B2B with a Twist Publication - Work • Stay • Play October Edition Work Stay Play Spring 2017 Edition | Page 20

B2B - Keeping you in the know
Highlights of the Council Meeting
Destination Management Plan will
put the Central Coast on the map
The Central Coast will become the natural choice for leisure,
business and major events in Regional NSW in a new plan
developed by Central Coast Council.
Council at its meeting tonight adopted the draft Central Coast
Destination Management Plan for public exhibition. The Plan
outlines the vision and goals for promoting tourism in the region.
Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said that with the structural
change in NSW’s regional tourism network and the establishment
of a Central Coast Council, now is the ideal opportunity to set a
new strategic direction for tourism on the Coast.
“Tourism is a major industry on the Coast employing over 12,500
people and injecting over $900 million a year for the regional
economy, and we believe it can deliver even more,” Mr Reynolds
said.
“We have spent a lot of time consulting with the local touri sm
industry to understand their needs, significantly increased our
funding for tourism promotion on the Coast and secured enhanced
marketing services from one of the industry’s best providers.
“Last Friday we launched the new office for Destination NSW for
the Sydney Surrounds North region in Council’s own Smart Work
Hub in Gosford.
“There is more happening now in tourism on the Coast than in the
last twenty years.
“With the Destination Management Plan we have the blueprint
and vision to ensure the Central Coast is the very best place to
live, work and visit.”
The Plan establishes the key goals of:
Growing the value of the visitor economy by $70 million per
annum
Future of Gosford CBD planning
controls to be considered by
new Council “This rationalisation of key housing development controls will
help reduce development application turn-around times, align
terminology, reduce and simplify the information needed, and cut
red tape to make it really clear what residents can and cannot
build on their property,” Mr Reynolds said.
Council has endorsed the recommendation to adopt the proposed
Gosford Local Environmental Plan (LEP) amendments relating to
the Gosford CBD but will request the Department of Planning and
Environment and the Minister not finalise their consideration of the
matter until the newly elected Council can consider its position on
related new Development Control Plan provisions. Council has also rationalised development controls around the
notification of development applications (DAs) including how
Council will advise of its decisions in relation to public submissions.
The proposed LEP amendments include the creation of two new
B3 commercial core zones on street blocks bounded by Henry
Parry Drive, Donnison Street, Dane Drive and Georgiana Terrace
and the street blocks bounded by Erina Street, Albany Street,
Donnison Street and Henry Parry Drive. The B3 Commercial Core
between the railway, Erina Street, Henry Parry Drive and Faunce
Street is proposed to be rezoned to B4 Mixed Use.
Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds said although these
amendments were firmly in line with the NSW Government’s
Central Coast Regional Plan 2036 which identifies Gosford City
as a Regional City for the Central Coast, it was important that
the newly elected Council have the opportunity to also consider
essential planning for Gosford.
“The revitalisation of Gosford is key to progressing the Central
Coast’s southern regional growth corridor enabling job creation
by promoting commercial development through public
investment and the relocation of public sector employment to
the city centre,” Mr Reynolds said.
“It’s a game changer for our region and hence, appropriate for a newly
elected Council to also consider this as one of its first priorities.”
The proposed amendments to draft Chapter 4.1 – Gosford City
Centre of the draft Gosford Development Control Plan 2013 will be
re-exhibited for the purposes of further community consultation
for a minimum of 28 days.
Target dispersed growth mid-week, off-peak and across the Coast
The draft Destination Management Plan will be exhibited for 28
days and will be available on Council’s engagement hub
www.yourvoiceourcoast.com Council has rationalised development controls for dwelling
houses, secondary dwellings and ancillary structures as part of
creating one simplified development process for residents.
Council increases support for
beach safety Under the NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s
Guidance for merged Councils on planning functions,
amalgamated Councils are required to look for differences and
inconsistencies in planning controls and implement measures to
address their differences.
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Above NSW average growth in the value and visitation of target
markets
The Central Coast’s Surf Life Saving Clubs will receive $201,000
annually as part of a three year sponsorship funding agreement
with Central Coast Council to help continue their vital beach
safety work.
Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said the community was
looking for consistency as well as efficiency in planning rules
across the Coast and now they have it.
“All significant DAs will now be notified for 21 days allowing the
community to have more opportunity to have their say in shaping
the development in their local community.
“Having a consistent set of controls for housing is a clear benefit
of amalgamation, aligns Central Coast Council’s practices with
the Department of Planning and Assessment’s Development
Assessment Best Practice Guide and, most importantly, delivers a
more efficient and reliable outcome for our residents,”
Council commits $1.4 million
of funding to partner with
community
Central Coast Council has adopted a new community grants
and sponsorship funding program for the Coast, giving the
community more opportunities to apply for funding to support
their community projects, events, programs and initiatives.
Setting a firm foundation for the
newly elected Councillors
Council is well underway to finalising preparations for the newly
elected Councillors by adopting a Code of Meeting Practice and
Councillor and Expenses and Facilities Policy at tonight’s meeting.
Council is adopting these codes and policies to ensure the newly
elected Council can operate from day one. All policies were
recently exhibited for community feedback with one submission
received.
Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said adopting these
codes and practices ensures the newly elected Council can hit
the ground running and hold their first meeting to elect the first
Mayor of Central Coast Council as soon as possible.
“I believe webcasting has been a successful initiative of this
Administration period as has the fact that meetings are held in
alternative Council chambers and that is enshrined in this Code
of Meeting Practice.
“The newly elected Council can consider if they wish to amend
these codes and policies and any proposed changes would be
subject to further community scrutiny and consultation.”
Acting Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) succession plan in place
for Council
Mr Brian Bell PSM, the former General Manager of Lake Macquarie
City Council (LMCC) has been appointed to fill the position of
Acting CEO should the current CEO Rob Noble leave Council
prior to the expiry of his contract.
Council Administrator, Mr Ian Reynolds, said this appointment
would allow the critical work of leading the Executive Leadership
Team, managers and staff through the Council merger and
business transformation program to continue and would support
the new Council following the elections.
“Rob’s original contract with the former Wyong Shire Council
was only for six months so he has stayed a lot longer than he
originally intended as he wanted to be a part of building a strong
and sustainable Central Coast Council,” Mr Reynolds said.
“He has done an amazing job and it is due to his hard work and
leadership that this Council has achieved as much as it has.”
“I wanted to ensure that strong leadership and commitment to the
success of this Council continues.
“Brian Bell is the best person for the job. He lives here on the
Coast and has led an award-winning Council – Lake Macquarie
Council – for a number of years.
“He has the runs on the board and the commitment to continue
to make Central Coast Council the very best it can be.”
Mr Bell was recognised on the Australian Honours List 2016 with a
Public Service Medal for outstanding service to local government
in NSW. He also comes to Council with an exceptional record
of achievement at LMCC, with high levels of both community
satisfaction and staff engagement, an AR Bluett Award in 2012
for best performing local government in NSW, and continuous
improvement in all key indicators of council performance over his
12 years at LMCC.
Mr Bell is a long-term resident of the Central Coast and knows the
area very well.
Mr Bell will be the Acting CEO until the newly elected Council
appoints a CEO
Highlights from the July 26th Council Meeting.
Media Contact: Alison Ayres
02) 4304 7595 or 0408 967 236
Growing community support for the tourism industry Rationalised housing
development controls
introduced across the Coast
Leverage natural and built assets to continue to grow core markets
“Community input is an important part of the Development
Assessment process. It allows the pros and cons of a development
to be considered as part of any DA assessment.
A Code of Conduct for Councillors and staff was referred for a
further round of internal consultation.
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