STAT E O F
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COFFS HARBOUR MP GURMESH SINGH
Within a few short years, Coffs Harbour will be a bypassed city. Rather than slowly making their way through our CBD, travellers will stay on the M1 and save themselves 10-12 minutes on their journey.
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ther towns and cities have greatly benefited from being bypassed. Our southern neighbour Port Macquarie has done extremely well despite being bypassed for decades.
But we cannot sit back and just assume that our city will thrive – it’s something we must work on. The long-term sustainability of our city depends on the creation of great spaces for tourists and locals to enjoy. Central to that discussion has been the Jetty Foreshores. There is one aspect to the Jetty Foreshores we can all agree on – the current situation must change. We are unique among coastal cities because rather than seeing opportunity in improving our waterfront, attempts to do so have been heavily resisted. We need a vision for quality open spaces. The recent redevelopment of the foreshores where the markets are currently held is proof that the community flocks to the improved waterfront, rather than the beaches immediately to the north or south of the precinct where there are 42 COFFS COAST
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abundant and natural green spaces.
The dusty gravel car park and the former transport depot adjacent to the railway line are currently an unused wasteland.
This is an opportunity to create a vibrant and thriving foreshore precinct that is enhanced and activated for the benefit of the community, while There have been maintaining the cultural many discussions and neighbourhood about the future of the qualities the Coffs Jetty Foreshores – Harbour community many of them have values.
Over the past few weeks, there have been many discussions about the future of the Jetty Foreshores – many of them have been constructive and productive. But been constructive and Community benefits disappointingly, some productive. But must be at the heart of have not. Some opposing disappointingly, some the Jetty Foreshores. The the proposal have have not. centrepiece will be a new resorted to scare tactics and improved Foreshore rather than sticking to the facts. There is no ‘highParklands that becomes rise’ in the draft masterplan. Up to six storeys is the green spine connecting the community with only contemplated in the draft masterplan on Coffs Harbour’s family playground. two sites, with the majority being two to four We owe it to future generations to activate the storeys. entire precinct and that’s why restaurants, bars, Improvements and developments need to be cafes and tourism activities need to be explored. balanced and appropriate for the area, but And yes, residential is only one of the potential for too long scare-mongering has overtaken a uses that the community was asked to provide rational approach and has acted like a handbrake feedback on – and reject if they choose to. on our future opportunity.
