Extraordinary Environment and Planning Committee - 10 Jun 2025 7:00 PM

Key decisions

• MacMasters Beach coastal protection and management actions endorsed
  The committee recommended extending the current Coast and Estuary grant to 31 December 2026, adding a future temporary coastal protection works action into the Open Coast Coastal Management Program, noting a coastal risk and options assessment for Marine Parade, seeking an arborist risk assessment for Norfolk Island Pines near the surf club, disconnecting the beach shower, considering funded actions in 2025-26, and making MacMasters Beach coastal management a standing subcommittee agenda item.
  Affects erosion management, foreshore safety, grant timing, and future works at MacMasters Beach.
• FOGO facility EOI proposal lost
  A motion to accept the FOGO business case and move to an Expression of Interest process for a 100,000 tonne per year in-vessel composting facility at Buttonderry Waste Management Facility under a PPP/BOOT model was lost. An alternative motion carried recommending Council circulate the May 2024 feasibility report and Administrator decision to all councillors.
  Delays any immediate progression of the proposed FOGO processing facility and keeps current waste collection settings unchanged in this meeting.
• Draft Flood Risk Management Policy to go on public exhibition
  The committee recommended Council endorse the draft Flood Risk Management Policy for at least 42 days of community consultation, amend it to reflect a 35-year house life and 50-year life for other buildings, and review the policy every 5 years.
  Residents will be able to comment on proposed flood risk rules that may affect future development, rebuilding, and planning decisions.
• Planning Proposal Statistics report amended down
  A proposed recommendation encouraging new tourist accommodation proposals was removed by amendment. The carried motion only noted the planning proposal information in the report.
  No new committee-backed push for tourist accommodation planning proposals resulted from this item.

Important topics

• MacMasters Beach foreshore risk and infrastructure
  Discussion covered temporary coastal protection works, grant timing, arborist assessment of foreshore Norfolk Island Pines, Marine Parade coastal risk assessment, and the beach shower connection.
  Relevant to beach access, public safety, and future coastal works at MacMasters Beach.
• FOGO waste processing project
  The committee considered a confidential business case for a FOGO facility at Buttonderry, including procurement and PPP arrangements, but did not support proceeding to EOI at this meeting.
  Important for future organics waste processing and long-term waste infrastructure planning on the Central Coast.
• Flood policy consultation
  The draft flood policy is to be exhibited for 42 days with specific building life assumptions added before consultation.
  Flood-prone property owners, builders, and applicants may want to review and comment during exhibition.

Resident impacts

• MacMasters Beach residents and visitors may see further planning and possible future works on coastal protection and foreshore safety.
• The proposed FOGO facility at Buttonderry did not advance to the EOI stage at this meeting.
• Red bin collection was referenced in the lost FOGO motion, but no adopted decision changed collection frequency.
• Residents will have at least 42 days to comment on the draft Flood Risk Management Policy.
• The planning proposal statistics item resulted in no new endorsed direction to encourage tourist accommodation projects.

Places affected

• MacMasters Beach (suburb/locality)
  Coastal protection, foreshore risk, arborist assessment, and coastal management actions.
• Marine Parade, MacMasters Beach (road/locality)
  Draft coastal risk and options assessment noted in the CMP.
• Buttonderry Waste Management Facility (facility)
  Proposed site for the FOGO facility considered in the business case.
• Central Coast (local government area)
  Waste planning, flood policy, and planning proposal matters affect the wider council area.
• Wyong Administration Building (council facility)
  Location announced for the next meeting.

Next steps

• Chief Executive Officer to request extension of the current Coast and Estuary grant to 31 December 2026
  Subject to Council adopting the committee recommendation
• Include future temporary coastal protection works action in the Open Coast CMP and continue MacMasters Beach risk assessment work
  Subject to Council adopting the committee recommendation
• Obtain an arborist risk assessment for Norfolk Island Pines along the MacMasters Beach foreshore near the surf club
  Subject to Council adopting the committee recommendation
• Exhibit the draft Flood Risk Management Policy for at least 42 days
  After Council endorsement
• Circulate the May 2024 FOGO feasibility report and Administrator decision to all councillors
  As recommended to Council
• Next committee meeting at Wyong Administration Building
  1 July 2025 at 7:00 PM

Extracted minutes text

- 1 - Central Coast Council Extraordinary Environment and Planning Committee Held in the Function Room 2 2 Hely Street, Wyong 10 June 2025 MINUTES Attendance Members Status Cr Doug Eaton OAM, Chairperson Present Cr Sharon Walsh, Deputy Chairperson Present Cr Margot Castles Present Cr John Mouland Present (remotely) Cr Jane Smith Present Cr Rachel Stanton Apology Mayor Lawrie McKinna Apology Councillor Guest Status Cr Helen Crowley Present (remotely) Cr Corrine Lamont Present (remotely) Staff Status Shannon Turkington, Acting Director Environment and Planning Present Luke Sulkowski, Unit Manager Environmental Management Present Peter Sheath, Section Manager Bushfire and Flood Risk Management...