Economic Development Committee - Tuesday 6 October 2026

Topics

• Council keeps Central Coast Airport plan moving despite biodiversity deferral bid
  The committee rejected a proposed pause tied to the Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement and carried the airport Master Plan forward toward Gateway 2.
  The decision maintains momentum on a major local facility while reserving future Council approval for land disposal, external operations and additional capital commitments.
• Central Coast Commercial Lands Strategy heads for 42-day public exhibition
  Council is set to seek public input on a draft strategy covering commercial centres, employment land and CBD protection.
  The strategy could influence future retail, office and employment development across the Central Coast.
• Gosford night-time economy transport report scheduled for March
  A further report will examine transport-service coordination and the timetable for the Gosford Special Entertainment Precinct.
  Transport access is a practical issue for residents, visitors, venues and workers in Gosford’s evening economy.

Decisions

• Central Coast Airport Master Plan progressed
  The committee received an update on Implementation Actions 1–14 for Gateway 1 and carried the motion to continue the Master Plan process toward Gateway 2. A proposed deferral until the State Government finalises a Biodiversity Stewardship Agreement was lost. The airport lighting upgrades will proceed from the capital budget already approved for 2026–27, while further land disposal, external operations arrangements or additional capital commitments require later Council approval.
  The decision keeps airport planning moving while requiring future approval for major land, operating and capital decisions. Airport lighting works are already funded in the 2026–27 budget.
• Draft Commercial Lands Strategy to go on public exhibition
  The committee recommended that Council endorse the draft Central Coast Commercial Lands Strategy for public consultation for at least 42 days. Officers may make administrative or minor changes before exhibition, and a briefing is to be provided after the exhibition period covering strategic planning, commercial-centre trends, employment land and protection of existing CBDs.
  Residents, businesses and property owners will have an opportunity to comment on the future planning of commercial and employment land across the Central Coast.
• Gosford entertainment precinct follow-up commissioned
  The committee noted progress on the Gosford Special Entertainment Precinct and Purple Flag accreditation work, including stakeholder engagement and evidence gathering. A further report on transport-service coordination and the Gosford SEP timetable is due at the March 2027 committee meeting.
  Transport coordination and late-night access will be revisited as Gosford’s entertainment precinct and accreditation work progresses.
• Film-friendly initiative continued
  The committee noted progress on the Filming on the Central Coast initiative, including a dedicated filming webpage, enquiry process and documented framework for filming enquiries and approvals. It recommended continuing opportunities to position the Central Coast as a film-friendly destination.
  The changes are intended to make filming enquiries and approvals clearer and support local economic activity associated with film production.
• Infrastructure funding application to be prepared
  The committee noted the relevance of the Australian Government Housing Support Program - Local Infrastructure Fund and that an application will be prepared once detailed grant information and key dates are released.
  Potential grant funding could support infrastructure needed to unlock housing and development, although no funding has yet been secured.
• Warnervale Business Precinct market testing supported
  The committee received an update on the Warnervale Business Precinct and preparation of an Expression of Interest to test market interest in development opportunities at the site.
  The process may attract future commercial development and employment opportunities in Warnervale; the item did not approve a specific developer or project.

Discussion

• Airport operating and development model
  The airport material refers to a staged pathway toward a financially sustainable airport, limiting upfront capital exposure, aligning investment with demand and potentially seeking an external operator for airport operations only. Further Council approval is required before any land disposal, external operating arrangement or additional capital commitment.
  Residents may be affected by future airport operations, investment decisions and possible development of airport land, but the extracted material does not record a final operator appointment.
• Central Coast Commercial Lands Strategy
  The draft strategy is proposed for at least 42 days of public exhibition, followed by a briefing on strategic planning, commercial-centre trends, employment land and CBD protection.
  The strategy may influence where shops, offices, employment areas and commercial development are planned.
• Gosford SEP transport planning
  A further report is scheduled for March 2027 on coordination of transport services and the timetable for the Gosford Special Entertainment Precinct.
  Transport availability is a key practical issue for people attending Gosford’s evening economy and events.
• Central Coast filming approvals
  Council has documented filming enquiry, assessment and referral processes and launched a dedicated webpage and enquiry pathway.
  Residents and local businesses may see clearer processes for filming activity, while the initiative may support production-related economic opportunities.
• Development-enabling infrastructure grants
  Council plans to prepare a Local Infrastructure Fund application after grant guidance and dates are released.
  The outcome could affect the delivery of infrastructure associated with future housing and development, but the application stage is not yet complete.
• Warnervale Business Precinct Expression of Interest
  Council is preparing an Expression of Interest to test market interest in development opportunities at the Warnervale Business Precinct.
  Market testing may shape future commercial uses and employment opportunities in the precinct.

Impacts

• Public consultation is expected on the draft Central Coast Commercial Lands Strategy for at least 42 days once the exhibition process begins.
• Airport lighting upgrades can proceed using the capital budget already approved for 2026–27.
• No airport land disposal, external operating arrangement or additional capital commitment can proceed without further Council approval.
• A further Gosford Special Entertainment Precinct transport report is scheduled for March 2027.
• A potential infrastructure grant application is being prepared, but no grant has been awarded in the extracted material.

Places

• Central Coast Airport (airport/facility)
  Subject of the Master Plan Gateway 1 and Gateway 2 planning, lighting upgrades, operating-model considerations and possible future land decisions.
• Gosford (town/precinct)
  Location of the Special Entertainment Precinct and Purple Flag work, including future transport coordination.
• Warnervale (suburb/business precinct)
  Location of the Warnervale Business Precinct and proposed market testing for development opportunities.
• Central Coast (local government area/service area)
  Area covered by the Commercial Lands Strategy, film-friendly initiative, airport planning and potential infrastructure funding application.
• Central Coast CBDs (commercial centres)
  Existing CBDs are specifically identified for consideration in the Commercial Lands Strategy briefing.

Next

• Place the draft Central Coast Commercial Lands Strategy on public exhibition for at least 42 days, subject to Council progression and administrative preparation.
  After the committee recommendation and before the post-exhibition briefing
• Provide a briefing after the Commercial Lands Strategy exhibition period covering strategic planning, commercial-centre trends, employment land and CBD protection.
  After the exhibition period
• Report on Gosford SEP transport-service coordination and timetable.
  March 2027 Economic Development Committee meeting
• Continue airport Gateway 1 implementation and progress work toward Gateway 2, with material matters reported to Council and further approval sought for specified major actions.
  Ongoing; subject to biodiversity, planning and approval requirements
• Prepare an Australian Government Housing Support Program - Local Infrastructure Fund application once detailed grant information and key dates are released.
  When grant guidance and dates are available
• Prepare an Expression of Interest to test market interest in development opportunities at the Warnervale Business Precinct.
  Next stage of precinct planning

Extract

OFFICIAL Central Coast Council MINUTES of the Economic Development Committee Meeting held in Function Room 2 2 Hely Street, Wyong Tuesday 6 October 2026 Members Status Mayor John McNamara, Chairperson Present Cr Jane Smith, Deputy Chairperson Present Cr Kyle MacGregor, Member Present Cr Trent McWaide, Member Present (remotely) Cr John Mouland, Member Present (remotely) Cr Belinda Neal, Member Present (Items 2.3 - 3.1) Cr Lawrie McKinna, Member Absent Council Officers Status Melanie Smith, Director Community and Recreation Services Present Sue Ledingham, Unit Manager, Customer Marketing and Economic Development Present Shannon Turkington, Acting Director, Environment and Planning Present Bil...