Gosford Council dumps $50 million Ettalong Beach development

Commenting on the decision Peninsula Chamber of Commerce President, Matthew Wales, said, “Council has effectively dumped the TESROL development following the application’s referral to Council for comment by the NSW Department of Planning.”

"The Chamber is bitterly disappointed that Council did not get behind the development and openly give its support to the Department".

"Only Councillor Jeff Strickson ultimately had an open mind and was prepared to give the development some support", he said.

"The TESROL development is pivotal to the future success of the Ettalong Beach commercial precinct. Unless you encourage high quality commercial/residential development in the town centre, the town will never properly flourish".

"Council had the opportunity to give the TESROL development support but instead listed a string of issues and objections to the Department of Planning including height, bulk and character", said Mr. Wales.

"Council also wanted the application deferred until the Draft Gosford LEP is gazetted. That could be twelve months away and may be too late to help the ailing Ettalong economy.”

"At a time when businesses are struggling, it is disappointing that Council is not encouraging major property owners to reinvest and redevelop in the town centre. The TESROL site has been vacant for over a decade and is symptomatic of the malaise that the town is going through".

The Chamber said that it has actively backed the TESROL proposal and has fought an ongoing campaign for major changes to the planning controls in the Ettalong Beach town centre as part of the Draft Gosford LEP process.

 "It is such a shame that only one Councillor out of ten understands that you sometimes need to be bold and decisive in order to make a difference. At least Councillor Strickson was exactly that".

Had it been approved the development would have comprised over 800 sqm of retail floor space, 570sqm of commercial area and forty-five apartments over two stages.

Public domain improvements included the creation of a new mid-block public laneway from the rear of the Rocks Arcade through to The Esplanade.

The proposal was accompanied by a detailed Urban Design & Massing Strategy prepared for the wider Ettalong Beach retail precinct which demonstrates the synergies of the proposal within the overall context of the town and its immediate surroundings.

The proposal sought to activate the Memorial Avenue and The Esplanade frontages with a mix of cafes and retail shopfronts so as to create a link between the town centre and the upgraded beachfront.

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