Public to have say

Central Coast Council is inviting residents to have their say on a proposal that will see 80 lots of land across the local government area reclassified from operational land to community land.

13 September 2023

 

THE decision to move towards the reclassification of Council-owned land was driven by community feedback during the Council Community Land Plan of Management process earlier this year.

 

Numerous representations were received from community members that some operational land (which is typically used for day-to-day Council operations) would be better classified as community land (which is typically held in perpetuity for public use).

 

Lots that have been identified for reclassification in 12 suburbs across the Central Coast include:

 

Four sites with community facilities comprising five lots in all:

 

• Glenning Valley: part of Berkeley Sports Complex

 

• Kanwal: Lakelands Community Centre

 

• Wamberal: Wamberal Memorial Hall

 

• Yarramalong: St Barnabas Church

 

• Nine parks and natural area sites (some in multiple sections) comprising a total of 75 lots in Buff Point, Davistown, Hamlyn Terrace, Jilliby, Lisarow, Noraville, Springfield and Watanobbi.

 

Council’s Director of Environment and Planning Alice Howe said it was important that Council land was classified appropriately.

 

“The key characteristic of community land is that it is managed for long term public benefit and cannot be sold.

 

“The 80 lots identified for community classification are not utilised for Council’s operational purposes. They are used for a range of community purposes and should be recognised as such in Council’s land register.

 

“All community land must be categorised for instance, as general community use, or as park, or natural area, and this guides how it will be cared for over time via a Plan of Management. This step would be subject to a separate consultation process should reclassification of these lots progress,” Dr Howe said.

 

Council Administrator Rik Hart encouraged the public to have their say.

 

“Community input on this proposed reclassification of land from operational to community is being sought until 6 October 2023.

 

“I encourage interested community members to provide feedback before the final decision comes back to Council later this year. It’s important to make your voice count.”

 

Learn more about the process, view the lots of land and make a submission before Friday 6 October 2023 by visiting Your Voice Our Coast.