A PLANNING proposal to redevelop the Jetty Foreshores precinct has been placed on public exhibition, with Coffs Coast residents invited to have their say.
To support residents to share their views, a webinar will be held on Tuesday 27 May 2025 from 6-7:30 pm, with further in-person sessions hosted at the Community Building at the Foreshores between 30 May and 7 June.
Property and Development NSW (PDNSW) is leading the proposed redevelopment on behalf of the NSW Government.
The planning proposal seeks to change permissible land uses and building heights, and introduce planning controls for future State Significant Development Applications.
Building heights between two and six storeys have been proposed.
“The vision for the proposed precinct includes a mix of commercial, retail, tourism, residential and tourist accommodation, recreation and community/cultural uses,” the government said in a statement on Monday.
Multi-level residential development remains a major concern of project detractors, and was the subject of a non-binding poll held at the September 2024 Council elections.
A total of 33,161 people (68.68 percent) voted against any of the foreshore land being used for “multi-level private residential development”.
However Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said this week the proposal would “inject new opportunity and new life into the city”, deliver more housing supply to address the region’s housing crisis, and give confidence to tourism and hospitality operators to invest in Coffs Harbour.
“Importantly the existing parklands and recreational space will be protected, with all revenue generated from this project to be reinvested into the surrounding precinct,” Mr Kamper said.
“We will continue to work with the community to realise this exciting vision and deliver community, economic, tourism, and housing benefits to the city.”
Property and Development NSW Deputy Secretary Leon Walker said the plan to “revitalise” the Foreshores was informed by more than 3,600 community submissions in 2022.
“The NSW Government is not developing the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore Precinct for profit, with all funds generated to be reinvested back into the wider precinct for the benefit of the Coffs community.
“The number and mix of housing to be delivered, in addition to timing of development will be determined in the future, following the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure’s assessment and responses to the planning proposal.”
Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh, a long-time supporter of redevelopment plans, urged community members to have their say on the proposal.
“I will be reviewing the documents which the State Government today placed on public exhibition and I will be making a submission to the planning proposal.
“I urge our local community to do the same.
“The Jetty Foreshores may be Coffs Harbour’s jewel in the crown, but it is nothing without people, who are at the heart of this important precinct.
“That’s why it’s so vital for the community to have an informed say on how the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshores should look and feel into the future.”
Coffs Harbour Mayor Nikki Williams said there is “a lot to be excited about in the revised plan”.
“I encourage everyone in the community to participate in shaping the future of our Foreshores as a world class waterfront precinct, by taking advantage of the online webinar, in-person drop-in sessions and by providing a submission.”
City of Coffs Harbour Acting General Manager Andrew Beswick said Council would review the proposal and prepare a technical submission.
Significant community opposition remains to any residential development at the Jetty Foreshores.
Gumbaynggirr Elder Reg Craig, on behalf of the Garlambirla Guuyu-girrwaa Elders Aboriginal Corporation, said the NSW Government’s proposal will leave “scars” on the Foreshores.
“The development of private, multi-storey buildings at the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore, on the land intended to be public parkland in public hands, will be an even bigger scar on the Gumbaynggirr Country than the quarrying of the northern half of Corambirra Point (know to Aboriginal people as Bunyun Miirlarl).
“Rezoning land that is currently zoned for public recreation, and land designated for future parkland, so that it can then be sold to private developers to build multi-storey buildings for profit, is disrespectful to the connection and care of Country that the Gumbaynggirr people have had for thousands of years.
“The need to step softly on this land to respect the connection with, and the care by, the Gumbaynggirr Elders of this place of harmony and healing can best be done by enlarging and enhancing the parklands of the precinct.
“With the awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal culture and heritage in the community today it would be very disrespectful to the Aboriginal community and a shame on the Minns NSW Government for this land to be rezoned to appease profiteers and create a new scar on the Country.”
City of Coffs Harbour councillor Tony Judge, a long-term member of the Labor Party which is now pushing the redevelopment, said the rezoning was proceeding “in defiance of the express wishes of the Coffs community”.
“At a time when we have a desperate need to provide more social and low cost housing, the Government’s signature project in Coffs Harbour will be high-end, high cost apartments that most locals will never be able to afford.
“The State Government is trading our future for developer dollars and creating an illusion that this is somehow about revitalisation and tourism.
“This development will largely comprise high priced residential units with an ocean view.
“The cost will be our future recreational space.
“The Minister and his Department should listen to the Coffs community and stop spending taxpayer money on an unwanted project.”
The rezoning proposal will be on public exhibition until 16 June.
In-person consultation sessions will be held at the Community Building, 1 Jordan Esplanade, Coffs Harbour at the following dates and times.
– Friday 30 May 2025: 4 pm – 7 pm
– Saturday 31 May 2025: 9 am – 12 pm and 2 pm – 4 pm if required
– Sunday 1 June 2025: 9 am – 12 pm
– Saturday 7 June 2025: 9 am – 12 pm.
To register for the sessions, or to have your say, visit https://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/housing-and-property/our-business/precinct-development/coffs-jetty-revitalisation.
What are the times we can go in and view the model in the Community Building?
I’m sure our state member, Gurmesh Singh remembers in the last council election 70% of the Coffs Harbour community voted against this development proposal. Surely this indicates that our community, the community Gurmesh was elected to represent and advocate for, has already had their say on this development, which is we don’t want it.
Our mayor may think there’s a lot to be excited about. I don’t see how restricting access to one of our most popular public spaces and building multi story buildings that the average person could not afford to purchase is exciting for the people of Coffs Harbour.
If our elected representatives are not representing the views of the people who elected them do they deserve to be in those positions? It appears they don’t have a full understanding of the job we elected them to do.
I’d like to thank Tony Judge and all the other people who are fighting this development and representing the interests of Coffs Harbour locals.
Reg Graig is spot on..
The ideal location for a lunatic asylum.
Coffs Harbour needs one badly.