Gosford Waterfront Revitalisation Masterplan

Octave Acoustics was engaged to conduct investigations and provide a comprehensive noise impact assessment to support the environmental assessment for Central Coast Council’s Gosford Waterfront Revitalisation Master Plan.

The revitalised Gosford Waterfront is to result in a vibrant mixed use precent including venues for the arts, conferences and events, indoor and outdoor dining, residential, retail and new office uses, a hotel, ferry wharf, improved public connectivity and access to the waterfront and integration with the stadium, redeveloped Olympic pool and public urban domain facilities.  

The Gosford Waterfront Precinct comprises three major areas, the waterfront, urban domain and the stadium. The developing Masterplan set out short, medium and long-term plans as follows.

Short term plan:

  • Redevelopment of the existing Gosford Olympic Swimming Pool, and addition of small retail buildings adjacent the pool.
  • An extension to the wharf with a new ferry terminal, and new marina berths at Gosford Sailing Club.
  • Extension of footpaths and boardwalks.
  • Shore edge works and naturalised stormwater channels.

Medium Term Plan:

  • 3-4 multi-storey buildings on the waterfront located west of Drifter’s Wharf, with uses including residential, hotel, retail, and commercial.
  • A mixed-use building adjacent the stadium to the north, containing a multi-storey car park, retail shops, and apartments.

Long Term Plan:

  • Two residential buildings on the waterfront, located east of the rail line.
  • Land reclamation on the waterfront.

The key purpose of the acoustic study was to demonstrate how the proposed land uses could be successfully delivered such that resulting noise impacts (including traffic, ferry, rail, stadium and general commercial sources) would conform with the applicable Environmental Controls. Key activities undertaken by Octave Acoustics included:

  1. Extensive surveys and measurement (long & term) of existing ambient environmental noise within the study area.
  2. Computer 3-D noise modelling of various sources including the stadium, rail corridor, local roads and ferry movements.
  3. Analysis of potential noise impacts associated with new uses and interfaces.
  4. Coordination with Council and the wider multi-disciplinary team to identify potential adverse outcomes and refine the plan to minimise resultant noise impacts.