Central Coast Council's acting director of planning and environment, Mr Matthew Corradin has told Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid: "I can confirm that this matter is currently under active consideration by council staff."

He was responding to representations made by Dr Reid on behalf of residents seeking to have the reserve retained and reclassified for community use.

Local residents have pointed to remnant vegetation, the flood-prone nature of the land, the presence of an aboriginal midden and the need for open space as being among the reasons to retain the reserve.

While indicating that there were no plans to reclassify the reserve, Mr Corradin did not close the door on the possibility.

"Council staff do consider all relevant aspects in relation to the purpose-use of Council-owned land including environmental and cultural heritage considerations, when proposing recommendations in relation to the fate of such land.

"To reclassify the land as proposed, and to identify the land in the planning scheme as part of Council's open space network, is a complex matter and would take a substantial period of time to come into effect.

"Both community consultation (for the reclassification) and state government endorsement (for the necessary zoning change) will be involved.

"Council would need to balance competing views and interests in coming to a decision as to whether reclassification may be warranted."

Mr Corradin cited the need for affordable housing as a competing interest.

"There is a clear and present demand on the Central Coast for more housing and, in particular, more affordable housing.

"This land is well-located with good access to services and facilities and is zoned as being suitable for residential purposes.

"It is not currently zoned as being part of council's open space network, either for active recreation or alternatively as passive recreation and conservation."

The council has only just drafted an open space strategy, which is expected to be place on exhibition for public comment this month.

The draft claims the Peninsula "planning district" which extends to West Gosford has a 10 hectare "surplus" of recreation park land.

It also signals a review of the future of "pocket parks", stating: "22 parks are smaller than 1000 square metres and have been identified as non-conforming to a minimum functional area assessment".

The Woy Woy Floodplain Management Plan adopted by Council last year identified the low-lying area as a flooding hotspot.

The plan adopted a 10 per cent (one in 10 years) flood capacity for stormwater drainage on the Peninsula, down from the Australian standard of a one per cent (one in 100 years) capacity.

Excess floodwater would be handled by overland flow, and the plan recommended changes to planning provisions to accommodate this.

The council does not currently have a conservation management plan for the Peninsula's endangered bushland, Umina Coastal Sandplain Woodland.

The council's consultation website, Your Voice Our Coast, lists consultations over the coming year in addition to the Open Space Strategy to include "conservation management plans", a "heritage development control plan" and "development control plans (flooding and coastal hazards)".

SOURCE:

Letter, 17 Jul 2024

Matthew Corradin, Central Coast Council

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