Draft plans to redevelop the Coffs Harbour’s Jetty Foreshore Precinct, which include establishing a retirement village, have drawn the ire of locals.
The ‘draft concept plan’ submitted as part of the media release shows a retirement village to be developed at the precinct’s Fishing Club area.
The map has been something of a lightning rod on social media with many locals also concerned that previous community consultation had been ignored.
But Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh responded, saying the draft plans were exactly that, in a statement released on Friday, and adding that there was still plenty of wiggle room.
“A range of commercial uses were discussed during the community consultation process and the commercial sounding and analysis conducted by the Government in late 2019 and early 2020 had identified retirement living as a possible use for this location,” he said.
“This is not a definitive Plan as the purpose of the Advisory Committee and community consultation is to assess these prior suggestions.”
Given people aged over 65 make up 21% of Coffs Harbour’s population, a retirement village would seem to be a safe bet.
