Gosford waterfront revitalisation

The revitalisation of the Gosford waterfront will support Gosford and the overall LGA.  

The waterfront is a central element of a revitalised Gosford City, and intrinsically related to the proposed new university and TAFE campuses in Mann Street, upgrades planned for Central Coast Stadium, development of the Gosford Regional Library, and the NSW Government’s faster train proposal.

Revitalising Gosford and making it a successful principal city, with a university campus, renewed TAFE and hospital precinct, will create improved: 

• higher education opportunities
• diversity of housing offerings
• job opportunities for the region
• opportunities for local businesses
• investment in the broader economy
• opportunities for significant cultural events 

The development of the Gosford Waterfront Masterplan will offer the Central Coast a revitalised CBD   that stimulates employment and economic activity for the entire region.

Over the last 20 years , many proposals and strategies have been undertaken and unsolicited proposals received, identifying potential opportunities for the Gosford waterfront. These proposals have been difficult to progress, for various reasons. Recognising the potential of the waterfront and facilitating its renewal is important to continuing the revitalisation of the Gosford City Centre. 

Several local and state government documents have identified the Gosford waterfront as having significant potential as a regional attractor and key public open space associated with the Gosford City Centre.

These include: 

• Gosford Our City, Our Destiny Masterplan
• Gosford Urban Design Framework (UDF)
• Central Coast Interim Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) 
• Central Coast Economic Development Strategy 
• Somersby to Erina Growth Corridor (Southern Growth Corridor)
• Gosford City Centre Development Control Plan (DCP)
• Greater Cities Commission's Central Coast Strategy

All the above-mentioned documents have explored and identified likeminded opportunities for the Gosford waterfront. The challenge to date has been how to facilitate their delivery. 

A concise framework was required to ensure the execution and delivery of those opportunities identified in these documents. As such, Council developed a Waterfront Renewal Framework. 

This framework aligns with the NSW Government’s Infrastructure Investment Assurance Framework, which ensures collaboration between relevant NSW Government agencies as we progress with the framework’s gateways.  
 

The concept plan area extends from the Brian McGowan Bridge (in front of the Central Coast Stadium) along the waterfront foreshore to Florence Avenue, Point Frederick (near the Gosford Sailing Club). 

Gosford waterfront has long been identified as having significant potential as a regional attractor and key public open pace. Like Gosford, the waterfront has been the subject of many plans and studies with little movement to realise the plans. The concept plan presented is an extension of the previous 2010 plans and has only been modified to reflect current thought and incorporate the vision, principals and recommendations of the NSW Government’s Urban Design Framework for Gosford. 

The adoption of the Gosford Waterfront Renewal Framework in 2021 provided our community with a clear signal regarding the future of the Gosford waterfront. Council is now getting on with what the NSW Government and local community have asked of us, with the development of realistic and well considered concept plan that can be realised through NSW Government investment and oversight.

Gosford waterfront has been the subject of many studies and plans and there are many technical, financial, social and environmental complexities that need to be worked through – the delivery of thorough, well thought out and most importantly achievable concepts for the community to provide feedback on was a key principle in the development of the concept plan.

It is also important to note that the concept plan presented is a refinement of the previous 2010 plans and has only been modified to reflect current thought and incorporate the vision, principals and recommendations of the NSW Government’s Urban Design Framework  for Gosford. 

Yes. Council has used the feedback provided during the consultation activities undertaken in 2009 to inform the current concept designs. Results from this consultation are available in the document library on this page. 

Quite some time has passed so it is important for us to reconfirm with the community that what they value is included as part of the 2022 concept plan. 

Yes, the resolution of Council called for three concept options to be developed. 

Three concept options were developed, however after thorough testing and investigations – only one of the three concept options would be able to be realised. Council believes it is important to focus on  the achievable option for the community to comment on.  Information about the other two options considered is included in the latest Council report here  

Yes. The preferred concept option presented provides continuous, all accessible pedestrian links and connectivity along the foreshore and to the stadium, town centre, station, hospital, public pool, outdoor recreation areas and the proposed Point Clare cycle link. 

Importantly, the Gosford Waterfront Renewal Framework was developed specifically to support interagency collaboration on the project and to ensure the execution and delivery of the opportunities identified in the various documents developed to support the revitalisation of Gosford. 

There are a number of Government and non-government projects earmarked for the Gosford CBD, these include: 

• Government projects
  • Major education precinct 
    A collaboration between TAFE NSW, the University of Newcastle, Central Coast Council and the NSW Government will support Gosford as a major education precinct with the planned development of a new University of Newcastle Campus, new state of the art TAFE campus and new Regional Library in Gosford CBD. 
  • Major water and sewer upgrades 
    Central Coast Council is undertaking major water and sewer upgrades for Gosford CBD to support economic and population growth by providing critical new water and sewer infrastructure for the CBD. The project spas 66 projects with sites stretching from the Gosford waterfront, through the Gosford CBD shopping precinct, to areas in the vicinity of Gosford Hospital and Gosford Golf Course
• Non-government projects
  • Gosford Alive 
    Gosford Alive is a $345 million mixed use development and is estimated to create 354 construction and 211 operational jobs once fully complete. The Gosford Alive mixed-use project consists of five buildings, ranging in height from 20-30 storeys and includes residential apartments, commercial premises, and approximately 1014 parking spaces. 
  • Central Coast Quarter
    Central Coast Quarter is a mixed-use development with project completion expected in April 2024. The project will be delivered in three stages with stage 1 northern tower (The Waterfront) currently selling. The estimated completion value of Stage 1 is $115 million. 
  • The Archibald 
    The Archibald is a $400 million prime mixed-use development consisting of a twin-tower apartment and hotel complex with 289 apartments, a 167 key hotel, a gymnasium, conference facilities, a sky bar on the 28th flood and a ground floor pub. Approval was given in 2019 for the $400 million project. 
  • Residential development
    A $60 million residential development is currently under construction for 86 John Whiteway Drive (apartments and car parking). Residential and mixed-use applications for 27-33 and 70 Mann Street and 89 John Whiteway Drive estimated at $216 million have been approved (retail, commercial, hospitality, residential apartments and parking spaces). 

As part of the Gosford Waterfront Concept Plan, Council developed 8 key principals for the project, these include: 

1. Stimulate economic and job growth, along with tourism for the Central Coast.
2. Deliver minimal adverse impact to existing views and ecology, whilst considering the impact of sea level rise and local weather patterns. 
3. Aim for achievable, realistic, financially and economically viable goals. 
4. Develop Gosford waterfront and Central Coast Stadium to become a key destination and drawcard for investment opportunities, new business, visitors, locals and tourists. 
5. Provide continuous, all accessible pedestrian links and connectivity along the foreshore and to the stadium, town centre, station, hospital, public pool, outdoor recreation areas and the proposed Point Clare cycle link. This will improve sustainable transport infrastructure in the area. 
6. Provide benefits for the local community and stakeholders.
7. Offer all accessible indoor and outdoor recreation areas, public amenities and performing arts areas. 
8. Deliver varied accommodation that is supportive of the local community and surrounding areas. 

Yes. Council has worked with key stakeholders and industry experts to ensure the option presented is achievable and able to be realised.  The concept plan builds on the extensive stakeholder and community consultation undertaken to inform the Gosford Our City Our Destiny Masterplan and Gosford Urban Design Framework.

The Gosford Waterfront Concept Plan identifies three precincts: 

a) Waterfront

b) Urban Domain

c) Stadium

Each of these precincts have provisions for several inclusions, these include: 

• Waterfront Precinct which consists of 4.8 hectares of reclaimed land: 
  • 323 new waterfront homes
  • Indoor and outdoor dining venues
  • Premium commercial office space
  • Dry boat storage
  • Waterfront Conferencing and events space
  • Waterfront Retail dining and shopping space
  • 150 berth marina
  • Ferry wharf
  • Sea wall with pedestrian access
  • Allocation for a public building 
• Urban Domain Precinct which consists of 1.6 hectares: 
  • Waterfront secure children’s play zones
  • Waterfront picnic areas
  • Waterfront fitness zones
  • Public amenities buildings
  • All-inclusive pedestrian/shared pathways 
• Stadium Precinct: 
  • Hotel development with 94 rooms
  • Public car park with 200 spaces 
  • Training/community facilities

As part of the community consultation, Council is exploring examples, ideas and suggestions with the community via an interactive version of the concept plan. The examples, ideas and suggestions will be used to inform the briefing and detailed design as part of the next phase for the Gosford Waterfront revitalisation.  

Council is seeking a commitment from  the NSW Government to fund  delivery of the Concept Plan for Gosford waterfront, commencing with a $8.5million contribution to conduct the next stage of work, which is to develop a Waterfront Masterplan and complete a feasibility analysis and business case.

For more information on the revitalisation, you can view the information available on this page and contact us via the information displayed in the who's listening widget.

Consultation on the concept plan has now concluded. 

Between 18 October and 1 December 2022, the community were encouraged to provide feedback on the draft Gosford waterfront concept plan and were asked to: 

• Register for a virtual drop-in information session (community and business sessions available) (now complete)
• Drop-in and chat to project staff at:
  • Erina Library   on 28 October between 11am and 1pm
  • Woy Woy Library on 2 November between 12pm and 2pm
  • Tuggerah Library on 3 November between 3pm and 5pm
• Share comments, thoughts and opinions on the interactive concept plans (now closed)
• Provide feedback via the online feedback form (now closed)

Council have developed an engagement summary for the consultation on the concept plan which can be viewed here. A detailed analysis of the feedback received is currently underway and a Consultation Report will be made available in the first quarter of 2023.