Housing & planning · Central Coast Council
Six-month extension recommended for Somersby rezoning applicant at Debenham Road site
Central Coast Council’s Environment and Planning Committee recommended more time for the applicant behind the 239 Debenham Road North proposal, but did not approve the rezoning.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
The applicant behind a rezoning proposal at 239 Debenham Road North, Somersby, has been recommended a further six months to resolve outstanding matters, after Central Coast Council’s Environment and Planning Committee voted 4-3 to support the extension.
The committee’s resolution, EPC-26/257, recommends that Council receive information about planning proposal RZ/2/2023, give the applicant the additional six-month timeframe and request that Council officers provide information about the issues to be addressed.
The recommendation concerns the process for the proposal, not approval of the rezoning itself. The minutes do not record the start or end date of the additional period, identify the outstanding matters or state when the proposal will next be considered.
Councillors Sharon Walsh, Margot Castles and Jane Smith opposed the original motion. Councillors Doug Eaton OAM, John Mouland, Deputy Mayor Rachel Stanton and Mayor John McNamara voted for it.
An amendment proposed by Cr Smith and seconded by Cr Walsh would also have required a report on how the item was placed on the committee’s business paper, which councillors had given notice and details of any site visits. That amendment was defeated by the same 4-3 split.
Public speaker Dan Kennard addressed the committee about the item before the motion was considered. The public minutes do not record the substance of his address.
What deserves a closer look
The resolution is framed as a recommendation to Council, so the minutes do not establish a final Council decision on the rezoning or on adoption of the recommendation.
The original motion received four votes for and three against. The amendment received three votes for and four against.
The record provides no start or expiry date for the six-month timeframe and does not identify the outstanding matters.
Questions for follow-up reporting
Has Council adopted the committee's recommendation?
What date does the further six-month timeframe begin and end?
What outstanding matters must the applicant resolve before the proposal can progress?
When will planning proposal RZ/2/2023 next be considered?
What happens next
The committee's recommendation is for Council to provide the applicant with a further six-month timeframe to resolve outstanding matters.
The recommendation also asks Council to request that officers provide the applicant with information about the issues to be addressed.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The rezoning request concerns 239 Debenham Road North, Somersby, and is identified as RZ/2/2023.
Receives the information provided in this report in relation to the rezoning request at 239 Debenham Road North, Somersby (RZ/2/2023). b. Provides a further 6 month time frame to the applicant to resolve outstanding matters.
Item 4.3, EPC-26/257, clauses a-b
Open original minutes ↗The original motion was framed as a recommendation that Council provide the applicant a further six months to resolve outstanding matters and request that Council officers provide information on issues to be addressed.
Cr Walsh joined the meeting at 5.11pm. Deputy Mayor Stanton joined the meeting at 5.14pm. Central Coast Council Environment & Planning Committee Minutes 3 November 2026 Page 10 OFFICIAL 5:57pm A MOTION was MOVED by Cr Eaton OAM and SECONDED by Cr Mouland: EPC-26/257 That the Committee recommends that Council: a. Receives the information provided in this report in relation to the rezoning request at 239 Debenham Road North, Somersby (RZ/2/2023). b. Provides a further 6 month time frame to the applicant to resolve outstanding matters. c. Requests that Council Officers provide information to the applicant on issues to be addressed. An AMENDMENT was MOVED by Cr Smith and SECONDED by Cr Walsh: That the Committee recommends that Council: a.
Item 4.3, EPC-26/257, original motion
Open original minutes ↗The motion was declared carried, with four votes for from Cr Eaton OAM, Cr Mouland, Deputy Mayor Stanton and Mayor McNamara, and three against from Cr Walsh, Cr Castles and Cr Smith.
The MOTION was put to the vote and declared CARRIED. CARRIED FOR: Cr Eaton OAM, Cr Mouland, Deputy Mayor Stanton and Mayor McNamara AGAINST: Cr Walsh, Cr Castles and Cr Smith Central Coast Council Environment & Planning Committee Minutes 3 November 2026 Page 11 OFFICIAL 4.4 Update on Request for Ministerial Authorisation for Wamberal Beach Coastal Protection Works 5:45pm Public Speaker, Lisa Kolinac addressed the Committee in relation to Item 4.4 - .
Item 4.3, EPC-26/257, original motion vote
Open original minutes ↗An amendment moved by Cr Smith and seconded by Cr Walsh, seeking an additional report about how the item was placed on the business paper, which councillors had given notice and any details of site visits, was defeated with three votes for and four against.
c. Requests that Council Officers provide information to the applicant on issues to be addressed. An AMENDMENT was MOVED by Cr Smith and SECONDED by Cr Walsh: That the Committee recommends that Council: a. Receives the information provided in this report in relation to the rezoning request at 239 Debenham Road North, Somersby (RZ/2/2023). b. Provides a further 6 month time frame to the applicant to resolve outstanding matters. c. Requests that Council Officers provide information to the applicant on issues to be addressed. d. Receives a report on the circumstances of this item being placed on the Environment and Planning Committee business paper, including which Councillors have given notice and any details of any site visits. LOST FOR: Cr Walsh, Cr Castles and Cr Smith AGAINST: Cr Eaton OAM, Cr Mouland, Deputy Mayor Stanton and Mayor McNamara The AMENDMENT was put to the vote and declared LOST, debate resumed on the original MOTION.
Item 4.3, amendment and vote
Open original minutes ↗Public speaker Dan Kennard addressed the committee about Item 4.3 at 5:09pm, before a motion was moved at 5:57pm.
b. Publicly exhibits the draft Central Coast Council Mobile Food Vending on Community Land – Local Approvals Policy for a period of no less than 42 days. CARRIED FOR: Cr Eaton OAM, Cr Walsh, Cr Castles, Cr Smith, Cr Mouland, Deputy Mayor Stanton and Mayor McNamara AGAINST: Nil 4.3 RZ/2/2023 - 239 Debenham Rd Noth, Somersby - for Information 5:09pm Public Speaker, Dan Kennard, addressed the Committee in relation to Item 4.3 - RZ/2/2023 - 239 Debenham Rd Noth, Somersby - for Information Section Manager, Local Planning Ecology and Heritage spoke to the '239 Debenham Road North, Somersby RZ/2/2023 | Planning Proposal' presentation. Cr Walsh joined the meeting at 5.11pm. Deputy Mayor Stanton joined the meeting at 5.14pm. Central Coast Council Environment & Planning Committee Minutes 3 November 2026 Page 10 OFFICIAL 5:57pm A MOTION was MOVED by Cr Eaton OAM and SECONDED by Cr Mouland: EPC-26/257 That the Committee recommends that Council: a.
Item 4.3, public address and original motion
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the public minutes of the Central Coast Council Environment & Planning Committee meeting held on 3 November 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The proposal is RZ/2/2023 for 239 Debenham Road North, Somersby.
- The committee recommended that Council provide the applicant with a further six-month timeframe to resolve outstanding matters.
- The committee recommended that Council request officers provide the applicant with information about the issues to be addressed.
- The committee rejected an amendment seeking a report about how the item was listed, councillor notices and site visits.
- The original motion was recorded as carried, with four councillors for and three against.
Why it matters
- The recommendation does not settle the Somersby planning proposal. The committee has recommended that the applicant receive more time and information about matters to be addressed, but the minutes do not establish whether Council has adopted the recommendation or whether the rezoning will ultimately proceed.