Much Needed Shops & Units for Umina Beach

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has today welcomed Central Coast Council’s decision at last night’s Council Meeting to approve the new five storey retail /residential development on the corner of West Street and Morris Street in the Umina Beach town centre.

“The applicant has spent the last 18 months liaising with Central Coast Council planning staff leading up the Council Meeting last night ensuring that they achieved the best possible urban outcome for the site”, said Peninsula Chamber President Matthew Wales.

“It was important that a high quality design outcome was obtained so that the development of the key corner site set a high benchmark for future development in the Umina Beach town centre”.

“The development includes basement parking, ground level retail floor space and four levels of residential apartments consisting of 20 units”, said Matthew Wales.

“I was particularly pleased that the Councillors acknowledged the need for good quality residential accommodation within our town centres where it is close to shops, services, medical facilities and public transport”.

“The West Street development achieves all these things and will be a catalyst for the ongoing urban revitalisation of the town centre”, said Matthew Wales.

“With the success of the Umina Beach retail strip, there has been increased demand for good quality residential accommodation close to the town centre. The design includes eight one bedroom apartments aimed at single couples who want to live close to all the amenities that Umina Beach has to offer”.

“The applicant acknowledged that the application had a number of variations to Council’s development standards but as the Council highlighted, the variations have led to a much better design outcome than would otherwise have been the case had strict compliance been enforced”, said Matthew Wales.

“We understand that the owner of the property intends to proceed to the construction phase as quickly as possible with site works to commence by mid-year”.

“The Council and its staff should be congratulated on the decision which was the best outcome for both the site and the town centre. The decision will result in an $8M investment into Umina Beach by the developer”, said Matthew Wales.