The NSW State Government is pushing to put apartment blocks along the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshores.
Coffs Harbour said ‘No’ to residential development in our most popular recreation area when 69% of the community voted against it at the 2024 Council elections.
The Government has backed away from bad development in other communities. Let’s stop the rezoning and sale of public land for private multistorey development and ensure the revitalisation updates our Foreshores so they genuinely meet the future recreational and tourism needs of our community.
The proposed development will permanently put valuable public recreation land into private hands in our most popular recreation area.
Coffs is forecast to be home to more than 100,000 people by 2041. This is an opportunity to make sure we have the space for everyone to enjoy picnics, sports and markets where we want them now and into the future.
Let’s take the long-term view and rezone for leisure for all not luxury apartments for the few.
The proposed development will slash public parking spaces along the foreshores and beachgoers will need to park as far away as the train station and beyond during busy times.
With no planned changes to road access, the increased traffic associated with up to 450 new apartments and hotel rooms will create unprecedented congestion.
What will this mean for Coffs families and individuals wanting to go fishing, picnicking, surfing, swimming, running, skating, kayaking, outrigger-canoeing and sailing around the harbour?
The Minns Government wants the project to pay for itself but admits the cost of our promised parklands, public infrastructure and community spaces won’t be met by the development proceeds.
Where will the money for these promises come from?
The only option the Government has identified for generating more funding for community initiatives is to increase the scale and height of any development. They have the power to do this if the rezoning goes ahead.
The NSW Government’s plan puts new apartments and infrastructure a storm surge from the ocean. It goes against everything we understand about the coastal impact of climate change.
Coffs Harbour City Council identified the foreshores as an area at extreme risk of erosion and flooding as the sea level rises. The Government has provided no detail about how this will impact the development or how it will be protected.
Why isn’t the NSW Government following its own advice and protecting our coastal land that is vulnerable to storms and flooding?
When a weather event happens, will ratepayers be left having to pay?
This is not a housing solution for our community.
The NSW Government says they don’t know how much, if any, affordable and social housing will be included in the development. At current valuations, any new foreshore apartments will be sold to the highest bidders for millions.
According to the Local Growth Management Strategy 2020, prepared by Coffs Council and endorsed by the NSW Government, our city doesn’t have a predicted housing shortage and there are significant areas in the city centre and west of the railway line at the Jetty and Park Beach which are best-placed for potential new apartment developments.
The Jetty Foreshores is the centre of Gumbaynggirr Country, with special meaning and strong historical, traditional and cultural connection for Aboriginal Gumbaynggirr people.
The area along, surrounding and within the Foreshores has a web of Aboriginal Sacred Sites.
The NSW Government has ignored repeated calls by the Garlambirla Guyuu-Girrwaa Coffs Harbour Local Aboriginal Elders Corporation to preserve open space and public land in the area.
They only listen to the stories they want to hear.
Coffs is recognised as an eco and experience tourism hot spot – the first and only certified ECO Tourism destination in NSW – and our visitor numbers jumped 20% in 2023/24.
Why threaten our current and future outdoor tourism credentials by rezoning to limit open space in what is already our most popular recreation area?
This is an opportunity to enhance our parklands and improve our facilities for everybody to enjoy.
