Following further feedback from almost 250 people in June, the Forster Main Beach draft masterplan is nearing completion with the community given a final opportunity to provide feedback in October.
The draft masterplan has been refined to incorporate community feedback and councillors will consider the draft Masterplan at the MidCoast Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 26, before the masterplan goes on formal public exhibition.
"Throughout the development of the draft masterplan we have appreciated the support of the community, who were actively involved in providing initial ideas and then in assisting us to prepare the final draft plan," Council's director of corporate and business systems, Steve Embry said.
Mr Embry said the community interest and involvement has been extensive, with more than 500 people providing initial ideas at the big ideas barbecue and subsequent consultation in June 2017.
Using this extensive feedback, consultants The Design Partnership worked on concept development and produced a framework which was work-shopped by the community last October.
From there, approaches were developed which considered various elements and constraints of the site.
Around 250 responses were recorded in the second round of consultations held in June 2018. Special interest groups and local businesses have also been consulted through all stages of the project.
A summary of the feedback received during the community engagement process is available on council's website at midcoast.nsw.gov.au/forstermainbeach, along with a history of the project development, stage by stage.
Once council has endorsed the draft masterplan, it will be placed on public exhibition for the community to make submissions.
At the expiration of the exhibition period, all feedback will be considered and the final plan will be prepared and presented to council for adoption.
The draft masterplan will guide council's future planning and applications for grant funding to develop the Forster Main Beach precinct.
