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.

Council: Central Coast Council

Meeting: 3 November 2026

Recorded status: proposed


BRIEF

Central Coast Council’s Environment and Planning Committee recommended a further six months for the applicant behind planning proposal RZ/2/2023 at 239 Debenham Road North, Somersby, to resolve outstanding matters. The recommendation was carried 4-3 and does not itself approve the rezoning. An amendment seeking information about how the item was listed, councillor notices and site visits was defeated.


KEY FACTS

- 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.


ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD

- 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?


RECORDED NEXT STEPS

- 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.


SOURCE PASSAGES

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)


SOURCES

https://docspublished.com.au/centralcoastcouncil/document/bd7fff91-8f17-4fbf-949b-fc6633601bd2

https://minutesradar.com/news/central-coast-infocouncil-environment-planning-committee-tuesday-3-november-2026-3-nov-2026-5-00-pm-minutes-six-month-extension-recommended-94238cf72a/


Prepared from public council minutes using automated drafting and checks. No meeting attendance or interviews are implied. Check the original record and seek comment before republishing claims or analysis. Illustrations are generic, not depictions of actual projects.