Property and Development NSW Executive Director Vy Nguyen said the notion from some detractors that the government’s foreshore proposal would include high-rise development is simply not true. The upcoming local council election poll attempts to reinforce this notion.
“There is no current application with DPHI, nor any future proposal, to introduce high-rise buildings into the landscape,” Ms Nguyen said.
The proposed development would be consistent with local and regional plans, including the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) controls for land use and massing on the western side of the train line including the Jetty strip.
Ms Nguyen confirmed, “The building heights proposed are from 2-6 storeys which is consistent with established buildings at the Coffs Jetty."
The proposed residential development concerns a small portion of land, west of Jordan Esplanade.
Ms Nguyen continued, “In 2022 we received more than 3,600 submissions to a single community survey. We have continued to partner and engage with hundreds of stakeholders, individuals, and community groups. We are leading vital partnerships with local council and representatives from NSW Government agencies. We know how much the wider community cares, and the quality of our work and partnerships continues to reflect this sentiment.”
Ms Nguyen also responded to concerns that open space would be compromised as part of the proposed development.
“We have committed to fulfilling the community’s desire to enhance the existing open spaces of the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore Precinct. We will also be delivering an additional two and a half football fields worth of improved, usable green space,” Ms Nguyen said.
“All funds raised from the development will be reinvested into the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore Precinct, and in alignment with the goals of the Coffs Harbour Regional City Action Plan 2036.”
A key aim of the master plan is to revitalise currently fenced-off and underutilised rail lands. The rezoning proposal will amend the predominantly Special Purpose (SP2) land to Mixed Use (MU1). This is approximately a 4.6-hectare portion of the entire 62-hectare Precinct.
Coffs’ family playground will be a place that connects community with Country, a precinct of parks and places. The 20-year vision and masterplan will benefit the Coffs community with a village green amphitheatre, adventure and water-based playgrounds, accessible walkways and cycleway connections, and vibrant day and night entertainment and events, in a co-created, safe and inviting space for all ages.
About the rezoning
The current step is the application for a State assessed planning proposal, which is a legislated process. A rezoning proposal for the Precinct was submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) at the end of March 2024.
If the rezoning proposal is successful, the next step would be staging programs of work that would occur over time, and be subject to further community engagement, statutory approvals and funding.
The community is and always has been at the heart of this masterplan. The next opportunity for people to provide feedback again is later this year during the public exhibition of the rezoning proposal.
It remains the NSW Government’s intention to deliver a balanced outcome in partnership with Council, the Coffs community, industry and other stakeholders including traditional owners.
