Woy Commuter Car Park

The sale of Deepwater Plaza at Woy Woy now appears to be in the balance after Central Coast Council Administrator, Rik Hart, did a backflip on his earlier decision to sell the commuter car park adjacent to the Plaza thereby clearing the way for the sale.

(See full report CCBR March 2023)

At Council’s February 28th meeting Mr Hart approved a recommendation to sell the car park to property developers Raptis & Co.

It appears that the sale was conditional on Raptis & Co acquiring the car park on very favourable conditions.

The news that Council had virtually given the commuter car park away caused a furore on the Peninsula led by Peninsular Chamber of Commerce President Matthew Wales and Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch.

In a media release from Council Mr Hart said that he had asked Council’s CEO, David Farmer, to pause negotiations between Council and any prospective owner of the commuter carpark at Woy Woy train station until after the NSW State Election. Upon resumption, the Administrator has asked the CEO to ensure the community’s perspectives are considered before any agreement is finalised.

“I agree with the community that commuter car parks at public transport hubs on the Central Coast are essential. However,

Council does not need to own rail commuter car parks to achieve this outcome.

“Commuter car parks are the responsibility of the State Government, and Council does not own any other commuter car park on the Central Coast.

“Council’s preference was to align the Woy Woy commuter car park to these traditional ownership structures and transfer the site to Transport for NSW (TfNSW). However, to date, TfNSW has declined to take on this responsibility, despite TfNSW owning another commuter car park adjacent to Woy Woy station, with plans for expansion.

At present, Council leases the 700-space commuter car park to TfNSW. This lease is in place until 2065 and gives TfNSW full control of the car park, including the ability to set the fee for parking (which is currently zero). However, as the owner, Council is responsible for renewing the car park, at an average cost of around $270,000 per year, and receives a peppercorn rent of $1 in return.

“Transferring the site off Council’s books allows the annual $270,000 maintenance costs, plus the eventual replacement costs which would be significantly more than this, to be reinvested into other community infrastructure and services that need Council’s attention.”