Council applauds release of Central Coast Regional Strategy

Wyong Mayor, Warren Welham, said the release of the long awaited Central Coast Regional Strategy was a positive step forward for the region.

“I’m pleased that the NSW Government has finally released the strategy,” Mayor Welham said.

“This is a real positive for the Central Coast and it will set the direction for our community into the future.

“Council staff are in the process of reviewing the Strategy and looking at the implications in detail for Wyong Shire.”

Council’s Acting Manager of Future Planning, Paul Bowditch, said the initial staff reaction towards the Strategy’s release was positive.

“The Strategy has an emphasis on employment lands in the Shire which is a real positive for the area,” Mr Bowditch said.

“The last Strategy adopted for the area was the 1974 Gosford/Wyong Structure Plan so the release of this document provides the Central Coast community with a Strategy which addresses existing and future challenges.”

The Strategy aims to provide more than 27,000 new local jobs in Wyong Shire (45,000 for the entire Central Coast) to reduce the number of people forced into a daily commute to work.

The Tuggerah-Wyong region is identified as a major centre with a capacity for 5,500 new jobs.

“The Strategy also calls for the formulation of a Regional Conservation Strategy, Regional Economic Development and Employment Strategy and a North Wyong Structure Plan,” Mr Bowditch said.

“Each of these are important projects which will implement detailed aspects of the strategy.

“By 2031 the population of Wyong Shire is anticipated to grow by 70,000.

“This will require 39,500 new dwellings in Wyong Shire and of this, 14,500 new dwellings are planned to be located in centres (town centres, villages and neighbourhoods).

“The key question is going to be where and how this new population is going to be accommodated.

“This will require significant studies and extensive consultation with residents.
“ We are also concerned that there is no extra funding provided in the Strategy for additional infrastructure items.

“However, we look forward to going over the Strategy in detail and getting on with the job of putting it into action.”

Media contact: Cameron Bell (02) 4350 1667

Page last updated: 30/06/2008