Environment and Planning Committee - 5 Aug 2025 7:00 PM

Key decisions

• Tuggerah Lakes Flood Study Review to go on exhibition
  The committee recommended Council place the draft Tuggerah Lakes Flood Study Review on public exhibition for four weeks, with further briefing details to be provided to committee members and an in-depth workshop for the subcommittee and interested councillors.
  Residents around Tuggerah Lakes and flood-prone areas may be able to review and comment on updated flood study information that can influence future flood planning and risk management.
• Heritage development control changes deferred
  The proposed public exhibition of draft heritage conservation changes in the Central Coast Development Control Plan 2022 was deferred until after the Heritage Workshop scheduled for 19 August 2025.
  Property owners, heritage stakeholders, and residents in affected heritage areas will need to wait for the revised proposal before any exhibition or feedback period begins.
• Draft Open Pile Burning Policy to go on exhibition
  The committee endorsed public exhibition of the Draft Open Pile Burning Policy for at least 28 days, and requested clearer reference to key threatening processes and discouraging unnecessary removal of timber and woody debris.
  Rural and semi-rural residents, landholders, and neighbours may be affected by future rules on pile burning and vegetation management.
• Temporary Food Premises Policy to be revoked
  The committee recommended that Council revoke the Temporary Food Premises Policy.
  Food vendors, event organisers, and community groups using temporary food premises may be affected by a change in how these activities are regulated.
• Woongarrah planning proposal endorsed for finalisation
  The committee endorsed finalisation of the planning proposal for 243 Green Park Parade, Woongarrah, and recommended completing the amendment process under delegated authority or through the Minister if required.
  Nearby residents and landowners in Woongarrah may see changes proceed through the local environmental planning framework.
• Development Application Submissions Policy recommended for adoption
  The committee recommended Council adopt the Development Application Submissions Policy and send it to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for approval.
  Residents making submissions on development applications may see a more formalised process for how their input is handled by the Local Planning Panel system.
• 2025-26 Regulatory Priorities Statement updated
  The committee recommended adoption of the 2025-26 draft Central Coast Regulatory Priorities Statement and added illegal tree clearing as an additional priority.
  This signals stronger regulatory focus on compliance issues that affect neighbourhood amenity, environmental protection, and land management.
• Gosford Memorial Park and Rotary Park conservation plan to go on exhibition
  After receiving consultation outcomes, the committee recommended public exhibition of the draft Gosford Memorial Park and Rotary Park Conservation Management Plan for at least 28 days.
  Residents, park users, and heritage stakeholders in Gosford will have a chance to comment on the future conservation and management of these public spaces.

Important topics

• Planning Proposal Statistics noted without debate
  The committee adopted the Planning Proposal Statistics item by exception and noted the information in the report.
  This provides a snapshot of planning proposal activity across the area.
• DA Statistics noted
  The committee noted the Development Application statistics report.
  Residents can use this as a broad indicator of development activity and assessment workload.
• NSW Housing Pattern Book noted
  The committee noted the release of the NSW Housing Pattern Book and associated amendments to the exempt and complying development codes.
  These state-level housing design and approval changes may affect future housing options and planning pathways on the Central Coast.
• Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Risk Management Subcommittee appointments considered in confidential session
  The committee dealt with appointment of community representatives to the Coastal, Estuary and Floodplain Risk Management Sub-Committee in confidential session after first moving to amend the terms of reference to clarify that selections are determined by the Environment and Planning Committee.
  This affects community representation in coastal, estuary, and floodplain risk management discussions, although the final appointment details were not clearly extracted from the text.

Resident impacts

• Residents will be able to comment on several draft documents, including the Open Pile Burning Policy, Tuggerah Lakes Flood Study Review, and Gosford Memorial Park and Rotary Park Conservation Management Plan.
• People in flood-prone and lakeside areas may be affected by future flood management decisions informed by the Tuggerah Lakes Flood Study Review.
• Property owners and heritage stakeholders should note that proposed heritage planning controls were deferred and are not yet on exhibition.
• Residents who lodge submissions on development applications may be affected by adoption of a formal Development Application Submissions Policy.
• The addition of illegal tree clearing as a regulatory priority may lead to greater compliance attention on vegetation removal.

Places affected

• Woongarrah (suburb)
  Planning proposal for 243 Green Park Parade was endorsed for finalisation.
• 243 Green Park Parade, Woongarrah (site)
  Subject land for planning proposal RZ/1/2023.
• Tuggerah Lakes (waterway/project area)
  Draft flood study review is to be publicly exhibited.
• Gosford Memorial Park (park)
  Draft conservation management plan is to be publicly exhibited.
• Rotary Park (park)
  Draft conservation management plan is to be publicly exhibited.
• Wyong (town)
  Meeting was held at the Wyong Administration Building area and heritage controls referenced Wyong Town Centre.
• Wyong Town Centre (centre)
  Included in the deferred heritage development control review.
• Kincumber Avoca Drive, Manassah Frost House (heritage site)
  Included in the deferred heritage development control review.

Next steps

• Publicly exhibit the draft Tuggerah Lakes Flood Study Review
  For four weeks
• Hold the Heritage Workshop before reconsidering heritage control changes
  19 August 2025
• Publicly exhibit the Draft Open Pile Burning Policy
  For no less than 28 days
• Progress revocation of the Temporary Food Premises Policy through Council
  At a subsequent Council decision stage
• Finalise the planning proposal for 243 Green Park Parade, Woongarrah and notify submitters
  Following Council and delegated or ministerial steps
• Submit the adopted Development Application Submissions Policy to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for approval
  After Council adoption
• Publicly exhibit the draft Gosford Memorial Park and Rotary Park Conservation Management Plan
  For a minimum of 28 days
• Next committee meeting
  2 September 2025 at 7:00pm

Extracted minutes text

- 1 - Central Coast Council Environment and Planning Committee Held Function Room 2 2 Hely Street, Wyong 05 August 2025 MINUTES Attendance Members Status Cr Doug Eaton OAM, Chairperson Present Cr Sharon Walsh, Deputy Chair Present Cr Margot Castles, Member Present Cr John Mouland, Member Present Cr Jane Smith, Member Present Cr Rachel Stanton, Member Present Councillor Guests Status Cr Corrine Lamont Present (remotely) Cr Helen Crowley Present Guest Status Matthieu Glatz – Manly Hydraulics Present (remotely) Kyle Hasler – Manly Hydraulics Present (remotely) Bronson McPherson – Manly Hydraulics Present (remotely) Staff Status Luke Nicholls, Director Environment and Planning Present Shann Mit...