Community has its say on Gosford

Around 1,000 people attended the three sessions contributing their ideas for the future of Gosford. Gosford Challenge Director, Colleen Worthy-Jennings said that the response was very positive with people contributing their thoughts on:
• The Challenge Vision,
• The features of a regional city Gosford most needed,
• The design principles the Challenge team are using to shape the Masterplan; and
• Any big ideas people may have had.

A questionnaire was also available that asked what people would like to preserve in Gosford, add, reduce or remove and keep out. The questionnaire also asked about Council investment in a Civic facility. People were also invited to make any additional comments.

The Vision
The Gosford Challenge Vision Statement – “Develop and grow Gosford as a world class waterfront regional city, within the Greater Sydney” – was displayed and people were encouraged to comment using post-it notes.

Ms Worthy-Jennings said, “The Vision was overwhelmingly supported with an emphasis on the waterfront and the regional character of Gosford.”

Features of Cities
A range of facilities commonly found in cities with similar aspirations as Gosford were presented and people asked to indicate which they would most like to see included in Gosford. A performing arts centre was by far the most sought after feature followed by a regional park, university, tourist attraction, food markets, integrated transport system and festivals.

While the performing arts centre was most popular, it must be noted that the enthusiasm of some resulted in them putting up more than their three allocated dots, which may have slightly skewed the results.

Design Principles of The Challenge
The design principles that the Challenge teams are using to guide the development and Masterplan were presented for comment. These include:
• Strengthening Gosford as the Regional City and protect the villages;
• Make the most of the outstanding natural environment;
• Mix it up – bring more housing in to the city and encourage activity day and night;
• More and better jobs;
• Make it easier to access shops and services;
• Make the most of what we already have; and
• Make it easier to get around.

All design principles were overwhelmingly supported. Some people had suggestions or objections, however, and they have been captured in the ‘Themes arising from people having their say’.

Additional comments
Additional comments were collected and analysed. Thoughts not captured elsewhere in the process were captured on post-it notes and comments on posters, and related to questions regarding the Challenge’s Vision, the prioritisation of facilities and amenities in a regional city, a call for big ideas and any other thoughts and issues.
These comments were analysed and grouped into themes for the benefit of the design team who also have access to the raw information.

Some of the themes that came out of consultation process were: Access and Movement – Transportation and Parking, Arts and Entertainment, Economic, Hotel and Tourism, Retail, Social issues, University and Education, and the Waterfront.

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