Central Coast Town Planners · 30 Years · 50,000+ Projects
Central Coast Town Planners Who Know the Coast's Rules — Bushfire, Flood and All
Why Use Our Central Coast Town Planners?
1.
- Simplifying Planning Rules so you don’t have to spend countless hours trying to understand them.
- A Town Planner is the best professional to interpret the complex Town Planning legislation so that they can maximise the opportunities available to you and your site.
2.
-
Town Planners can manage all communication with your local council on your behalf, ensuring a comprehensive and coordinated journey for your project.
- Fostering positive relationships increases the likelihood of your development project’s successful outcome.
LOCAL PLANNING RULES
How Planning Works on the Central Coast — and Why It Matters for Your Block
The Central Coast is the third-largest council area in NSW, and its land ranges from beachfront lots to steep bushland and lakeside flood plains. The rules that apply to your property depend on exactly where it sits.
1.
ONE PLAN FOR THE COAST
Central Coast LEP and DCP 2022
Since 1 August 2022, the old Gosford and Wyong plans have been replaced by the Central Coast LEP 2022 and DCP 2022. Gosford City Centre has its own State controls, and some sensitive land is still under older instruments. Advice from before 2022 may be out of date.
2.
SITE CONSTRAINTS
Often decide more than zoning
Council’s DCP has chapters for flooding, coastal hazards, on-site sewage, trees, geotechnical issues and scenic character, and much of the Coast is bushfire-prone. A planner should look at your site before a designer draws anything.
3.
NSW HOUSING REFORMS
They apply — with a catch
Dual occs are allowed on most R2 land since July 2024. Since 28 February 2025, land within 800 m walk of Gosford, Woy Woy and Wyong stations, The Entrance, Erina Fair, Green Point and Westfield Tuggerah can support more housing. High bushfire and flood risk land is excluded.
On the Coast, the bushfire and flood exclusions rule out more lots than in most of Sydney. Check before you buy or design.
Where we help on the Central Coast
Gosford
Wyong
Tuggerah
The Entrance
Terrigal
Erina
Kincumber
Avoca Beach
Woy Woy
Umina Beach
Ettalong Beach
Kariong
Narara
Lisarow
Ourimbah
Toukley
Budgewoi
Lake Haven
Warnervale
Wadalba
Hamlyn Terrace
Gwandalan
Wyong
Tuggerah
The Entrance
Terrigal
Erina
Kincumber
Avoca Beach
Woy Woy
Umina Beach
Ettalong Beach
Kariong
Narara
Lisarow
Ourimbah
Toukley
Budgewoi
Lake Haven
Warnervale
Wadalba
Hamlyn Terrace
Gwandalan
What Central Coast Property Owners Ask Us to Get Approved
1.
Granny Flats
A CDC is often possible, but bushfire and flood mapping frequently push Coast granny flats into a DA.
2.
Dual Occupancy
Now possible on most R2 land; lot size, slope and hazards decide whether it works.
3.
Subdivision
From splitting a suburban block to larger lots on the rural fringe.
4.
Holiday Lets & Airbnb
Short-term rental and tourism approvals for coastal properties.
5.
Extensions & Renovations
Second storeys and rebuilds, including sloping and waterfront sites.
6.
Unauthorised Works
Decks, sheds and conversions built without approval, or a council notice to answer.
7.
Large Sheds & Rural Dwellings
For acreage in the hinterland and valleys.
8.
Change of Use & Cafes
For businesses in the Coast’s town centres
Risks of Not Using a Town Planner
There are many risks associated with not using a Town Planner for your project. We suggest that you contact one to guide the planning process. Simply relying on an architect or a draftsmen to interpret the council rules can be problematic and can lead to significant risks and challenges, including:
1.
Wasting Money:
A Town Planner provides architects with important information during the design phase. Plans may not receive development approval without a town planner’s guidance regarding council requirements.
2.Inefficient Land Use:
Inefficient Land Use:
Without a Town Planner, you may not understand your site’s full potential, which could seriously impact the returns on your investment.
3.Wasting Time:
Wasting Time:
Not understanding regulatory requirements could prompt further enquiries from the council, delaying the start of your project.
4.
Refusal:
Sometimes, submissions receive objections. However, Town Planners, with their understanding of the system, can often find ways to improve approval outcomes, giving you a better chance of success
Finally... Town Planners Who Get It
1.
Our Town Planners Used To Work for Council
Having worked for council means that our team speaks the same language as council staff, giving your project the best chance.
2.
Five decades of experience
Many of our Town Planners have decades of experience, including our Co- Founder Max Frager who is a Life Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia.
3.
Values
Founded on the shoulders of a father and son team, with values of integrity, respect & perseverance.
4.
Local knowledge
Many of our Town Planners are based in the suburbs of Sydney, Blue Mountains and regional NSW, so we can give you local knowledge.
5.
50,000+ Projects – We get results
We get results with council. After 50,000+ projects, that’s why they call us the “Council Approval Experts”.
6.
Fully experienced across a diverse range of projects
Having helped with over 50,000 projects, there isn’t a project that we haven’t had experience with.
7.
We make the path smooth
Leave the challenge of dealing with local government to the experts
8.
We push the boundaries
By challenging the expectations of our industry we believe we can redefine the value that we offer.
50,000 +
People
Helped
Helped
387+ YRS
Collective
Experience
Experience
2.5 DAYS
How Often We
Get Approval
Get Approval
$500K
Potential Value
Added to Clients
Added to Clients
We Make Council Approval as Easy as...
1
Free 30-Minute Consult
Tell us what you want to do and we'll tell you if it's worth pursuing.
Tell us what you want to do and we'll tell you if it's worth pursuing.
2
Preliminary Planning Assessment
A town planner maps out what your Central Coast block can support and the smartest path to approval.
A town planner maps out what your Central Coast block can support and the smartest path to approval.
3
Your DA or CDC, Led by a Town Planner
We coordinate the designer and consultants, prepare and lodge the application, and deal with Central Coast Council for you through to approval.
We coordinate the designer and consultants, prepare and lodge the application, and deal with Central Coast Council for you through to approval.
Finally... Town Planners Who Get It
1.
We used to work for council
Our team speaks the same language as council staff, giving your project the best chance.
2.
50 years of planning leadership
Led by co-founder Max Fragar, a Life Fellow of the Planning Institute of Australia.
3.
A town planner leads your DA
Not a draftsman. Your planner sets the strategy and coordinates everyone else.
4.
50,000+ projects
30 years in business and an approval every 2.5 days.
What Can We Get Approved For You?
Click on the type of Council Approval you need…
RESIDENTIAL
- Air BnB Rental
- Apartment Building
- Apartment or Flat Renovation
- Backyard Studio
- Bed & Breakfast
- Boarding House
- Carport
- Co-Living Housing
- Deck
- Dual Occupancy
- Duplex
- Extension
- Garage
- Granny Flat
- Holiday Let
- Home Based Child Care
- House
- Large Shed
- Manor House
- Multi Unit Housing
- New Age Boarding House (NGBH)
- Renovation
- Residential Flat Building
- Retirement Village
- Secondary Dwelling
- Seniors Housing / Disabled People
- Subdivision
- Town Houses & Units
- Villas
COMMERCIAL & INDUSTRIAL
- Cafe
- Car Park
- Commercial Space
- Dance Studios
- Gym
- Hardware Store
- Health Consulting Room
- Hotel or Motel
- Industrial Project
- Landscaping Business
- Medical Centre
- Nursery
- Office or Office Building
- Personal Training Facility
- Pub, Club or Bar
- Restaurant
- Retail Shop
- Self-Storage Units
- Service Station
- Sign for Business
- Supermarket
- Transport Depot
- Truck Depot
- Vehicle Repair Facility
- Veterinary Hospital
- Warehouse
- Wine Bar
Just Some of The 50,000 Properties We Have Advised on to Date...
Central Coast Planning Questions
Not always. If your lot meets the State standards, a granny flat can often be approved as a Complying Development Certificate (CDC). But bushfire-prone or flood-affected land often rules a CDC out, and on the Coast that’s common.
Most land is covered by the Central Coast LEP 2022 and DCP 2022, which replaced the old Gosford and Wyong plans on 1 August 2022. Gosford City Centre has its own State controls, and some environmentally sensitive land is still under older instruments.
On most R2 Low Density Residential land, yes. Since July 2024, NSW rules allow dual occupancies with consent in most R2 zones. Lot size, slope, bushfire and flood constraints decide whether your block works.
Yes, within 800 m walking distance of Gosford, Woy Woy and Wyong stations and town centres, The Entrance, Erina Fair, Green Point Village and Westfield Tuggerah. Land with high bushfire or flood risk and heritage items are excluded.
Often, yes. You’ll usually need a bushfire assessment, and the design may need to meet construction standards for your bushfire risk level. A planner can tell you early whether your project is worth pursuing.
It depends on your zone, the minimum lot size for your land, access and constraints. A PPA will confirm what your block allows before you spend money on plans.
For most residential projects, we recommend a Preliminary Planning Assessment first. It looks for the best outcome your site supports and gives you a strategy before plans are drawn; council’s advice is non-binding and usually needs plans to comment on.
Don’t ignore it. We help Central Coast owners respond to council, assess what can be approved retrospectively and lodge the right application to regularise the works.
*We have a 98% success rate in achieving development approval where our client follows our proven process and is willing to seek approval on appeal if needed. The key is our Preliminary Planning Assessment.
Want to Talk About Your Project?
If you are ready to remove the hassle and stress out of the Council Approval process, then it’s time to claim your Free 30-Minute Consultation.
In your free phone discussion you’ll have the opportunity to share why you need approval, what development type you’ll need it for, and if we’re a good fit to work together.
Then based on our chat, and our proven formula, we’ll often recommend a Preliminary Planning Assessment (PPA) as the first step to unlock any hidden value that may be hiding within your property to help maximise the potential of it for you. Before jumping into a hearty development application, we love showing our clients how just this simple step can add tens of thousands of dollars in value to their project.
To Get Approval, Call 1300 008 138 Now
Or click below to schedule a time to chat to our team
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