Central Coast Council is seeking an urgent meeting with Australia China Theme Park Pty Ltd (ACTP) over its stalled plans for Warnervale.
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The meeting is to discuss the contract for the sale of council land, on Sparks Road, to ACTP.
Last year, the council said it had received only $600,000 deposits from ACTP for the 15.7 hectares of land it had agreed to purchase for $10 million.
The council issued a brief statement overnight.
“The former Wyong Council entered into contracts to sell land at Warnervale to Australia China Theme Park Pty Ltd,” it said.
“Those contracts include confidentiality clauses that bind both parties and as such it is not appropriate to comment at this stage.
“Council has sought an urgent meeting with representatives of ACTP to discuss these contracts.”
The Chappypie China Time proposal has long been mired in controversy.
The project was first announced six years ago, but not a single sod of soil has been turned.
The proposal was supported by the former Wyong Shire Council.
In 2014, Wyong councillors voted 5-4 to support the spot rezoning of 15.7 hectares of council land at Warnervale for the theme park.
It was originally touted to be a $500-million “Chinese Disneyland”.
But in May last year, a DA for part of the project was withdrawn, and a revised DA was submitted in July.
The new DA, for Stage 1, a Buddhist temple, was scaled down considerably.
The DA estimated Stage 1 would cost $20.1 million, down on the $83 million initially cited.
Critics of the proposal said the secrecy surrounding the financial backing of the theme park was a concern. Some, including former Wyong councillor Bob Graham, said the theme park would never get off the ground.
But former mayor Doug Eaton told A Carrent Affair the project had potential to deliver great benefits to the region.
“It’ll be bigger and better than the Gold Coast,” Mr Eaton said.
“If they [Australia China Theme Park] can deliver, and I think they can, then it’s going to be something I will continue to support,” he said.
“This is a development, along with a regional airport, that can completely transform our shire and turn us into a key tourist destination,” he said.
Last night, council would not be drawn to comment on any developments in the saga.
“Council will make further announcements when it is appropriate to do so,” its statement said.
