Council’s recent vote to prepare a development application to facilitate a waterfront tourism and residential development in Toronto was a landmark decision for western Lake Macquarie and our City.
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The proposed development has great potential to provide new job and investment opportunities in western Lake Macquarie, as well as enhancing the attractive Bath Street location and opening it to wider use by the local community.
Council has long earmarked this site as a catalyst area for residential, tourist and commercial activity. Over several decades, it has acquired land in the area with these purposes in mind, as documented in Council reports, and the land is zoned appropriately.
Lake Macquarie is a wonderful lifestyle city and we have a strong foundation in manufacturing, mining and traditional industries that has gifted us a highly skilled workforce. However, there is pressing need to diversify our economy – a priority recognised in our City Values – as we move towards a global economic environment where service, information and technology-based industries will play a greater role.
Tourism presents great opportunities for Lake Macquarie, with our bounty of natural assets, and the proposed Toronto development provides a chance to increase job prospects by encouraging more people to discover the delights of our City.
The inclusion of retail and commercial space opens it to the inclusion of cafés and restaurants, to create an enticing waterfront destination point along an extended foreshore walk from the town centre, which is also part of the development proposal.
The Bath Street proposal also includes a residential component, which is consistent with Council’s policy of encouraging medium-density housing in our town centres. This policy recognises that there is a demand for high-quality, low-maintenance properties close to town centres and that such development contributes to better services, such as improved public transport, a more vibrant day and night economy, increased jobs, and more health and essential services.
Council realises the proposed development will result in some change to current uses, but we strongly believe this prime pocket of land can be better adapted for a project that promises to bring significant benefits for residents, visitors and businesses, as well as improving the amenity of what is an under-used space with much unrealised potential.
