4 the ground was The Bon Tower and Bon Pavilion Restaurant totally funded by Mr Singleton. Unfortunately, Mr Singleton doesn’t get the accolades from the community that he deserves. And we mustn’t forget the Harris Family who, also believe in Gosford, and invested $12 million in refurbishing the Gosford Hotel. And so to the events of the last month! With an election in the offing Premier Perrottet, accompanied by Treasurer Matt Kean, and Cities Minister Rob Stokes came to Gosford on Saturday of the June long week end to announce $500 million toward construction of a fast rail line between Sydney and Newcastle and, by the way, $18 million as the State’s contribution toward a new Gosford Campus for the University of Newcastle (see Page 5) This Government has dragged its feet on funding since 2019. The Feds came up with their share in the 2019 Budget but while this State Government literally poured billions into Western Sydney they refused to contribute a trifling $18 million to educate the young people of the Central Coast. Also last month, came the news that a Sydney developer had acquired the former Union Hotel site with development approval for The Archibald, a 26 level twin tower project that the developer says work will start by the end of the year (see Page 7). Good news for Gosford READING CCBR THIS month has to give us some hope for the future. But first a little history! Looking back ten years, prior to the amalgamation of Gosford and Wyong councils, there was a window when it was all ‘go’ for Gosford and excitement was in the air. Development Applications for residential units that had been held back for donkeys years by council were approved en masse under the McKenna / Anderson council, giving developers and investors real confidence. Significantly, high-rise developments sailed through. And then in 2015 the Baird state government amalgamated Gosford and Wyong Councils which turned out to be an utter disaster. Anthony Roberts MP was appointed Minister for Planning in 2017 around the time that the government had come out with the 2036 Central Coast Growth Plan and announced that he would make the Plan work and importantly for Gosford said he would see the Town Centre and waterfront revitalised. To do that he appointed Coordinator General Lee Shearer to make it happen and established a fully staffed Central Coast regional office of the Department of Planning. Ms Shearer bought in the State Government Architect to come up with what he called a ‘Framework’ for the revitalisation of Gosford. The University of Newcastle while moving ahead with construction of the Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute adjacent to Gosford Hospital, announced that they would build a campus in Gosford with a proposal for a three-way partnership between them and the Federal and State Governments. Confidence was brimming. And then the wheels fell off! The 2019 state election saw in the Berejiklian Government, Minister Roberts was moved out of Planning to Gaols, Ms Shearer was dropped and the regional office of the Department of Planning closed down and moved to Newcastle. In the end the 2036 Growth Plan was substituted for a no-growth plan full of motherhood statements. The Berejiklian Government became the government for Western Sydney and no interest in the Central Coast. At the same time, the developer of the former Union Hotel site fell over and the site was sold to another developer who went broke. Also, the Frogy’s site has gone nowhere as the developer apparently couldn’t move his funds out of China. The Lederer Group and St Hilliers had big plans for their sites and the funds to move forward but the Regional Planning Panel made sure that would never happen. The one constant in all of this was John Singleton, the one man who has never lost focus on what Gosford could become. In the end the only project that got off E D I T O R I A L Edgar Adams discusses local issues We’ll handle it from here • Major supplier of architectural hardware to the residential and commercial market • Door locks, handles, security and more • Consultation service available • Working closely with direct clients, builders, architects and interior designers • Visit our showroom today! Avoca Beach Architectural Hardware & Locksmiths www.avocaarchitectural.com.au 4382 1286 0412 437 327 177 Avoca Dr, Avoca Beach info@avocaarchitectural.com.au CONTINUED ON PAGE 19 CENTRAL COAST BUSINESS REVIEW JULY 2022
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