer term.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the Government was making sure it got things right in enabling the waterfront to continue to evolve into a vibrant destination linked to the city and its surrounds.
Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said Gosford was finally fulfilling its enormous potential.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said after years of glossy plans with no certainty over what could be delivered along the waterfront, the Government was planning for Gosford’s future, informed by detailed market sounding and feasibility studies about the realistic short and long-term outlook for the city.
“Gosford is quickly transforming into a city that we can be proud of and it is important that our waterfront reflects Gosford’s place as the heart of the Central Coast,” she said.
“It is particularly exciting to see funding allocated towards design and costing for a shared pathway between Gosford and Point Clare, recognising our community’s vocal support for this vital active recreation link.”
But Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch says the Government is axing plans for a bold vision for the waterfront re-development in favour of bushes, benches, barbecues, and bike paths.
“The Government promised $8.5M in October 2022 for a business case to enable Council’s ambitious redevelopment plan for the Gosford waterfront but will now spend the funding on a shared pathway and minor beautification of the waterfront,” he said.
Crouch, who is also Shadow Minister for the Central Coast, said the decision was shameful and would see the region continue to go backwards.
“(This) announcement is a complete joke and disappointment,” he said.
“The redevelopment of Gosford waterfront was the opportunity of a lifetime to unlock the city’s potential; the Premier himself said Gosford needed to transform from a city with a waterfront into a waterfront city.
“Sadly, this announcement shows (the Government is) merely paying lip service about visionary opportunities for Gosford and the Central Coast.”
Crouch said the decision to focus on short-term improvements rather than pursue a longer-term vision was a short-sighted blunder.
“This decision will stand as a reminder that after more than two years of nothing, the Government has no plan for any long-term vision for Gosford and the Central Coast,”
Adam crouch mp
Chair of Council’s Governance and Finance Committee Councillor Jared Wright said it was fundamental to have recreational opportunities in Gosford for people to enjoy.
While a shared pathway would certainly help with connectivity for people wanting to head into Gosford, there needs to be a reason for people to want to go there in the first place, he said.
“At the moment, people are not excited about heading into Gosford; we need the restaurants, cafes and entertainment opportunities to make that happen,” he said.
“The precinct needs to be a priority and we must look at what we can do to kickstart that space as soon as possible.
“I’m not opposed to the shared pathway, but the larger piece of the puzzle is creating a community hub that brings people to Gosford.
“If we are to prioritise a shared pathway for transport connectivity, we also need to prioritise the end destination as well.
“Our NSW Government housing target has us set to build 9,400 new homes on the Central Coast by 2029, with Gosford anticipated to take the lions share.
“After thorough community consultation from Central Coast Council in 2022, the general consensus from local residents and the business community was that a revitalised waterfront precinct would form an anchor of a revitalised Gosford CBD.
“It noted that it would be a catalyst for local education and employment opportunities across the Central Coast.
“The overarching message from the community from the consultation period was to ‘just get on with it’.
“The Gosford waterfront has enormous potential to serve as a broader community and economic hub that brings people into the city from all areas of the Central Coast for cafes, restaurants and entertainment.”
The community can have its say at https://www.hccdc.nsw.gov.au/gosford until Sunday, August 17.
Terry Collins
How many years were they in government and they did what exactly?
All I can think of is the merging of councils and a watch hunt to blame one side of politics for the venture going broke.
Exactly. Rich of Mr Crouch to say ‘after more than two years of nothing’. His team were in power for twelve years and it wasn’t until Labor put something (anything would do!) on the table he starts complaining.
nothing will change until the road is removed to open up access to the waterfront
Agreed, having to cross a highway to access Gosford’s primary attraction is ridiculous. Not to mention the traffic noise and pollution.
Not all big ideas are great ideas! The waterfront development proposal never was a great idea. I have been asking locals for years their thoughts on this waterfront development and all agreed it would be good but was it practical? The answer was no. Starting with being built at the entrance to the coast/city. How many hundreds of millions of dollars would have to be spent to get the roads diverted around the development? And locals know what a miserable part of Brisbane Waters that south end of the estuary can be when a southerly blows up. If developers have said no, please don’t try and make political points from its failure.
Just deliver a bridge at least, how much planning, consultation, feasibility study is needed to build a chuffing bridge over the road.