Mingara Recreation Club Seniors Housing, Tumbi Umbi

The proposed Seniors housing for this site is way too large, and I have concerns for the safety of our athletes and their families. Not only will we have no parking facilities for training and competitions we hold at the track, but when you are asking our patrons to park in the club carpark, then walk down to the track with tiny children with all the traffic, it is a very big safety issue. Our club has grown dramatically this season, with almost 700 athletes ( 13th biggest club in NSW). With all of this work proposed, our numbers will drop and our athletes will join rival clubs on the coast. Our track is also the only synthetic track on the coast and we will not be able to accommodate special events if this goes ahead. I am not against Senior housing, but I am against the size of this construction as it is a big disadvantage to our community and our athletic family. Cheryl Rowe
26 Hume Boulevard
Killarney Vale NSW 2261
0421430016
President Mingara Regional Athletics Club

My name is Michael Butler. I'm a resident of Glengara Retirement Village located in Tumbi Umbi and adjacent to Mingara Recreation Club.
I'm writing to express my concerns with this development application as currently proposed.
Tumbi Umbi and all its adjacent suburbs are exclusively comprised of low to medium density development. This application requests your approval for the construction of five multi-storey buildings ranging from five to seven stories as well as 16 two story villas housing almost 300 senior households. I note that in addition to this proposed development, a daycare center for 112 youngsters, while shown on these plans will be a seperate development apllication at a later date.
This is in addition to a five storey, 82 room hotel that was recently completed on the Mingara site. The construction of the hotel was at least in part to support larger events at the sporting complex, also part of the Mingara site.
So in total, Mingara Recreation Club seeks approval to house the current sporting complex, the 82 room hotel, this retirement community and a day care center which accommodates 112 children. all in an area which is exclusively low to medium density development.
The development will require major roadworks to both Mingara Drive and its intersection with Wyong Rd. and Hansens Rd. none of which is included in this development plan. Access to both the current Club and this proposed development is via Mingara Dr. which in reality is simply a two way lane way. Hundreds of pedestrians, many of them children, cross this road each day to access club facilities. The proposed development site currently provides parking for the sports complex. During large community events or larger school sports carnivals the entire development site is full of hundreds of cars. The existing parking available at Mingara cannot absorb this overflow. The number of parking spots proposed for the site is woefully inadequate and seems not to take into account the unique needs for additional in home health services this development proposal will create.
The existing medical system in the area is already above its capacity and many medical centers as well as private physicians provide services to new patients on an emergency basis. Quality in home care is also at a premium and hard to access.
As a group, the residents of Glengara have met three times with Mingara representatives including the CEO. In the meetings they were either unable or unwilling to address any of our concerns. At one of the meetings when raising the point of a medical system over capacity we were simply advised that "wasn't their problem." They were dismissive to the point of stating they could do as the pleased and build as high as they wished. The consensus opinion of the Glengara residents was Mingara was simply ticking
the box of community consultation.
Over the years Mingara Recreation Club has sold off several parcels of land adjacent to the current Club. None of those parcels were developed with building more than two stories.
Certainly there is some middle ground as to the development of this site. To suggest a development of this magnitude is in the community interest or the proposed residents of such a development cannot be supported.
I would appreciate any steps you can take to ensure Mingara brings a more reasonable and responsible development plan to the table.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

My name is Greory Francis Stephenson and my wife Sheree Ann Stephenson has made a submission from this Email . We use the same address 479 Tumbi Road Wamberal 2260 and the same Email [email protected].
I am totally against this seniors development as these towers are out of place in a area that has very few high rise.
I can not believe that this development will remove all of the parking for the athletic track, including the disabled parking. On most Friday nights the athletic track contains over 600 children athletes. These children will have to park and walk at least 400 meters though a very busy car park and up to a kilometre if the car park is full.
When major events are held at the athletic track there could be up to thousands of people. where are these people going to park? The local residents will get sick of having all of these cars parked in their streets.
The project should be stopped by the state planning department until the users of the athletic ground are consulted.

Vehicle access for the proposed development will continue to be provided via the existing Wyong Road access to the north and the existing access from Mingara Drive with the "Main Arrival" area to the new development to be from the Boulevard.

The existing Boulevard road is not adequate to accommodate the increased traffic in the proposed seniors living development .
In addition, development will result in the loss of existing parking for the athletics facility with new parking being proposed across the Boulevard next to the proposed Child Care Centre development.
This will require athletes, school children participants, people with disabilities, small children in prams, elderly or the mobility challenged to walk the 500 m from the proposed new parking area across the Boulevard to get to the athletics facilities.
Given the increased vehicle traffic and the age of the majority of people operating vehicles to enter and exit to the proposed development buildings along with the increased foot traffic from the proposed parking area across the boulevard to the athletics facilities this will result in an unacceptable risk to the pedestrian groups identified above.

See attachment

I object to SUB-79095462 for the following reasons:
1) The Central Coast is already experiencing significant population growth putting pressure on existing residential housing and industrial development as well as critical supportive infrastructure requirements. There is no need for an additional large-scale seniors housing/retirement development in Tumbi Umbi as there are already five major retirement villages in the area - Forresters Beach, Tumbi Umbi (Glengara), Killarney Vale, Berkeley Vale and Bateau Bay.

2) Traffic congestion along Wyong Rd is already a significant problem, and this development will only aggravate it, making peak-hour traffic congestion even worse. Parking in shopping centres and public places is already difficult, and this development will again only exacerbate an existing problem.

3) The height of the buildings is a major concern and will adversely affect the immediate surroundings and general landscape of the area. The Glengara Retirement Village (adjacent to this development) has mainly ground-level housing while this development boasts thirteen villa buildings of 2 storeys, three multi-storey ILU buildings of 5-6 storeys and one mixed-use building of 6 storeys with high care suites and ILUs.

4) Due to the water course running through the development there are concerns about drainage and runoff and the problems this will create. The submission has not in my opinion dealt with this adequately.

5) This development will remove all car parking for the adjacent Athletics field. Events such as Carols by Candlelight, schools using the facility for athletics carnivals and anyone wanting to use the Athletics field will have to park several hundred metres away where parking is already at capacity.

6)The Mingara's primary source of revenue is gambling via poker machines and their ability to extend hours of operation till 5 am, primarily catering to gambling addicts. I am concerned that the seniors attracted to this development will have easy access to these gambling facilities and may fall victim to the significant gambling problem this state is already experiencing.

This project will take away the parking facilities at the athletics track. It will affect the club and even schools who use this facility for sport.

From artists impression it seems no thought has gone into the already functioning athletics track. The proposal has new development right to front gates and looks like no new parking for the popular track catering to many school and district carnivals for area, leaving now high pedestrian activity mainly families with young children which surely cant be seen as safe. Parking can already be difficult in those times and i cant see any design to cater this in proposal. Some thought needs to be made for the safe and functioning access to existing track. During times when schools have carnivals which is weekly where are the excess cars needing to go?

The scale of this project is detrimental to the athletics track, members and facilities. It adversely prohibits access and parking and there are real safety concerns for children and school buses accessing this facility, especially as it is the only athletics centre on the Central Coast and every local school in the area use this facility. Therefore there is a sense of community responsibility to ensure safe and feasible access.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed development (Mingara Recreation Club Seniors Housing) that impacts parking and access to the athletics track in our community. My primary concerns revolve around the adequacy and safety of parking facilities/drop off areas and the necessity for appropriate access for events and regular users.

The original consent for the athletics track included provisions for 150 nearby parking spaces, plus access to an overflow carpark to cater to the needs of athletes, spectators, and event organisers. This allocation was crucial in ensuring convenient and safe access for all users, including children and families attending events.

However, the current proposal suggests relocating parking facilities further from the track as an overflow alternative but fails to address to provision of the close parking to the facility of a regular basis. This would require children and other users to cross a road that is expected to experience increased traffic volume if the development proceeds. This creates a significant safety risk, particularly for younger users who may not have the capacity to navigate busy roadways independently.

Additionally, the proposal does not appear to account for adequate drop-off and pick-up zones for buses and event vehicles. A well-planned drop-off area is essential for the smooth operation of events, ensuring that large groups of participants and spectators can arrive and depart safely and efficiently. The lack of such provisions could lead to congestion and unsafe conditions during high-traffic events.

Regular Friday night Little Athletics attracts over 500 children attending plus parents, meaning the carpark and overflow area is regularly used. Mingara Athletics track is the track used for all Zone Little Athletics and other carnivals, again attracting high numbers of participants and spectators.

Being the only synthetic and all weather athletics track on the Central Coast, the majority of Central Coast schools, also use the facility for their school and zone carnivals. These carnivals again attract up to 1000 participants plus spectators, including multiple buses and equipment.
To not have adequate and safe parking, and bus drop off areas, will really make it unsafe for local school and community users. The facility was originally a joint venture with council to be a great facility for all the community to utilise. Safety in accessing the facility must be met.

I respectfully urge the council to reject the project in its entirety to safeguard the safety and accessibility of the athletics track. The proposed changes introduce unnecessary risks that undermine the track's role as a safe, accessible space for the community. Maintaining the original parking arrangements near the facility is essential to supporting the continued success of events and protecting all users.

For years, members of our track have begged for renovations in regards to our gravel carpark as the quality of it is not suffice for the growing population. After weather events such as extreme rainfall, it creates large divots on the road posing as a significant safety hazard for both the vehicle and individual. As such, members of the community are forced to create their own car park spots near the facility to prevent further risk.
Being a part of the club for over 12 years, I took part in the Friday night Little Athletics competitions hosted at this facility, where events would often conclude past 9pm. At this stage, it would be pitch black outside the athletic grounds, which reduced visibility upon exiting. Fearing my own personal safety as a woman, as well as ensuring I do not sprain my ankle based on poor lighting, I was made to use the torch on my phone as my only source of light guiding me back to the vehicle. Meanwhile as a child, I had to continue paying close attention to my surroundings to prevent being hit by a reversing vehicle in such a populated area late at night. Within your new plans, you claim to have targeted this crisis by implementing an enhanced number of parking spots in a lit area, but fail to acknowledge that this is located even further away from the facility, & next to a club where alcohol is provided. How can you assure the safety of children and young populations when returning to their vehicles surrounded by those deemed “intoxicated?” Your solution was not done with the intent of assisting members of the Mingara Athletics Centre. Rather, it was done to cater for those utilising the hub of Mingara Club, alongside their new hotel. Evidently, this proposal fails to comply with the safety of the community, & instils a level of fear as our safety is jeopardised.
After significant funding, it was finally approved that Mingara were able to construct a grandstand to assist in catering for local events, & to promote an inclusive environment. This added infrastructure has allowed for the continuation of school sports carnivals, as well as host the Little Athletics NSW Zone and Regional Championships, and Athletics NSW events. It further protects both athletes and spectators against the dynamic nature of climatic conditions, & assists in preventing serious illnesses such as heat stroke. Implementing a grandstand was done with the intent of catering for our growing community, & we have since seen an increase in the amount of participants seen at Mingara track, alongside hosted events. How do you expect organisations such as Athletics NSW- where upon the construction of the grandstand have hosted IAAF World Standard Approved meets, allowing athletes to qualify for both national and international competitions- if there is no accessible parking? What makes it increasingly difficult is that Mingara is homed to the only synthetic track on the Central Coast, with Newcastle and Sydney areas being the next closest options. Officials are required to carry timing gates, electronic clocks, starting blocks, photo finish and starting equipment, and hurdles, to and from meets. Already being such an unrecognised and underfunded sport on the Coast, it was a hard fought battle to progress Mingara Athletics Club into what it is today- that is, be the main training facility for multiple National, International and Olympic athletes. By choosing to go ahead with proposed plans, you are jeopardising the future of successful athletic careers of Central Coast athletes, as expenses associated with travelling far distances to compete at meets serves as a deterrent for many members. With the absence of a carpark, all past gains will be lost & aforementioned events will cease to exist.
Inclusivity is defined as the practice of creating equalised opportunities and resources for marginalised groups in the population, such as children, the elderly, & those with disabilities. The proposed plans of creating a retirement village speak as an anomaly for your intent. You aim to cater for the growing population by offering additional resources, but in doing so, you are limiting their ability to have close access to the athletics track. In a project where over $172 million is being used, can’t you amend your plans to create a new car park specifically dedicated for the athletics track, & thus promote a level of equality? On the Daily Digest Newsletter, an article published on November 22nd, 2024, claims that the Tumbi Umbi Retirement Village proposal will “offer… residents easy access to a range of services. These include… a regional athletics track.” How is it possible to remain truthful to your word and to gain a level of trust and respect amongst your community if you continue to be maladaptive in your promotional techniques? I am not denying your decision to commence your plan, but I am encouraging you to do the right thing by the community and to find room amongst the 31,739.7 sqm of land used, to create a carpark suitable for the Mingara Athletic Centre. Growing up I’ve witnessed friends, family, coaches, and even general members of the population utilising disabled spots and close parking to assist in reducing the burden in their suffering. Hidden disabilities, such as neurological and genetic conditions, alongside visible disabilities, including those in need of prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, or walking canes, deserve the basic human decency to be accounted for in these plans. What you are doing is telling a terminal cancer patient to stop faking their illness & to just walk a few hundred metres extra because their destination is “just up the road.” What about those who care for their children & are required to walk them to the entry point of the track to ensure they get their safely, & don’t get abducted or struck by a moving vehicle along the way? How do you expect them to carry out such tasks, especially given that nearly 27% of grandparents across Australia are now the main caregivers of children aged under 12 (May 2nd, 2024: Focus on grandparents as child carers - National Seniors Australia), if their bodies limit their capacity to do so?
By permanently removing the carpark to Mingara Athletics track, the safety and general wellbeing of vulnerable populations will be at great risk. Retention rates in athletics will begin to decline, with schools & other organisations such as Athletics NSW unable to host events as a result of inaccessible parking. Consequently, the sport of athletics amongst the Central Coast will fail to exist, & the hearts of those who live and breed track and field, are forced to shatter, knowing that council had the ability to conserve the carpark if they had chosen to. Greed and financial gain fail to replicate a sense of contentment & satisfaction amongst the community, & will only continue to fuel corruption & to jeopardise sporting success on the Coast.
It’s a given that teams are stronger than individuals alone. But as a woman who part takes in such an individualised sport, I hope that my voice can speak on behalf of the Mingara Athletic team whom I’ve been a part of for more than half my life. Too often we are silenced & unheard, with yet another example being of the Central Coast Regional Sporting & Recreation Complex. You promote to have included athletics amongst your nine sporting fields and seven standard fields- enough room to create a 400m synthetic running track with accessible parking- but instead chose to focus on your team sports such as soccer, cricket, and AFL. Building so close to the Athletics track only confirms the belief that you are attempting to suffocate the sport out in its entirety, & to only focus on your profit making industry.
I urge you to please reconsider your plans, & to help conserve the carpark so the integrity of the sport can be maintained.
Yours sincerely, a Mingara track athlete who is only trying to maintain equality amongst the sporting community.

Privacy to residents of sandpiper and caralee from the multi-storey buildings

Impact to the natural environment and home to wildlife as well as recreational area to local residents will be lost.
Then the increase in people and traffic and noise pollution to local residents, especially residents across from sports field and park who are already victims to noise pollution from mingara and people who park along sandpiper and set up picnic camp on grasslandbehind caralee when there is an event on.

The project significantly reduces the available space in the Mingara precinct, which already has major facilities on the grounds. This would limit future use of the club and athletics track. Car parking facilities would be reduced and much further away from the athletics track. The current gravel car park area is used as 1. overflow parking for major functions at the club (e.g. weddings, school formals, concerts and sporting awards etc...). 2. Close parking for school athletics carnivals. Without this carpark, people with disabilities, small children in prams, and elderly grandparents would need to walk 500 m and cross roads to get to the track to see their students participate. 3. Football club practice and matches would also have similar difficulties of access to the track. 4. Athletics training, which occurs many days each week, would also have difficulty accessing the facilities. The track is the most widely used facility and only synthetic track on the Central Coast. It is the home of a number of international or aspiring international athletes. Without safe and easy to the track I fear that many may avoid using the facilities.
When the track is used for training, football matches and other events it is a busy, congested and potentially noisy environment which could be confusing, confronting and upsetting to aged residents living in housing close to the athletics track.
I do not believe the close proximity of the seniors housing proposal is viable for either the club, athletics track or the seniors housing.
An alternative proposal would be a slightly smaller seniors housing that allows distance between the facilities. This would give extra privacy to the seniors' housing and an area for additional paved parking in front of the athletics track.

1. Mingara is a sports and recreation club, not a developer of seniors housing. The local area is very short on soccer, league, and rugby ovals/grounds, tennis and picket ball courts, netball/basketball courts or field hockey fields. This land should be used to benefit the whole community, not just a few senor citizens. Mingara can become the center for sport on the Central Coast.
2. If the athletic track was being proposed now, then parking for at least 300+car and several disabled parking positions would be a requirement. Including bus turning and parking bays. Why are all of these being removed? This athletic parking is used by Mingara club for over flow parking.
3. This land belongs to the members of Mingara club, not the management of the club. A special ordinary meeting should be called by both the board of directors and management on this subject with the result if the members reject this proposal they must resign. This proposal should also be on display at the club to inform members on what is going to happen.
4. Both the sneaky way this proposal was done though the NSW state government and not local council, including not telling the members and/or the athletic track users and doing it at Christmas when most people are on holidays. What are they hiding?
5. If this land is used to house a indoor athletic track. This would be the only one in Australia, I appreciate that they are expensive to build, so Mingara would need federal, state and local government funding. But would make Mingara the center of athletics in both NSW and Australia. This would also put Mingara in the spotlight for all northern hemisphere counties as a great training venue, during there harsh winters. As Mingara has a motel, all weather athletics' track, great gyms and a huge indoor pool.
There fore I believe the NSW Planning, Housing and Infrastructure should fail this proposal.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed development (Mingara Recreation Club Seniors Housing) that impacts parking and access to the athletics track in our community. Our primary concerns revolve around the adequacy and safety of parking facilities and the necessity for appropriate access for events and regular users.

The original consent for the athletics track included provisions for 150 nearby parking spaces to cater to the needs of athletes, spectators, and event organizers. This allocation was crucial in ensuring convenient and safe access for all users, including children and families attending events.

However, the current proposal suggests relocating parking facilities further from the track. This would require children and other users to cross a road that is expected to experience increased traffic volume if the development proceeds. This creates a significant safety risk, particularly for younger users who may not have the capacity to navigate busy roadways independently.

Additionally, the proposal does not appear to account for adequate drop-off and pick-up zones for buses and event vehicles. A well-planned drop-off area is essential for the smooth operation of events, ensuring that large groups of participants and spectators can arrive and depart safely and efficiently. The lack of such provisions could lead to congestion and unsafe conditions during high-traffic events.

I respectfully urge the council to reject the project in its entirety to safeguard the safety and accessibility of the athletics track. The proposed changes introduce unnecessary risks that undermine the track's role as a safe, accessible space for the community. Maintaining the original parking arrangements near the facility is essential to supporting the continued success of events and protecting all users.

Submission is contained in the attached file

Submission from Margaret Beardslee 16 Patricia St Killarney Vale 2261
Regarding Mingara Recreation Club Seniors Housing, Tumbi Umbi SSD-63475709
Submission (SUB-78988458)
I wish to provide comments as follows:
The current proposal is far bigger than this area can safely facilitate. The amount of buildings and the reduced open space will make this area unecessarily claustrophobic. The existing Track will be adversely affected with reduced access and difficult parking arrangements. It is suitable for Senior housing but not of this magnitude.

1. Concerns regarding Traffic Entry and Exit from Wyong Rd to Mingara Precinct:
Traffic is heavy along the short entry to the Mingara Precinct area due to the existing businesses:
There are 5 Fast food outlets, a busy BP Service Station, Tyre repair Service, Carwash, Chemist Warehouse and a major Medical Centre with over 30 Doctors a Phsyio Centre, Podiatrist and various specialist offices. Further to these businesses, the precinct itself has its own multiple business operations, such as the Mingara One Health Centre, the 6S Physio Centre, the Community Swimming Pool, The Post office, Kids Point, Funeral Service, and Xray centre. The single lane entry from Wyong Rd traffic lights into Mingara Dr is already at maximum capacity to service this area. Additional traffic will further overload this area to an unmanageable level. The alternative exit via Mingara Dr assists Westerly travel, but provides little relief for those travelling in an Easterly or Southerly direction.
There would be chaos in emergency mass exit such as flood and fire.

2. Reallocation of Existing parking Development Consent for Athletics Track
Original consent for the Athletics Track offered 150 grass parking overflow spaces near the track. The need for this parking has been evident on many occasions, such as when there is a State, Region, Zone or Little Athletics meeting at the Track, and particularly if it coincides with a major event at the Recreation Club.
With the proposal of an Early Learning Centre taking up the alternate adjacent grass, and the proposed Care Facility encroaching on the doorstep of the track, there is no other grass available near the track. However, If the Seniors Housing project were reduced by a few of the immediate buildings nearest the track, grass parking could still be made available. This area could also provide sensible parking and access for the 60-80 cars of the regular daily users.

3. Future Pedestrian Safety and Access to Athletics Track
Pedestrian access to the Athletics Track is not clearly outlined in the proposal, and the quantity of users appears to be understated. Easy and appropriate access for schools does not appear to be adequately catered for, with a major reduction in the present drop off area. This could affect future suitability of the venue for these events, and reduce useage. School participation also brings many family spectators, and with them many vehicles.
The track is open beyond daylight hours for nearly half the year. Safe Training access for all, but especially women must be ensured. The pathways must be open, and well lit.

4. Building Heights
The height of these buildings is inappropriate for this area. It is totally out of context with the surrounding neighbourhoods. The Motel height is softened by its attachment to the main Recreation club building, but the city of free standing 5 and 6 floor buildings is completely out of character. This would be more appropriate in Downtown Gosford, Terrigal or The Entrance, but NOT in residential Tumbi Umbi.

5. Population/Business Density
The density of business population in this precinct appears understated. The amount of residents/carers/workers/providers within the development, must be more carefully detailed. Errors in these numbers will have serious implications in the traffic flow to and through this area. It is not uncommon already for delays over 1km long both directions of Wyong Rd. Council is already aware of the congestion along this section of Road.

Basically the scope of the proposed development, All my comments are in my submission.