Mountain Road development controls head for early 2027 exhibition as Central Coast tracks major projects

Central Coast Council is preparing to exhibit new planning controls and infrastructure contributions rules for Mountain Road in early 2027, as the Environment & Planning Committee continues monitoring development applications, planning proposals and major projects across the region.

The committee noted progress on a draft Development Control Plan chapter and a draft Section 7.11 Development Contributions Plan for the Mountain Road precinct. Stakeholder engagement has been completed and supporting technical investigations are progressing.

The Mountain Road draft controls and local infrastructure contributions plan are expected to go on public exhibition in early 2027. The precinct will have its own location-specific Section 7.11 Development Contributions Plan, setting the framework for infrastructure contributions linked to future development there.

At its 1 September meeting, the committee also received updates on development application statistics, planning proposal statistics, State Significant Developments and other major applications. The supplied decision does not include the underlying figures or identify the applications covered by those updates.

Planning-panel arrangements are also changing. The Hunter Central Coast Regional Planning Panel is being progressively phased out under NSW Government reforms, while the current Central Coast Local Planning Panel membership expires on 30 June 2027. Revised membership is due to begin on 1 July 2027.

The committee supported a call for the NSW Government to remove the prohibition on councillors serving as community representatives on Local Planning Panels. That position will be submitted to the NSW Local Government conference.

The committee also received Fire and Rescue NSW inspection reports for 107 Henry Parry Drive and 159 Mann Street, Gosford, and 1 Minnesota Road, Hamlyn Terrace. Further reports will follow after Council staff review the inspections.

It adopted the Phegans Bay Foreshore Masterplan for implementation and agreed to incorporate it into the Hawkesbury-Nepean River System Coastal Management Program, the strategic plan guiding management of the Brisbane Water Estuary. The masterplan is currently unfunded, with projects to be considered through future capital works and annual budget processes and grant applications.