Housing & planning · Central Coast Council
Somersby rezoning bid clears council vote, with conservation land proposed to rise to 35 hectares
Central Coast councillors backed a gateway request for the former Old Sydney Town site at 945 Old Pacific Highway and 66 Myoora Road, while tying any future housing to tourism works and limiting retail space.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
A planning proposal for Somersby’s former Old Sydney Town site has won Central Coast Council support for a gateway request after a recorded 7-6 vote, with the resolution noting a proposed increase in conservation-zoned land from 6 hectares to 35 hectares.
The proposal covers 945 Old Pacific Highway and 66 Myoora Road. Council resolved to request a gateway determination from the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, the next State planning step recorded in the minutes. The vote does not approve rezoning or construction.
The resolution also sets out changes Council wants made before the proposal is submitted. The predominant use of developable land would be required to be tourism or employment, while stage-one tourism uses would need to be complete and operating before residential construction began.
A neighbourhood shop would be capped at 125 square metres, with other floor space reserved for tourism or employment uses. The resolution also refers to retaining and refurbishing the dilapidated Old Sydney Town buildings and protecting them with heritage listing, supporting expansion of the Australian Reptile Park and creating 579 ongoing jobs. Those are Council’s stated reasons for supporting the proposal, not verified outcomes.
The minutes record Mayor John McNamara, Cr Doug Eaton OAM, Deputy Mayor Rachel Stanton, Cr Trent McWaide, Cr Jared Wright, Cr Lawrie McKinna and Cr John Mouland voting for the resolution. Cr Jane Smith, Cr Corinne Lamont, Cr Helen Crowley, Cr Sharon Walsh, Cr Margot Castles and Cr Kyle MacGregor are recorded as voting against it. Cr Belinda Neal and Cr Kyla Daniels were absent for the item after disclosing interests.
A later attempt to rescind the resolution was declared lost. The minutes record five councillors voting for rescission, seven against and Cr Smith, Cr Neal and Cr Daniels absent. The original planning resolution therefore remained in place.
The gateway request and any subsequent State planning steps will determine whether the proposal progresses. The council minutes do not record a final rezoning decision or approval for development at the site.
What deserves a closer look
The recorded outcome supports seeking a gateway determination but does not itself determine the rezoning or authorise construction.
The requested amendments contain a sequencing condition: stage-one tourism uses would need to be complete and operating before residential construction begins.
The supplied minutes do not establish that the requested amendments have been completed or that the gateway request has been submitted.
Questions for follow-up reporting
Will the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure issue a gateway determination, and what conditions would it impose?
Have the specified amendments been made, and has the planning proposal been submitted for gateway consideration?
If the proposal progresses, how will the proposed sequencing of tourism and residential development be monitored?
What happens next
Under the resolution, the specified amendments are to be made to the planning proposal before submission for gateway determination; their completion is not recorded.
If the proposal proceeds to gateway consideration, await the State's determination and any requirements it imposes.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The C-26/1174 motion concerns the former Old Sydney Town site at 945 Old Pacific Highway and 66 Myoora Road, Somersby, and requests a gateway determination from the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
Cr Daniels remained absent from the meeting due to her disclosed interest in this item and did not take part in discussion or voting on this item. Central Coast Council - Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes 27 October 2026 Page 14 OFFICIAL A MOTION was MOVED by Cr Eaton OAM and SECONDED by Cr McKinna: C-26/1174 That Council adopts the recommendations of the Environment and Planning Committee, held on 4 August 2026, in the below resolutions: (EPC-26/217 - Request to amend Central Coast Local Environmental Plan 2022 to rezone land at 945 Old Pacific Highway and 66 Myoora Road, Somersby (former Old Sydney Town site) That Council: a. Requests a gateway determination from the department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, pursuant to the EPA Act 1979, in relation to the planning proposal in Attachment 1. b.
Item 4.3; C-26/1174; EPC-26/217
Open original minutes ↗The stated reasons for support include increasing conservation-zoned land from 6 to 35 hectares, retaining and refurbishing the dilapidated Old Sydney Town buildings, and protecting them with heritage listing.
Notes the reasons for support as follows: i. The proposal increases conservation zoned land from 6 to 35 ha. ii. The proposal will ensure the retention and refurbishment of dilapidated Old Sydney Town buildings and protect them with heritage listing.
C-26/1174; reasons for support, clauses b(i)–(ii)
Open original minutes ↗The quotation states that the proposal would assist the Reptile park's viability and expansion and create 579 ongoing jobs.
iii. The proposal will assist in the viability of the Reptile park and provide for its expansion. iv. The proposal will create a world class tourist precinct. v. The residential component is not the majority of the site, with average lots size of over 1000 m2 it's of a rural village character and its investment is required to fund the tourism, heritage and environmental outcomes. vi. The proposal can be serviced and is far enough away from other uses not to be impacted by them nor it impact on them. vii. The proposal will create 579 ongoing jobs, many at entry level and suitable for young people and students.
C-26/1174; reasons for support, clauses b(iii)–(vii)
Open original minutes ↗The quotation requests amendments before submission for gateway determination to provide for predominantly tourism and/or employment use of developable land, completed and operational stage-one tourism uses before residential construction, and a neighbourhood shop no larger than 125 square metres, with all other floor space for tourism and/or employment.
c. Requests the following amendments are made to the Planning Proposal prior to submission for Gateway Determination: i. The Planning Proposal is updated to include a local provision in the Central Coast Local Environmental 2022 that provides a mechanism that will ensure: A. The predominate use of developable land is a tourist and/or employment use. B. Stage 1 tourist uses are complete and operational before the construction of any residential development commences on site. C. Future tourism use stages as per the schedule (including future use stages nominated on the master plan) attached to the planning proposal are undertaken. Central Coast Council - Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes 27 October 2026 Page 15 OFFICIAL D. The proposed retail floor space is restricted to a neighbourhood shop (not exceeding 125 square metres) to meet the needs of residents. All other floor space to be used for tourism and/or employment uses.
C-26/1174; requested amendments, clause c
Open original minutes ↗The vote was recorded as carried with seven votes for, six against and two councillors absent.
CARRIED FOR: Mayor McNamara, Cr Eaton OAM, Deputy Mayor Stanton, Cr McWaide, Cr Wright, Cr McKinna and Cr Mouland AGAINST: Cr Smith, Cr Lamont, Cr Crowley, Cr Walsh, Cr Castles and Cr MacGregor ABSENT FOR THIS ITEM: Cr Neal and Cr Daniels 8:38pm Cr Daniels returned at 8:38pm.
C-26/1174; vote
Open original minutes ↗Cr Neal left and Cr Daniels remained absent for Item 4.3 because of disclosed interests, and neither took part in discussion or voting on that item.
2. Supports, in principle, the construction of a telecommunications tower at Budgewoi. CARRIED FOR: Mayor McNamara, Cr Smith, Cr Lamont, Cr Neal, Cr Crowley, Cr Walsh, Cr Castles, Cr MacGregor, Cr Eaton OAM, Deputy Mayor Stanton, Cr McWaide, Cr Wright, Cr McKinna and Cr Mouland AGAINST: Nil ABSENT FOR THIS ITEM: Cr Smith and Cr Daniels 4.3 Deferred Item - Environment and Planning Committee - Minutes and Recommendations 8:09pm Cr Neal left the meeting at 8:09pm, due to her disclosed interest in this item and did not take part in discussion or voting on this item. Cr Daniels remained absent from the meeting due to her disclosed interest in this item and did not take part in discussion or voting on this item. Central Coast Council - Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes 27 October 2026 Page 14 OFFICIAL A MOTION was MOVED by Cr Eaton OAM and SECONDED by Cr McKinna: C-26/1174 That Council adopts the recommendations of the Environment and Planning Committee, held on 4 August 2026, in the below resolutions: (EPC-26/217 - Request to amend Central Coast Local Environmental Plan 2022 to rezone land at 945 Old Pacific Highway and 66 Myoora Road, Somersby (former Old Sydney Town site) That Council: a.
Item 4.3; interest-related absences
Open original minutes ↗The quoted text seeks to rescind C-26/1174 concerning the former Old Sydney Town rezoning proposal.
Cr Daniels remained absent due to her disclosed interest in this item and did not take part in discussion or voting on this item. 10:33pm That the following resolution be rescinded: C-26/1174 - (EPC-26/217 - Request to amend Central Coast Local Environmental Plan 2022 to rezone land at 945 Old Pacific Highway and 66 Myoora Road, Somersby (former Old Sydney Town site) That Council: a.
10:33pm; rescission motion on C-26/1174
Open original minutes ↗The motion was declared lost, with five councillors listed for it, seven against and Cr Smith, Cr Neal and Cr Daniels absent.
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
10:49pm; rescission vote on C-26/1174
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the supplied official minutes of Central Coast Council's Ordinary Council Meeting held on 27 October 2026. The supplied record does not establish whether these minutes have been confirmed.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council supported seeking a gateway determination for 945 Old Pacific Highway and 66 Myoora Road, Somersby.
- The resolution records a proposed increase in conservation-zoned land from 6 to 35 hectares and heritage protection for the former Old Sydney Town buildings.
- Council requested pre-submission amendments prioritising tourism and employment uses, sequencing tourism before residential construction, and capping a neighbourhood shop at 125 square metres.
- The original planning resolution was recorded as carried seven votes to six; a later rescission motion was recorded as lost five votes to seven.
- The minutes do not record a final rezoning decision or development approval.
Why it matters
- The proposal could change future land use at a prominent Somersby site, including the balance between conservation, tourism, employment and housing. The requested conditions would also tie any residential development to earlier tourism works and limit retail space to a small neighbourhood shop.