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The Gosford Challenge
Change is coming to Gosford, it may not be sexy - at least not right now.
It won’t be quick either (thirty years), but the Gosford revitalisation and developments are having an impact, slowly creating a more family friendly and safe environment.
With key focus on entertainment and safety, many areas of Gosford are slowly becoming more attractive for families and young people to interact.
Colleen Worthy-Jennings, Director of Environment and Planning on Gosford City Council explained that the Gosford Challenge will not be quick, or even immediately noticeable to most.
“All you have to do is look at Kibble Park and the stigma associated with this area and realise how much it has changed in the past year” said Cr. Worthy-Jennings.
“Families used to worry about going there and youths were afraid to socialise around the area.”
However, people are slowly beginning to feel safe again, and entertainment is coming back to the park.
Evidence of the revitalisation process can be seen through Gosford’s capacity to attract youth culture and youth specific venues.
This was reflected through a recent Gosford Council survey asking about young people’s impressions of Gosford City; it had quite astounding results when compared to 2008’s findings.
“Zero percent of young people felt the image of Gosford was good [in 2008], now 24 percent think it is a much better, safer, and more attractive place” explained Cr. Worthy - Jennings
While the Gosford Challenge acknowledges the need to respond to youth issues, Cr. Worthy - Jennings was quick note that Gosford is intended to be a city catering to all lifestyles.
“We need to recognise economics and the elderly population as well as youth and entertainment; it needs to have that integrated feeling of a community.”
Public transport is also on the Gosford Challenge agenda.
The Roads and Traffic Authority, CityRail and Busways have been contacted by Gosford Council, and are heavily involved in the planning for better transport in the area.
The main aim will be to create streets with safe passages and well lit area, additionally they will actively pursue better transport systems in and out of the city.
“For the first time we have the three (transport authorities) co operating and interacting so that we can get the best transport networks” explained Cr. Worthy – Jennings.
“We are in the early stages of the transport planning but we want to see that happening.”
For the often forgotten, constantly stigmatised age group of 18-24 there are some welcoming signs.
Plans have been implemented to make it a more accessible and entertaining area for young adults.
These plans include affordable and safe accommodation, the very real possibility of a University campus and more venues specifically catering to young adults.
Affordable accommodation is at the top of the priority list and Cr. Worthy-Jennings is confident it can be guaranteed.
“There is no guarantee over time, as the area becomes more popular, as we envision it will, but in the beginning definitely”.
"Once we re-establish confidence in the Gosford area, businesses will come back.
I can’t guarantee that land value will be as affordable when this happens” explained the Cr Worthy-Jennings.
There are plans to enhance outdoor entertainment areas such as Kibble and Burns Park, as well as the building ocean-front facilities including a man made beach.
The design brief also pays particular attention to ‘cultural zones’, these are not specific to any age or culture, rather they aim to collaborate the needs of all demographics.
An example of this can be found in the Gosford Performing Arts Centre which is currently being considered.
This area would be one of cultural activity that was not age specific” explained Cr Worthy-Jennings
“There could be the opera there one day, a jazz show the next and a rock concert on the weekend” she explained
Another highlight for young adults is the possibility of increasing nightlife, in an otherwise dull city.
There has been increasing closure of night clubs on the coast - Club Red (Club Troppo’s replacement), Key Largo (replaced by the insufferable Lilikoi), as well as the curfews placed on venues in Terrigal.
This has created a situation in which young adults are moving away from the Central Coast to find entertainment elsewhere.
As such, the Gosford City Council is looking for further opinions from teenagers and young adults as to what they would like to see in Gosford.
Have your say days held from July 9-11, were successful in gaining opinions, however most willing respondents were older.
“We were actively grabbing young people, because none wanted to volunteer” explained Helen Polkinghorne, Project Coordinator for the Gosford Challenge.
If you want to be involved in the Gosford Challenge, and have your say go to http://www.thegosfordchallenge.com.au/contact/ and let the Gosford Challenge team know how they could improve Gosford for you.
Related Links
- http://www.thegosfordchallenge.com.au/