Housing & planning · Central Coast Council
Developers may have another path to deliver infrastructure under Central Coast policy changes
Central Coast Council adopted amended works-in-kind rules that allow it to consider voluntary planning agreements instead of section 7.12 contributions for some large developments, while deferring its coastal lagoons program.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
Developers pursuing large projects on the Central Coast may be able to propose infrastructure works through a voluntary planning agreement instead of paying a section 7.12 contribution, after Central Coast Council adopted amended works-in-kind policy documents on 27 October.
The change is conditional. The resolution says Council may accept a voluntary planning agreement where that may allow works in kind. It does not create an automatic entitlement for developers to provide works, land or other contributions instead of paying money.
The adopted Environmental Planning and Assessment Act Works in Kind Policy and Guideline also use the words “generally” and “usually” to describe when Council will consider works-in-kind applications and land dedication. The resolution says the changes are minor and administrative, with no substantive change to the policy’s intent.
The policy decision passed as part of a group of Environment and Planning Committee recommendations. In the recorded vote, 14 councillors voted for the group and Councillor Jane Smith voted against. The same resolution appointed Smith as Council’s representative on the Calga Sand Quarry Community Consultative Committee, with Councillor Sharon Walsh as alternate, and noted development application statistics and information about major projects.
The meeting also recorded ongoing PFAS monitoring in the Ourimbah Creek Catchment and continued implementation of the catchment’s PFAS Management Plan. It did not record new monitoring results, a remediation decision or a new funding commitment for that work.
Council endorsed a nomination for Wetland City Accreditation covering the whole Central Coast under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. It required changes to recognise previous local government and community contributions, including former Gosford City Council’s role in establishing and expanding Cockle Bay Nature Reserve, and to address evidence about protected wetland sites, conservation measures, management initiatives and community participation.
Consideration of the draft Coastal Lagoons Coastal Management Program was deferred to the 17 November 2026 council meeting. The minutes record no adoption or rejection of the program at the October meeting, leaving its future public-exhibition decision unresolved.
What deserves a closer look
The works-in-kind resolution preserves Council discretion because it says Council may accept a voluntary planning agreement, rather than requiring acceptance.
The PFAS resolution records ongoing monitoring and plan implementation but does not record new results, remediation or funding.
The coastal management program has no recorded substantive outcome at this meeting beyond deferral.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What criteria will Council use when deciding whether a voluntary planning agreement is an acceptable alternative to a section 7.12 contribution sum?
When will the amended Wetland City nomination be submitted?
What information will Council publish before considering the draft Coastal Lagoons Coastal Management Program on 17 November?
What monitoring results or risk indicators will next be reported for the Ourimbah Creek PFAS program?
What happens next
The draft Coastal Lagoons Coastal Management Program is deferred for consideration at the 17 November 2026 Ordinary Council meeting.
Council is to progress the amended Wetland City Accreditation nomination under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The adopted works-in-kind policy and guideline are to include the amendments recorded in the resolution.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The minutes are titled as the record of Central Coast Council's Ordinary Council Meeting held on 27 October 2026 and identify Councillor Jane Smith and Councillor Sharon Walsh.
OFFICIAL Central Coast Council MINUTES of the Ordinary Council Meeting held in the Central Coast Council Chambers 2 Hely Street, Wyong Tuesday 27 October 2026 Present Mayor John McNamara Deputy Mayor Rachel Stanton Councillor Margot Castles Councillor Helen Crowley Councillor Kyla Daniels Councillor Doug Eaton OAM Councillor Corinne Lamont Councillor Kyle MacGregor Councillor Lawrie McKinna Councillor Trent McWaide (remotely) Councillor John Mouland Councillor Belinda Neal Councillor Jane Smith Councillor Sharon Walsh Councillor Jared Wright Council Officers Jamie Loader Acting Chief Executive Officer Boris Bolgoff Director Infrastructure Services
Document title and councillor list
Open original minutes ↗The proposed works-in-kind policy amendment includes a clause stating that Council may accept a VPA instead of a section 7.12 contribution sum for large developments subject to that contribution, which may allow works in kind.
(EPC-26/242 Draft Works in Kind Policy and Guidelines - for Adoption) That Council: a. Adopts the draft Environmental Planning and Assessment Act Works in Kind Policy and Environmental Planning and Assessment Act Works in Kind Guideline, with the following amendments: i. Policy amendments: A. 4.2 insert 'generally' - Council will generally only consider. B. Insert an additional clause: For large developments subject to 7.12 contribution council may accept a VPA instead of a 7.12 contribution sum that may allow works in kind. ii. Guideline amendments: A. 4.12 insert 'usually' - Council will usually only consider. B. 4.13 insert 'usually' - applications will usually only be considered. C. 4.14 insert 'usually' - the dedication of land is not usually considered. Central Coast Council - Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes 27 October 2026 Page 18 OFFICIAL iii. Also add in a separate section: A. Nothing in this Plan prevents Council from considering a voluntary planning agreement in accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and Council's Planning Agreement Policy.
EPC-26/242 Draft Works in Kind Policy and Guidelines - for Adoption
Open original minutes ↗The quoted text states that there are no substantive changes to the policy's intent and that only minor amendments and administrative changes have been made.
b. Notes that there are no substantive changes to the intent of the policy and only minor amendments and administrative changes have been made. (EPC-26/246 Calga Sand Quarry Community Consultative Committee - Councillor Appointment) That Council appoints Councillor Smith as councillor representative, and Councillor Walsh as the alternate councillor representative to the Calga Sand Quarry Community Consultative Committee.
EPC-26/242 Draft Works in Kind Policy and Guidelines - for Adoption
Open original minutes ↗Councillor Smith was appointed representative and Councillor Walsh alternate on the Calga Sand Quarry Community Consultative Committee, while development application statistics and major project development application information were noted.
b. Notes that there are no substantive changes to the intent of the policy and only minor amendments and administrative changes have been made. (EPC-26/246 Calga Sand Quarry Community Consultative Committee - Councillor Appointment) That Council appoints Councillor Smith as councillor representative, and Councillor Walsh as the alternate councillor representative to the Calga Sand Quarry Community Consultative Committee. (EPC-26/253 Development Assessment Statistics and Major Applications – Update) That Council: a. Notes the Development Application statistics contained within the Development Application statistics report. b. Notes the information contained within this report with respect to major project development applications. CARRIED FOR: Mayor McNamara, Cr Lamont, Cr Neal, Cr Crowley, Cr Walsh, Cr Castles, Cr MacGregor, Cr Eaton OAM, Deputy Mayor Stanton, Cr McWaide, Cr Wright, Cr McKinna, Cr Mouland and Cr Daniels AGAINST: Cr Smith 9:59pm A MOTION was MOVED by Cr Walsh and SECONDED by Cr Eaton OAM: C-26/1192 (EPC-26/248 Wetland City Application 2026) That Council: 1.
EPC-26/246 and EPC-26/253
Open original minutes ↗The recorded vote lists 14 councillors for and Councillor Smith against, and declares the motion carried.
b. Notes the information contained within this report with respect to major project development applications. CARRIED FOR: Mayor McNamara, Cr Lamont, Cr Neal, Cr Crowley, Cr Walsh, Cr Castles, Cr MacGregor, Cr Eaton OAM, Deputy Mayor Stanton, Cr McWaide, Cr Wright, Cr McKinna, Cr Mouland and Cr Daniels AGAINST: Cr Smith 9:59pm A MOTION was MOVED by Cr Walsh and SECONDED by Cr Eaton OAM: C-26/1192 (EPC-26/248 Wetland City Application 2026) That Council: 1.
C-26/1191 — vote before the 9:59pm Wetland City motion
Open original minutes ↗The quoted text calls for adoption of the listed Environment and Planning Committee recommendations and for Council to note the outcomes of ongoing PFAS monitoring in the Ourimbah Creek Catchment and continued implementation of the catchment PFAS Management Plan.
Receives the minutes of the Environment and Planning Committee meeting held on 6 October 2026. 2. Adopts the recommendations of the Environment and Planning Committee in the below resolutions: (EPC-26/239 – Mangrove Mountain Subcommittee Minutes and Recommendations – September 2026) That Council notes the outcomes of Council's ongoing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) monitoring program within the Ourimbah Creek Catchment and the continued implementation of the Ourimbah Creek Catchment PFAS Management Plan.
C-26/1191 and EPC-26/239 Mangrove Mountain Subcommittee Minutes and Recommendations
Open original minutes ↗The quoted text calls for endorsement of a whole-of-Central-Coast Wetland City Accreditation nomination under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, with amendments addressing historical contributions, protected wetland sites, conservation measures, management initiatives and community participation.
Endorses the Wetland City Accreditation Nomination under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands for the whole Central Coast. 2. Delegates the Chief Executive Officer authority to nominate Central Coast Council for Wetland City Accreditation. Central Coast Council - Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes 27 October 2026 Page 19 OFFICIAL 3. Requires, that the nomination appropriately recognises the historical contribution of previous local government and the community to wetland conservation, including the former Gosford City Council's contribution to the establishment and expansion of Cockle Bay Nature Reserve, and includes relevant information about Cockle Bay, Rileys Island, Pelican Island and Saratoga Island Nature Reserves, together with their recognised ecological and conservation values. 4. Requires that the amended nomination adequately addresses the evidence relevant to protected wetland sites, conservation measures, management initiatives and community participation. 5. Notes that the purpose of these amendments is to strengthen the accuracy, completeness and credibility of the nomination while maintaining Council's support for Wetland City Accreditation under the Convention on Wetlands.
C-26/1192 Wetland City Application 2026
Open original minutes ↗The draft Coastal Lagoons Coastal Management Program was deferred for consideration at the 17 November 2026 Ordinary Council meeting.
10:49pm The MOTION was put to the vote and declared LOST. LOST FOR: Cr Lamont, Cr Crowley, Cr Walsh, Cr Castles and Cr MacGregor AGAINST: Mayor McNamara, Cr Eaton OAM, Deputy Mayor Stanton, Cr McWaide, Cr Wright, Cr McKinna and Cr Mouland ABSENT FOR THIS ITEM: Cr Smith, Cr Neal, and Cr Daniels Central Coast Council - Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes 27 October 2026 Page 24 OFFICIAL Item 6.1 'Environment and Planning Committee - Minutes and Recommendations (EPC-26/244 Draft Coastal Lagoons Coastal Management Program - for Public Exhibition)' was DEFERRED on the MOTION as MOVED by Mayor McNamara for consideration at the 17 November 2026 Ordinary Council meeting (C-26/1195) 6.2 Economic Development Committee - Minutes and Recommendations 9:42pm A MOTION was MOVED by Mayor McNamara and SECONDED by Cr Mouland: C-26/1189 That Council: 1.
EPC-26/244 deferral sentence continuing into P110; C-26/1195
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the minutes of Central Coast Council’s Ordinary Council Meeting held on 27 October 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council adopted amended Environmental Planning and Assessment Act works-in-kind policy and guideline documents, describing the changes as minor and administrative.
- The policy allows Council to consider a voluntary planning agreement instead of a section 7.12 contribution sum for large developments where that may allow works in kind.
- Councillor Jane Smith was appointed to the Calga Sand Quarry Community Consultative Committee, with Councillor Sharon Walsh as alternate.
- Council noted ongoing PFAS monitoring and implementation of the Ourimbah Creek Catchment PFAS Management Plan, without recording new monitoring results in the resolution.
- The draft Coastal Lagoons Coastal Management Program was deferred to the 17 November 2026 Ordinary Council meeting.
- Council endorsed a whole-of-Central-Coast Wetland City Accreditation nomination subject to amendments addressing conservation evidence and historical contributions.
Why it matters
- The amended rules could affect how large developments meet infrastructure contribution obligations, but Council retains discretion over whether to accept a voluntary planning agreement or works-in-kind proposal. Consideration of the draft coastal program was deferred to November.