Central Coast planning rules changed after DCP amendments adopted

Developers, planners and property owners across the Central Coast will work under amended planning controls after Central Coast Council adopted changes to the Central Coast Development Control Plan 2022 on Tuesday.

The amendments were exhibited before council adopted the amended changes at its 28 July ordinary meeting. Council delegated implementation actions to Chief Executive Officer David Farmer.

The DCP sets development controls across the Central Coast local government area. Its updated provisions will affect future planning applications, design requirements and property development decisions.

The changes apply across the Central Coast rather than to a single development site or property. They are relevant to developers, planning consultants, property analysts and residents preparing building or development proposals under council’s planning framework.

The Environment and Planning Committee recommended the amendments earlier in July before the matter went to council for adoption.

The adoption was one of several planning and infrastructure decisions considered at the meeting. A separate motion on accelerating infrastructure delivery to unlock more homes was deferred to the September 2026 Economic Development Committee for detailed discussion.

Council also adopted the Draft Playspace Strategy 2026 - 2030 as a framework for planning, delivering, upgrading and managing playspaces across the Central Coast. Implementation remains subject to future priorities, annual budgets and external funding.

At Lake Munmorah Recreation Precinct, council approved an $830,360 budget increase for Project 26865 to construct a fully accessible public toilet and CCTV infrastructure. The funding will come from the Northern District Contributions Plan, offset by an equivalent reduction to the Colongra Sporting Facility Development budget, leaving the overall Capital Works Program unchanged.

The planning amendments are separate from any individual development approval. They establish updated controls and authorise the actions needed to bring those changes into effect.