Housing & planning · Central Coast Council
North Avoca restaurant bid rejected in unanimous 4-0 panel vote
The proposed licensed restaurant and cafe at 15/21-23 North Avoca Parade was refused after the panel found no Body Corporate consent and identified unresolved planning, amenity, parking and facilities issues.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
A proposed licensed restaurant and cafe at 15/21-23 North Avoca Parade, North Avoca, has been refused in a unanimous 4-0 vote by the Central Coast Local Planning Panel.
The panel said the application, DA/2004/2024/A, was not accompanied by Body Corporate consent and had therefore not been properly made. It was also not satisfied that the proposal was substantially the same development as the one originally approved, so it could not be determined as a modification application under section 4.55 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Other refusal reasons included inconsistency with the E1 Local Centre zone objectives in the Central Coast Local Environmental Plan 2022 and the potential for unreasonable impacts on residential neighbours. The panel cited insufficient information about noise, a car-parking shortfall and its associated impacts, and adequate toilet facilities.
The application was refused under section 4.16(1) of the Act. Objectors and external referral bodies are to be notified. The minutes record that Graham Milliken and Matt Hanrahan spoke for the recommendation, while Matthew Wales addressed the panel as the applicant. They do not record responses to the refusal reasons.
The refusal applies to the application considered at the meeting. The minutes do not state whether the applicant will revise or resubmit the proposal, or pursue a review or appeal. The minutes listed 22 October 2026 as the date of the next Local Planning Panel meeting.
What deserves a closer look
The refusal combines a procedural issue, the absence of Body Corporate consent, with planning and information concerns about the proposed venue.
The minutes record the panel's reasons and public forum speakers but do not record an applicant response to those reasons or any post-decision action.
Questions for follow-up reporting
Will the applicant revise or resubmit the proposal after the refusal?
Will the applicant pursue any available statutory review or appeal process?
If a further application is made, how will it address Body Corporate consent, noise, parking and toilet facilities?
What happens next
Objectors and external referral bodies are to be notified of the panel's decision.
The minutes listed 22 October 2026 as the date of the next Local Planning Panel meeting.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The application lacked Body Corporate consent and was not properly made.
The application is not accompanied by consent of the Body Corporate and has therefore not been properly made. b. The proposal has been assessed against the relevant matters for consideration under Section 4.15(1) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and is considered to be unsatisfactory.
Item 2.1, reason a
Open original minutes ↗The consent authority was not satisfied that the proposed modification was substantially the same development as originally approved, and the application could not be determined as a section 4.55 modification application.
c. The consent authority is not satisfied that the proposed modification is substantially the same development as originally approved pursuant to Section 4.55(2)(a) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. As a result, the application cannot be determined as a modification application under Section 4.55 of the Act. d. The proposal is inconsistent with the relevant objectives of the E1 Local Centre zone under the Central Coast Local Environmental Plan 2022.
Item 2.1, reason c and continuation
Open original minutes ↗The proposal was inconsistent with the relevant E1 Local Centre zone objectives, might unreasonably adversely affect residential neighbours' amenity, and lacked sufficient information about potential noise impacts, managing the car parking shortfall and its impacts, and adequate toilet facilities.
As a result, the application cannot be determined as a modification application under Section 4.55 of the Act. d. The proposal is inconsistent with the relevant objectives of the E1 Local Centre zone under the Central Coast Local Environmental Plan 2022. e. The proposal may result in unreasonable adverse impacts on the amenity of residential neighbours. f. Insufficient information has been provided in regard to potential noise impacts. g. Insufficient information has been provided to address and manage the car parking shortfall and its associated impacts. h. Insufficient information has been provided regarding adequate toilet facilities.
Item 2.1, reasons d-h
Open original minutes ↗The refusal was recorded as unanimous, 4-0, and objectors and external referrals were to be notified.
i. The proposal is not in the public interest. 2. The objector(s) be notified of the Panel's decision. Central Coast Council Local Planning Panel Minutes 17 September 2026 Page 4 OFFICIAL 3. The External Referral(s) be notified of the Panel's decision. Reasons for Decision: The Panel agreed with the reasons for refusal as outlined in the Council Assessment report. Voting Unanimous (4:0) Central Coast Council Local Planning Panel Minutes 17 September 2026 Page 5 OFFICIAL 2.2 DA/1974/2023/B - 1 Yumbool Close, Forresters Beach - Dwelling, Inground Swimming Pool & Retaining Walls Including Demolition of Existing Dwelling & Swimming Pool with Retention of Northern Retaining Wall & Terrace (Amended Application) Item 2.2 - DA/1974/2023/B - 1 Yumbool Close, Forresters Beach - Dwelling, Inground Swimming Pool & Retaining Walls Including Demolition
Item 2.1, notification and voting
Open original minutes ↗Graham Milliken and Matt Hanrahan addressed the panel for the recommendation, and Matthew Wales addressed the panel as the applicant.
The Chairperson gave an Acknowledgement of Country Statement. Apologies The Panel noted that no apologies had been received. Central Coast Council Local Planning Panel Minutes 17 September 2026 Page 2 OFFICIAL Public Forum The following people addressed the Panel. Item 2.1 - DA/2004/2024/A - 15/21-23 North Avoca Parade, North Avoca - Proposed Licensed Restaurant 1. Graham Milliken – FOR the recommendation 2. Matt Hanrahan - FOR the recommendation 3. Matthew Wales - Applicant Item 2.2 - DA/1974/2023/B - 1 Yumbool Close, Forresters Beach - Dwelling, Inground Swimming Pool & Retaining Walls Including Demolition of Existing Dwelling & Swimming Pool with Retention of Northern Retaining Wall & Terrace (Amended Application) 1.
Public Forum, item 2.1 speaker list
Open original minutes ↗The minutes listed 22 October 2026 as the date of the next Local Planning Panel meeting.
Reasons for Decision: The Panel agreed with the reasons for refusal as outlined in the Council Assessment report. Voting Unanimous (4:0). 3 MEETING CLOSURE The next Local Planning Panel is scheduled for 22 October 2026.
Meeting closure
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the Central Coast Council Local Planning Panel public minutes for the meeting held on 17 September 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The panel refused DA/2004/2024/A for a licensed restaurant and cafe at 15/21-23 North Avoca Parade, North Avoca.
- The application lacked Body Corporate consent and was recorded as not properly made.
- The panel cited possible residential amenity impacts and insufficient information about noise, parking and toilet facilities.
- The refusal was recorded as unanimous, 4-0.
- Objectors and external referral bodies are to be notified.
Why it matters
- The licensed restaurant and cafe proposed for 15/21-23 North Avoca Parade will not proceed under the refused application. The panel’s recorded concerns included Body Corporate consent, residential amenity, noise, parking and toilet facilities.