Harbourside Project - Overview

The Harbourside project encompasses the City's waterside areas from the Harbour up to the intersection of Hogbin Drive and Harbour Drive, south to Howard Street and north to include Coffs Creek (see map).

The aim of the project is to tap into the potential of the Harbour to create a sustainable social, environmental and economic hub that will cater for the future needs of the city.

Council would like to preserve the area's unique environmental qualities, balanced with the opportunity to create a vibrant working and leisure space on the waterfront, and thinks it is important that the area is seen as one clearly identified and easily recognisable area of the City for the local community, surrounding areas and visitors. The focus of the project is on fun, family, jobs, culture and environmental knowledge. 

Current Situation

• Council is working together with planning consultancy firm EDAW to complete a Development Control Plan (DCP)for lands in the Harbourside precinct west of the railway in 2008.
  
  
• The NSW Department of Lands have also worked together with EDAW to prepare a Plan of Management (PoM) under the Crown Lands Act for all the lands east of the railway and including Jetty Oval.
  
  The Department of Lands adopted its Jetty Foreshores Plan of Management in June 2008 and subsequently invited Expressions of Interest for the design, building and operation of tourist and maritime facilities at the harbour. The Plan of Management and Expressions of Interest document are available to view on the Dept of Lands website.

Background of partnership with Department of Lands

Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Lands in August 2005 and worked with them to look at the overall planning for the area. This resulted in the production of the Harbourside Project Concepts Documents, which were on exhibition from October 2006 to February 2007. Following changes to State planning legislation, the Department of Lands then developed a Plan of Management for the lands east of the railway line, with Council responsible for a DCP for the lands west of the railway line.

Consultants 

In August 2005, Council appointedPittendrigh, Shinfield Bruce (PSB) as the chosen consultant to prepare a Masterplan and associated Development Control Plans for the Harbourside project. PSB have since merged with a larger planning consultancy known as EDAW.

Public Consultation

Concepts Documents for the Harbourside Project were on public exhibition for community input from 23 October 2006 to 20 February 2007. The Department of Lands put its Draft Plan of Management on public exhibition in March/April 2008. Further public consultation will be held when Council will exhibit its draft DCP in accordance with legislative requirements prior to finalisation. You can read more about Community Consultation here, including viewing the consultants reports prepared after the previous consultation period.

More information

• Take a look at a map of the area 
• Information about the community consultation program 
• Read answers to frequently asked questions about the project
• See all media releases published by Council about the Harbourside project since 2005
• See the Department of Lands website for details about the Jetty Foreshores Plan of Management.