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Our future needs more attention

The character of the Peninsula will change substantially if Gosford Council adopts the draft Peninsula Urban Directions Strategy.

Will it be for the better or the worse?

The strategy promotes multi-storey development, three-storeys in medium density residential areas and up to six storeys or more in commercial areas, and has a 20-year outlook.

The document, which was prepared under a State-funded consultancy, arose out of the Government's planning policy for the region, Shaping the Central Coast, which designated the Peninsula for "compact city" urban redevelopment.

Only 28 community members were consulted during its preparation.

Residents have until July 6 to make their comments.

The recent residents' meeting opposing high rise on the Peninsula condemned the lack of public consultation about the strategy and called for a forum with councillors to discuss it.

It is clear that insufficient discussion of the draft strategy has occurred if Council expects to gain broad community support for the strategy.

Previous community objections to high-rise at Ettalong have been over-ridden by Gosford Council on the grounds that an alternative was not presented.

Given this, the council should facilitate public awareness and discussion about alternatives to the draft strategy.

At least three alternatives exist which should be considered.

The first is Gosford Council's own Gosford Vision 2025. The preparation of this strategy is only half complete, but already it is evident that "village-style communities" is a strong theme.

Unlike the draft Peninsula strategy, which rules out possibilities of zoning changes and road widening, Vision 2025 has used a process which is based on the future residents would like to see eventuate.

It also has the advantage of engaging in wide consultation and survey, as well as providing four day-long workshops to develop its themes.

The second alternative is a 50-year plan by local community group Equilibrium Community Ecology, "A Spacious Peninsula"

It splits the area into 10 suburbs each with their own shops, offices and neighbourhood centre.

While the draft strategy mentions proposals prepared by supporters of high-rise, it does not mention this 27-page proposal, which was specially submitted for consideration with the strategy.

It deserves the opportunity to be considered by the public.

The third alternative is The Noosa Plan.

Outrigger Resort manager Mr Nicolas Bottiglieri has received publicity for suggesting that Ettalong should become like Noosa Heads.

This alternative is particularly relevant, because Noosa has also recently been through a similar planning exercise.

The process was designed to engender community support and stands in contrast to the process here.

In Noosa, there was extensive media advertising with at least 14 information sessions. The council received 827 unique submissions about it, all from a population of about 39,000 - not much larger than the Peninsula.

Noosa has a "highly-successful system of community governance" with five on-going "community sector boards ... to consciously shape Noosa's future".

The planning strategy has a population cap, based on carrying capacity and infrastructure, and a building height limit of four storeys.

Peninsula residents are right to call for more consultation, for more information and for more opportunities to discuss the alternatives before any long-term strategy is adopted.

We need to take this exercise seriously. Our future is at stake.

Mark Snell, editor