Gosford CBD set for boost with $500m in development applications lodged in August alone

[dibo]

Gosford CBD set for boost with $500m in development applications lodged in August alone

• TERRY COLLINS
• CENTRAL COAST GOSFORD EXPRESS ADVOCATE
• SEPTEMBER 04, 2014 12:00AM

An artist's impression of a new $157 million development for Mann St, Gosford. Image and design to Dickson Rothschild

• $464 million in DAs lodged with Gosford Council in August alone
• Include a $157 million multi-storey tower in heart of CBD
• New development could transform rundown city centre

After decades in the doldrums, Gosford’s rundown CBD may finally boom with almost half a billion dollars worth of development applications lodged with the city council in August.

Gosford Mayor Lawrie McKinna said 22 applications worth a whopping $464 million had been received, including a $157 million proposal for a multi-storey tower development right in the heart of Mann Street.

The applications include everything from new retail, commercial, restaurant and residential development all along Mann Street to new medical and childcare developments in Showground Road.

The corner of Mann Street and Donnison Street Gosford where a $157m tower development is proposed. Image: GOOLE MAPS.



It comes on top of a raft of new proposals across the Central Coast worth hundreds of millions of dollars and potentially creating thousands of jobs - including proposals for a univesty and Chinese them park at Warnervale and millions in investment across the region.



CHINESE INVESTORS FUND MAJOR BOOM ON THE CENTRAL COAST

COUNCIL SEEKS FAST APPROVAL FOR NEW UNIVERSITY AT WARNERVALE

LATEST PLANS FOR CHINESE THEME PARK UNVEILED AT WARNERVALE



“This latest influx of applications is proof that rejuvenating Gosford is no longer just a pipe dream,” Cr McKinna said.

“We’ve always been confident about the town centre’s amazing potential as well as certain that there was plenty of interest from potential investors.

Gosford mayor Lawrie McKinna and general manager Paul Anderson disappointed there will be no local government referendum at the September 7 Federal election.



“We just needed to put the right incentives in place to get the applications rolling through the door.

“Even still, receiving almost $500 million worth of applications in a month has definitely topped all our expectations.

“These applications include everything from new retail, commercial, restaurant and residential development all along Mann Street through to new medical and childcare developments in Showground Road.

“I doubt that any other local government area currently has anywhere near this amount of investment lodged for its CBD area.”

Almost half a billion dollars in development applications have been proposed for Gosford CBD. Image GOOGLE MAPS.





GENERAL MANAGER: INCENTIVES PAID OFF


Gosford Council CEO Paul Anderson said the flood of recent applications coincided with a number of key announcements and incentives announced in the past two years to drive development in the CBD.

These included reductions in development contributions, which will remain at two per cent until January next year and a bonus 30 per cent increase in floor space and building height to eligible applicants.

Mr Anderson said with work to start next year on a purpose-built Australian Tax Office agency employing 600 people in Gosford it was time to get the CBD moving.

“We need to look closely at all these applications and others to see whether we can get the cranes in the sky over Gosford and start building the world-class city the Central Coast deserves,” he said.

Area of Gosford CBD to be replaced by a new Australian Taxation Office.





BUSINESS ACTIVITY RISING IN WYONG SHIRE


Building activity in Wyong Shire is on a steady rise after a long quiet period.

In July the council received 31 applications for new buildings, with an estimated total value of $44.1 million. An application for 135 apartments at the Key site in The Entrance was worth $40.5 million.

It also approved 29 applications, with a total value of more than $18 million, in July, a significant rise from the same time last year.

The median turnaround time for assessing applications was 24 days and nine days for section 96 applications to modify consent.

An artist impression of the the iconic key site at The Entrance

Artists impression of the proposed business and education precinct near Warnervale.



In building, compliance and health, applications were approved in 11 days and section 96 applications were approved in nine days.

Mayor Doug Eaton said the council was open for business and keen to get worthy projects off the ground quickly. “Our economy is continuing to grow, and more jobs and opportunities for our community will follow,” he said.

 

[priorpeter]

Goodbye pulse

 

[dibo]

Goodbye pulse

Fixed.

 

[midfielder]

Also remember the hidden City development .. maybe another 500 million... and other works could be investment of 1.2 billion, could be the time to invest in a unit at Gosford TBH.

 

[dibo]

The theme park is going in closer to Warnervale, as is a university campus and a new 'town centre' project. There's a fair bit of chat about expanding the airport too. Add to that the development at The Entrance, also add in that Woy Woy, Umina and Ettalong are growing and above all the mass of development and jobs proposed for Gosford (including *another* university) and we've got multiple CBDs developing across the coast generating jobs.

 

[Wombat]

Why build a 2nd uni at Warnervale....is Ourimbah full?


As to Pulse closing......that is going to sadden a lot of Coastal teens.....and quite a few O35 players desperate for somewhere to kick on after presto nights.

It will just about finish the little pie shop opposite as well.

 

[priorpeter]

After the last 4 days of birthday celebrations I've just finished, I'm never drinking again, much less going to pulse.

 

[nearlyyellow]

It would be fan-bloody-tastic if even half these applications went to construction within 5 years. For both Gossy and Wyong. But the wheels of progress turn very slowly when it comes to converting DA's to projects commenced. What with EIS's and financial and political stuff. All sorts of stuff can happen to delay or even halt progress. Look at that bloody great big hole up there in Henry Parry Drive! What's the go with that? The holding costs alone must be catastrophic for the owner/s and the Council's lost a lot of rate revenues.

Winston Churchill said:
"The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

I am ever the pessimist but I am also an eternal optimist.

 

[nearlyyellow]

Gosford CBD set for boost with $500m in development applications lodged in August alone

Gosford Council CEO Paul Anderson ..

Mr Anderson said with work to start next year on a purpose-built Australian Tax Office agency employing 600 people in Gosford it was time to get the CBD moving.

Area of Gosford CBD to be replaced by a new Australian Taxation Office.

And chaos reigns. http://www.smh.com.au/national/publ...despite-6200-empty-desks-20141020-118rb9.html

 

[dibo]

They are going to go through with the election promise - they'll probably wind up closing all or part of a number of other offices.

 

[shelleybeach]

Chappytime China really?? Sounds all a bit ridiculous to me.

 

[dibo]

Eh?

 

[shelleybeach]

I followed the link to the story about the Chinese theme park - that's the name it's going by

 

[dibo]

Cranes up confidence as work begins on Faunce St West building in Gosford
October 20, 2015 9:08am
Denice Barnes
Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate

Progress: GM Construction’s Victor Fahd, KDC GROUP’s Dennis Cavestany, Council’s director of Governance and Planning Danielle Dickson, KDC Group’s Peter Harb with Gosford Mayor Lawrie McKinna and Cr Gabby Bowles on site of new development in Gosford.


THERE is a crane in the sky in Gosford and Mayor Lawrie McKinna could not be more thrilled.

Work has started on an eight-storey 35-unit residential complex in Faunce St West, the first of five unit developments being built in Gosford worth $50 million.

Developer KDC Group, based in Kenthurst, is behind all five developments and has two of the projects in progress, another one approved and another two waiting on development consent.

The projects include a 40-unit complex next door to the Faunce St West project, an 87-unit development in Ormond St and a 48-unit development in Hill St.

The new development in Faunce St, Gosford.
“We think Gosford is a sleeping giant,” KDC Group director Peter Harb said.

“We have a council and a chief executive officer that are open for business.

“Working with a council that is pro-growth makes the difference.

“There’s nowhere in Sydney like this — close to Sydney, close to the beaches, close to transport and affordable.”

Upbeat: KDC Group boss Peter Harb with Gosford Mayor Lawrie McKinna and Cr Gabby Bowles.
Cr McKinna said he followed through on a promise to go to church when the first crane appeared in the sky.

“It’s just great to see,” Cr McKinna said. “It means a lot for the people of the Central Coast and $50 million coming into Gosford.”

He said there would be plenty of jobs for tradies.

“This is just the start,” Cr McKinna said.

Cr Gabby Bowles, a passionate advocate for revitalising the Gosford CBD, said it was good to see action after so much talk.

“The biggest thing is, the public can see it,” Cr Bowles said.

 

[dibo]

Meanwhile...

Respected businessman fears office block on prime land will ‘sterilise’ Gosford waterfront
October 1, 2015 3:46pm
Denice Barnes
Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate

An artist’s impression of the ATO building earmarked for the old Gosford school site.

A RESPECTED Central Coast businessman fears building an office block on the old Gosford Public School site could sterilise the waterfront forever.

Erina-based developer Tim Gunasinghe is among a massive chorus of people saying the waterfront is the wrong location for an “ugly” office block.

Mr Gunasinghe’s company Commercialhq, in partnership with Gosford Council, tendered to build the Australian Taxation Office in the CBD next to the council chambers.

The proposal involved a purpose-built office development with four floors, 50 car spaces with room for more, and pedestrian access from Mann St. The ground floor would have included a city-style cafe integrated with the forecourt of the council chambers.

Tim Gunasinghe, pictured at Gosford waterfront, fears the ATO building will “sterilise any future development further down the site”.
“The proposed ATO building is only two levels high at the Mann St entry with no active connection to the waterfront. It will sterilise any future development further down the site,” Mr Gunasinghe said.

He said a deal between the Federal Government, which is paying a Canberra-based developer to build the ATO, and the State Government which owns the old school site, has sold the property short.

He said the B4 zoning allowed for 16 storeys or more of residential and retail to encourage a diverse and compatible range of activities including cultural and entertainment facilities, tourism, leisure and high-density residential.

Treasurer Scott Morrison and Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks announce the location of the new ATO office on the old Gosford Primary School site.
“Not a three to four level, low-rise, single-use tax office,” Mr Gunasinghe said.

He also asked questions about the method and processes used to determine the successful tenderer.

His joint proposal cost about $100,000 and was short-listed as a preferred tender.

“Normally when you are short-listed, they come back to you, hold meetings and talk about the proposal,” Mr Gunasinghe said.

“None of that happened. It was quiet for a long, long time and then they sent a letter saying sorry you missed out.

“The way this has been dealt with has been terrible.

“Our proposal involved the local council, a local developer, a local architect and a local builder and now we have someone from Canberra.

“If a private developer has bought that part of the site, shouldn’t it go back out to public tender?

“If the ATO wants a stand-alone office block it should be in the city core where the zoning objectives are met.

“We need 600 workers in the city centre supporting all the small businesses.”

The site of the old school is prime waterfront land in Gosford.
SITE’S FATE UNCLEAR AS DECISION LEADS TO SACKING CALL

THE State Government is yet to reveal what will happen to the rest of the old Gosford Public School site.

The Australian Taxation Office building will use about 20 per cent of the site — 4250sq m — leaving 1.31ha that could be used for a variety of public uses.

A spokeswoman for the Central Coast Regional Development Corporation (CCRDC) said the sale of the portion of land earmarked for the ATO building was being handled by Government Property NSW in collaboration with the Education Department and the CCRDC.

She said Government Property NSW was reviewing options for the remaining portion of the site.

The decision to sell part of the land to the preferred developer for the ATO office block followed a “competitive expression of interest and tender process” earlier this year.

“The preferred developer, nominated by the ATO, will purchase the NSW Government-owned land and commence works on the vacant site to support the revitalisation of Gosford as a major business and employment hub,” she said.

Former Gosford Mayor Malcolm Brooks.
The explanation might not be enough for former Gosford Mayor Malcolm Brooks who has called for the sacking of the CCRDC in the wake of the ATO announcement.

Mr Brooks said the CCRDC showed a complete lack of vision for Gosford’s future and their record on major projects was dismal including allowing the ATO building on the old school site.

“In the Gosford city centre master plan, the site was originally zoned as a cultural precinct,” he said.

“Who changed this zoning to allow offices?

“The CCRDC with State Government approval.

“The latest CCRDC bulletin states they are thrilled with the Australian Taxation Office decision.

“Well, the community is not.

“It is time for the board to go.”

The CCRDC declined to comment on Mr Brooks’ call for its sacking.

 

[dibo]

And...

Hundreds gather to protest the ATO building going on Gosford waterfront land
October 3, 2015 11:37am
Denice Barnes
Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate

Community protest meeting over the ATO building at Central Coast Leagues Club Oval, Georgiana Terrace.

OUTRAGE followed by cries of shame, shame shame, swept across Gosford on Saturday morning as between 300 and 400 people gathered to protest about the federal government’s decision to build an ATO office block on a portion of the old Gosford school site.

The protest kicked off at 8.30am in blistering heat, a long weekend and school holidays.

The Central Coast art world was well represented and speakers included NSW Labor Senator Deb O’Neill, Opposition spokesman for the Central Coast and Wyong state Labor MP David Harris and Gosford state Labor MP Kathy Smith.

Nat Pertoglia, a performing arts teacher who attended Saturday's rally on behalf of all Central Coast artists who were still in bed
Hundreds queued to sign a petition calling on Robertson federal Liberal MP Lucy Wicks to review the government’s decision and find a new location for the ATO after community consultation.

“You come over that bridge and you land in heaven,” Ms O’Neill told the crowd.

“And now we get brown ugly box instead of an integrated development.

“We need transparency instead of the terrible secrecy that has shrouded this development.

“We will not have this ugly brown building on our waterfront.

“Yes jobs are important but not at the expense of community space.”

Deb O,Neill speaking at the Community protest meeting over the ATO building at Central Coast Leagues Club Oval, Georgiana Terrace.
Mr Harris said many people were involved in the Gosford Challenge to help create concepts for the waterfront once the old school was demolished.

“It was a big decision to move a historic school from this site and the community went along with it because they were assured there would be something else here for the community.”

“This is bad planning, a bad development and we will have to live with it for a long, long time.

“This ticks no boxes, the Central Coast is being treated as a second-class citizen and we deserve better.”

Artist Ylenna Zajec said the community wanted cafes, restaurants and the town needed a cultural heart.


“We need somewhere beautiful where people can go, we deserve it,” she said.

“How can you plonk a tax office here when we don’t even have a town hall.

“We welcome the ATO but it has to go somewhere else.”

Protest at Central Coast Leagues Club Park on Saturday morning
People were urged to continue to lobby Mrs Wicks and sign the online petition.

Mrs Wicks has again defended the decision and dismissed the protest as a political stunt.

“Revitalising Gosford requires a number of elements — and delivering 600 jobs is the first piece of the puzzle,” she said,

An artists impression of the ATO building earmarked for the old Gosford school site
“The NSW Government has advised that the site is on a portion of the land of the old Gosford Public School site, not the entirety, and will be facing towards Georgiana Terrace and the city.

“The rest of the land is owned by the NSW Government, and forms part of the wider waterfront precinct.”

She said the ATO ran a thorough open market approach for the development in line with Commonwealth Procurement Rules, with Doma Group selected as the successful applicant.

“Six hundred jobs coming to Gosford will be a game-changer for our region. There’s a new Standard of Excellence coming to Gosford, and I’m proud to be a champion for this cause,” she said.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Nimbys everywhere.

I'm guessing these are the same people who would be seen dead in Gosford, live in Avoca and also protested about sinking the boat

 

[dibo]

So I think the ATO building sucks, not because it's the ATO but it's frickin boring.

Other than that, they can all take a running f**king jump. We should work out what the biggest building will be in the CBD and name it Malcolm Brooks tower, just as a big middle finger to him for all his "help" in keeping Gosford vital.

 

[Luca Brasi]

Mr Brooks said the CCRDC showed a complete lack of vision for Gosford’s future

pot, kettle, black?

 

[dibo]

pot, kettle, black?

I know, right? Farkin hell...