Game-Changing Proposal for $2.8 Billion Tuggerah Town Centre Development

The NSW Government has announced that a combined $2.8 billion proposal to transform Westfield Tuggerah and surrounding area into a major hub of employment, transport, leisure, health and education has become the core focus of a Heads of Agreement signed today.

The proposal from Scentre Group and its partners includes $2.1 billion for the redevelopment and expansion of its Westfield Tuggerah site in conjunction with $700 million of infrastructure works to transform the broader town centre.

Over the next six months, the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC), Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council (Darkinjung) and Scentre Group will work together to examine how best to deliver the significant project.

 

Minister for Planning and Housing, Anthony Roberts was in Tuggerah to make the Heads of Agreement announcement, and called the proposal a potential “game- changer” for the northern section of the Central Coast.

“This proposal has the potential to shape how people live, work, play and move around the area, with 18 hectares of parkland; new dwellings; a transport interchange; new health and education services, and expanded retail and leisure offerings,” Mr Roberts said.

“It creates significant opportunity for local people to have local jobs, which is something I know that the people on the Central Coast are desperate for more of.

“Local residents are spending hours every week commuting to and from work that they’d rather spend with their families”.

The proposal would create more than 10,000 construction jobs over its 35-year life, and provide 2,700 ongoing jobs into the future, meaning more of today’s locals and their children can live and work locally.

The multifaceted proposal focuses on creating a strong sense of place for the community to enjoy, with two key focal points: a Civic Heart Plaza and Town Centre Park.
 
“The Town Centre Park would be the centrepiece of a proposed 18 hectare open space, including conservation areas, parklands, a lake, adventure playground, innovative green rooftops and bikeways and walkways”.

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance said the proposal includes $700 million for the complete overhaul of Tuggerah Train Station to build an integrated transport interchange and associated town centre infrastructure and high streets.

“Including a new interchange as part of this historic proposal for Tuggerah reflects the importance of integrated, efficient transport in building thriving, liveable cities,” Mr Constance said.

“The interchange would connect and coordinate train and bus services to an 8.5 kilometre active transport network of pedestrian paths and cycle ways.

“Importantly, this proposal would enable people to leave their cars at home and get to where they need to go by using a seamless public transport network or enjoying active transport options.”

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has already committed to building a 220-car multi-storey commuter carpark and lifts for Tuggerah Station.

The proposal covers 70.85 hectares of land owned by Scentre Group as well as potentially including nearby land owned by Darkinjung.

Darkinjung Chairperson Matthew West said: “This is an unparalleled opportunity for Darkinjung to achieve both social and economic gains for our communities and ensure that future development is sensitive to the significance of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.”

Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said he was delighted that Darkinjung had agreed to participate in the partnership and build on the recently announced Darkinjung Delivery Framework.

“Only three weeks ago Minister Roberts launched the Darkinjung Delivery Framework, a suite of planning measures to assist Darkinjung to achieve improved social and economic outcomes from their land holdings. Today’s announcement has the potential to build greatly on that capacity building.”

Mr Roberts said if re-elected, the Coalition Government would ask the Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation to focus on negotiating an agreement with Scentre Group that would lock in the enormous public benefits that this proposal could provide.

Download Media Release

Ministerial Media Release: Game-Changing Proposal for $2.8B Tuggerah Town Centre Development
27.02.2019 | pdf | 114 KB