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. Council: Central Coast Council Meeting: 27 October 2026, 6:30 pm Recorded status: approved BRIEF Central Coast Council's minutes record support for a gateway request for a planning proposal covering the former Old Sydney Town site at 945 Old Pacific Highway and 66 Myoora Road, Somersby. The proposal would increase conservation-zoned land from 6 to 35 hectares, protect the site’s heritage buildings and prioritise tourism and employment uses. Residential construction would be tied to completed stage-one tourism works, while a neighbourhood shop would be capped at 125 square metres. A later rescission attempt was recorded as lost. The minutes do not record a final rezoning decision or development approval. KEY FACTS - 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. ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD - 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? RECORDED NEXT STEPS - 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. SOURCE PASSAGES 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) 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)) 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)) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) SOURCES https://docspublished.com.au/centralcoastcouncil/document/1b75f98b-4ff9-47ca-9786-f62fabdba96f https://minutesradar.com/news/central-coast-infocouncil-ordinary-council-meeting-tuesday-27-october-2026-27-oct-2026-6-30-pm-minutes-somersby-rezoning-bid-clears-council-a35acb14ff/ 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.