Key enabling projects 2026
Priority infrastructure and investment projects aimed to benefit residents, businesses and visitor across the region.
Introduction
The Central Coast is a growing region, with increasing demand on transport, housing, services, utilities and community infrastructure.
Council plays an important advocacy role in planning for this growth by working closely with state and federal governments to secure funding and long-term support for projects that cannot be delivered by Council alone.
These priorities are shaped by the community, with Council representing local needs such as better transport, affordable housing and environmental protection. Through strong partnerships, Council can help deliver large-scale infrastructure and support the long-term future of the region.
Key growth areas
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Gosford is emerging as a leading health and education precinct for the Central Coast, supported by significant public and private investment.
Expansion of the health precinct, alongside new university and TAFE campuses, is strengthening its role as a regional service centre and attracting students, health professionals and knowledge-based employment.
To realise this growth, housing delivery must align with investment in transport, health and education infrastructure. Targeted investment in connectivity and city-shaping infrastructure will support access, enable higher density living and strengthen Gosford’s role as the civic, economic and social centre of the region.
Learn more about Gosford in the Key Enabling Projects 2026: Central Coast Region document
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The Woy Woy Peninsula is a key housing growth area for the southern Central Coast and is identified as a strategic centre in the Central Coast Regional Plan 2041 and the NSW Government’s Transit Oriented Development program.
Unlocking its potential will require enabling infrastructure to keep pace with growth, particularly an integrated transport network that improves accessibility, reduces congestion and supports safe, well-connected communities.
Priority upgrades, including the Rawson Road level crossing and Railway Street intersection, alongside broader road and active transport improvements, will be critical to supporting housing delivery and maintaining a connected peninsula community.
Learn more about Woy Woy Peninsula in the Key Enabling Projects 2026: Central Coast Region document.
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The Central Lakes District is the Central Coast’s primary northern growth corridor, spanning key centres including Warnervale, Lake Munmorah and the broader cross-regional area extending to Morisset.
The district is expected to support significant housing and employment growth, with major employment lands and expanding residential communities reinforcing its role as a key economic and urban growth area.
Realising this potential will require coordinated investment in enabling infrastructure to support population growth, improve connectivity and strengthen regional productivity. This includes supporting planned housing delivery and employment opportunities across the district as part of a connected, sustainable urban area.
Learn more about Central Lakes District in the Key Enabling Projects 2026: Central Coast Region document.
Key enabling priorities
The Key Enabling Projects 2026: Central Coast Region document identifies the infrastructure and investment priorities needed to support this growth. It focuses on enabling infrastructure to support housing delivery, workforce participation, connectivity and economic activity, and highlights the importance of coordinated investment across all levels of government.
The Central Coast has demonstrated the value of coordinated investment, with projects such as Gosford Regional Library, the Umina Recreation Precinct and the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex delivering community infrastructure, liveability and economic benefits.
Continued collaboration across all levels of government will be important to align priorities and investment as further enabling infrastructure is required to respond to growth and support planned development. These priorities align with state and national housing, productivity and regional growth agendas, and support the region’s long-term vision outlined in the Community Strategic Plan.
The program outlines investment-ready projects across key themes and seeks Australian and NSW Government support to progress them.
What are Council's advocacy priorities?
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Targeted investment is needed in transport connectivity, public domain and community infrastructure to support Gosford’s role as the Central Coast’s regional capital and enable continued growth.
Priority projects:
Gosford Waterfront Revitalisation
• Gosford Waterfront Public Domain Plan and Pedestrian Overpass$56M and
advocacyEtna Street Bridge upgrade
• Intersection upgrades and pedestrian enhancementsAdvocacy Gosford Station, bus interchange and Burns Place masterplan Advocacy High Speed Rail Gosford Station and integrated transport links Advocacy Gosford city centre road upgrades
• Mann Street Gosford between Etna Street and Henry Parry Drive
• Kendall Street between Holden Street and Donnison Street West$12.28M Gosford Olympic Pool
• Replace and redevelop existing facility$55M Kibble Park Masterplan Implementation $18M Gosford Waterfront to Point Clare shared pathway $51.6M Central Coast Highway and Racecourse Road flooding improvements Advocacy For further information download the Key Enabling Projects 2026: Central Coast Region document.
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Investment in enabling infrastructure is required to support coordinated housing supply, unlock employment land and deliver the transport and community infrastructure needed to accommodate growth in the northern corridor.
Priority projects:
Wadalba residential expansion Advocacy Warnervale railway level crossing improvements focusing on pedestrian improvements Advocacy Warnervale business precinct
• Development of a business precinct masterplan$2.5M Wyong to Warnervale link road Advocacy Warnervale sporting precinct
• Design and construction of sporting fields, athletics track and supporting infrastructure$16M Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex (CCRSRC) Stage 2
• Multi-use indoor sport, recreation and event facility$48M Northern Regional Leisure and Aquatic Centre
• Final design and implementation$50M For further information download the Key Enabling Projects 2026: Central Coast Region document.
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Investment is needed to deliver an integrated, safe and efficient transport network that improves accessibility, eases congestion and supports housing and employment growth across the region.
Priority projects:
Road pavement upgrade program
• $20M over four years for road renewal$80M Rawson Road railway level crossing and Railway Street intersection upgrade, Woy Woy Advocacy Link road, Chain Valley Bay $11.5M State Road Upgrades
• Central Coast Highway between Wamberal and Bateau Bay
• Scenic Drive, Budgewoi
• Manns Road between West Gosford and Narara
• Pacific Highway between Narara and Lisarow
• Sparks Road IntersectionsAdvocacy High Speed Rail: region-wide transport and pedestrian connections Advocacy Wyong Road and Bryant Drive, Tuggerah intersection improvements Advocacy Shared Pathway Priority Connection
• Tumbi Road, from Central Coast Highway Wamberal to Eastern Road, Tumbi Umbi
• Avoca Drive, from Avoca Drive to Empire Bay Drive
• Pacific Highway, Sparks Road to Louisianna Road, Warnervale$34.66M Shared pathway missing links
• $2.5m over four years for priority routes$10M For further information download the Key Enabling Projects 2026: Central Coast Region document.
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Priority funding is required to deliver essential infrastructure and environmental upgrades to support growth, improve resilience and maintain key services across the Central Coast.
Priority projects:
Infrastructure upgrade program
• Delivery of kerb and gutter, drainage and pathway in priority areas$20M Central Coast Airport
• Infrastructure upgrades (lighting, sewer and electrical) to enable expansion of Jack Grant Avenue$10M
Sustainable Waste Regional (Food organics and garden organics, FOGO) $35M Coastal Management – Sand Nourishment $40M For further information download the Key Enabling Projects 2026: Central Coast Region document.
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Funding and policy support are needed to accelerate the delivery of affordable and diverse housing and reduce housing stress across the Central Coast.
Priority projects:
Affordable Housing Advocacy State planning controls review - low and mid-rise housing policy Advocacy For further information download the Key Enabling Projects 2026: Central Coast Region document.