'Not on your TOD,' say council submissions
Public submissions made by Central Coast Council do not support the claim made by Premier Mr Chris Minns, later confirmed by the Department of Planning, that Central Coast Council asked for Woy Woy station to be included in the Government's high density planning scheme.
The Premier said on Friday, April 12: "The six new stations are Cardiff, Cockle Creek, Belmore, Lakemba, Punchbowl and Woy Woy.
"These stations were all suggested by councils for inclusion."
The Department told Peninsula News on Saturday, April 13: "Central Coast Council put forward Woy Woy as a location for the SEPP to be introduced."
None of the council's public submissions about the Transport-Oriented Development (TOD) program made any reference to Woy Woy.
They referred to Tuggerah, Wyong and Gosford stations, and ask that they "be excluded from the future TOD SEPP application due to the low opportunity for housing yield".
The submissions were made to the Department's consultation on its proposed Transport-Oriented Development Program and to its consultation about its Low- and Mid-Rise Housing Reform.
It also made a submission to the NSW Parliamentary committee of Inquiry into the Development of the Transport-Oriented Development Program.
A submission made at the end of January states: "Council staff have been involved in the 'targeted consultation' and attended a briefing with Department staff on 22 January 2024 to understand the proposed changes to planning controls within 400m of Tuggerah, Wyong and Gosford train stations.
"Council requests that the Gosford, Tuggerah and Wyong TOD locations be excluded from the future TOD SEPP application due to the low opportunity for housing yield, limited land application for the provisions, and the existing approval frameworks in place that have a more locally-based strategic direction for these centres.
"While fundamentally Council supports the intent of the NSW Government to deliver actions that seek to accelerate housing delivery, Council believes the proposed reforms require further work to address the issues raised.
"Additionally, no draft instrument has been provided for consultation."
This was reiterated in a submission to the Parliamentary inquiry received on March 6.
It has also been reported that Council general manager Mr David Farmer has stated that the Council did not ask for Woy Woy station to be included.
No public details of the Department's "targeted consultation" with Central Coast Council staff appear to be available.
SOURCE:
Central Coast Council agenda 2.8, 27 Feb 2024