E
FRE
August 12, 2015
Your independent local newspaper
Two significant developments approved by JRPP
-
Ph: 4325 7369
Issue 114
Two years of pain nearly at an end for Marina Cove concept
T
he $3 million Marina Cove concept could be open for business by March 2016, once it received the go-ahead from Gosford Council, according to Commercial HQ director, Mr Tim Gunasinghe.
As someone who grew up on the Central Coast and has spent all his life here, Mr Gunasinghe said getting approval for the Marina Cove had been “two years of pain”. The concept had to be reconfigured following the April super storm and the redesign went before Gosford Council for approval at its Tuesday, August 11 meeting. “Doing something with the Gosford waterfront has been talked about for my entire life and nothing ever gets done,” Mr Gunasinghe said. “Lend Lease pulled out of the finger wharf concept and Council has its master plan, but it would cost hundreds of millions of dollars,” he said. Meanwhile, his Marina
Cove concept consists of 10 pre-fabricated eateries that he said would “draw people to the waterfront”. “They are modular, commercial, factory-built structures, that are built off site and then attached to services on site,” he said. According to Mr Gunasinghe, all 10 eateries have already been leased and no two will serve the same type of food. The Marina Cove will include Japanese, Singaporean, Italian, Pizzas and Burgers, Caribbean, Indian, Tappas and a café. All 10 eateries will also be licensed. “We have redesigned the development to raise it 1.25 metres above current ground level to protect it from storm surges and sea level rise.
“When we put up the original design to Council, we had a unanimous decision to move forward and support us,” he said. The land will be leased from the NSW Government for 15 years with renewal opportunities. “I could have it finished for March. “It is about making Gosford a destination, and I am working with Central Coast Tourism, because at the moment, people drive to the Reptile Park and turn around and go back to Sydney. “Gosford is not a destination at the moment, it is a hole in the middle of a doughnut,” he said. Interview, 10 August 2015 Tim Gunasinghe, CommercialHQ Jackie Pearson, journalist
One of the approved buildings on the corner of 43 Beane St and Keevers Ln Gosford
wo more significant developments received approval from the Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) when it met on Thursday, July 16.
T
Gosford Council mayor and JRPP representative, Cr Lawrie McKinna said approval was given for $7.5 million worth of extensions and other works at North Gosford Private Hospital. “It has to go through the JRPP because it is a hospital,” Cr McKinna said. A $25.5 million residential and commercial development at 43 Beane St was also given the green
light by the JRPP. Cr McKinna said the JRPP requested more information on a third development, a residential flat building at 21-23 Mann St, Gosford. “It will go back to the JRPP and will be reassessed on its merits in September,” Cr McKinna said. He said he had not yet been notified of when the
next Hunter and Central Coast Joint Regional Planning Panel meeting would be held. However, he expected the major three-tower Waterside development in Mann St would soon be reviewed by the JRPP. Interview, 11 August 2015 Lawrie McKinna, Gosford Council Jackie Pearson, journalist
Artist's impression of Marina Cove under Brian McGowan Bridge on Gosford's waterfront
Office: 120c Erina Street, Gosford Phone: 4325 7369 Fax: 4321 0940 Mail: PO Box 1056, Gosford 2250 E-mail: editorial@centralcoastnews.net Website: www.centralcoastnews.net