I mentioned last week that Nelson Bay has seen little development and growth over the last decade, despite a nationwide housing and construction boom during the same period.
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If we accept this as true then we must also accept that the Nelson Bay Strategy, which is now four years old, has not delivered the outcomes it was designed to.
Common sense tells us we should review and test it to see if we can do better.
I’m confident we can.
Thankfully the first task, understanding the objectives of this strategy, is easy to grasp: To guide Nelson Bay towards becoming more attractive to tourists, businesses and residents.
That’s an honest intent that we hope will drive discussion for the right reasons over the coming weeks and months.
As those discussions have gained momentum recently, one of the most pleasing outcomes for me, has been the level of passion on display.
Clearly this town and its surrounds mean a lot to local residents, the business community and visitors.
It’s a level of engagement that will be vital as we work our way towards some credible and practical solutions for the Bay.
No doubt, you’re going to hear quite a bit from us over the coming weeks.
We’ll be attending public meetings, such as the one this week with the Tomaree Residents and Ratepayers Association (TRRA), you’ll see us pop up on social media and you’ll read our thoughts in this newspaper.
You’ll also notice the discussion won’t be a simple one about building heights.
We want to underpin all future development with design excellence principles, we want to see public space that wins wide acclaim and we want to experience practical transport solutions.
Yes, we want a more vibrant Nelson Bay that is attractive to investors, but not at the cost of its beauty and natural charm.
A future Nelson Bay town centre needs to work for the whole community.
At the end of the day, this community should be holding Council accountable for bringing about meaningful change to Nelson Bay.
We know we’re up for the task, but we need your help.
Mike McIntosh is the Development Services Group Manager for Port Stephens Council.
