Housing & planning · Central Coast Council
Central Coast committee raises concern over less notice for residential development
A committee recommendation calls on Central Coast Council to write to the relevant State Minister about reduced public exhibition and notification requirements for most residential land uses.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Residents affected by local development applications could have less notice and fewer formal opportunities to comment under changes criticised by Central Coast Council’s Environment & Planning Committee.
The committee’s recommendation, EPC-26/263, says Council should note with concern the removal and reduction of public exhibition requirements and notifications for local development applications for most residential land uses. It asks Council to write to the relevant State Minister outlining those concerns.
The motion was carried on 3 November with seven votes in favour and none against. Cr Doug Eaton OAM, Cr Sharon Walsh, Cr Margot Castles, Cr Jane Smith, Cr John Mouland, Deputy Mayor Rachel Stanton and Mayor John McNamara were recorded as supporting it.
The resolution was a recommendation to Council, not a record that the full Council had adopted the position. It also does not show that the State changes have taken effect. The minutes do not identify the specific rules involved, the applications covered beyond the reference to most residential land uses, or any commencement date.
If Council adopts the recommendation, it would write to the relevant State Minister outlining its concerns. The minutes do not record a ministerial response or a timetable for the correspondence.
What deserves a closer look
The committee approved a recommendation to Council; its vote does not establish that the full Council adopted the position or authorised the correspondence.
The minutes identify the concern and the proposed correspondence but do not specify the State rules, the affected applications beyond most residential land uses, or when any changes would take effect.
Questions for follow-up reporting
Has Central Coast Council adopted the committee's recommendation and sent the proposed letter?
Which residential land uses and development applications are covered by the reduced exhibition and notification requirements described in the report?
Has the relevant State Minister responded, and is there an implementation timetable?
What happens next
If Council adopts EPC-26/263, it would receive and note the report, note the stated concerns and write to the relevant State Minister outlining those concerns.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The motion for item 4.1, EPC-26/263, was framed as a recommendation that Council note concerns about reduced public exhibition and notification requirements for local development applications for most residential land uses, and write to the relevant State Minister.
CARRIED FOR: Cr Eaton OAM, Cr Walsh, Cr Castles, Cr Smith, Cr Mouland, Deputy Mayor Stanton and Mayor McNamara AGAINST: Nil 4 REPORTS 4.1 State Community Participation Plan - for Information 6:20pm A MOTION was MOVED by Cr Castles and SECONDED by Cr Walsh: EPC-26/263 That the Committee recommends that Council: a. Receives and notes the information in this report. b. Notes with concern the removal and reduction of public exhibition requirements and notifications for local development applications for most residential land uses and writes to the relevant State Minister outlining these concerns.
Item 4.1, EPC-26/263
Open original minutes ↗The minutes record "CARRIED", with seven councillors listed in favour and none against.
Central Coast Council Environment & Planning Committee Minutes 3 November 2026 Page 9 OFFICIAL CARRIED FOR: Cr Eaton OAM, Cr Walsh, Cr Castles, Cr Smith, Cr Mouland, Deputy Mayor Stanton and Mayor McNamara AGAINST: Nil 4.2 Draft Mobile Food Vending on Community Land Local Approvals Policy - Public Exhibition 6:21pm Unit Manager of City Strategy and Major Projects spoke to the 'Draft Mobile Food Vending on Community Land Local Approvals Policy - Public Exhibition' presentation.
Vote on EPC-26/263, before item 4.2
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the supplied minutes of Central Coast Council’s Environment & Planning Committee meeting on 3 November 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The committee carried recommendation EPC-26/263 on 3 November 2026.
- The recommendation asks Council to write to the relevant State Minister about reduced public exhibition and notification requirements.
- The resolution refers to local development applications for most residential land uses.
- The recorded vote was seven in favour and none against.
- The minutes record a committee recommendation, not a final Council adoption or a State decision.
Why it matters
- The committee’s recommendation concerns public notice and comment opportunities for people affected by local development applications, but the minutes do not establish which rules may change or whether any changes are in force.