Tuggerah Land Use and Urban Design Analysis

Ethos Urban has worked with the Department of Planning and Environment to assist in their review and update of the Central Coast Regional Plan 2041 to prepare an Urban Design Study which provides a strategic context for the changing nature of the Central Coast and establishes a baseline for projected growth for the Tuggerah precinct.

Tuggerah has been identified as a regional city and significant growth area. Tuggerah benefits from its strategic location between Sydney and Newcastle and has historically emerged as a major employment, distribution and retail centre. Investment in the precinct could begin to diversify the types of employment and industrial uses while transforming Tuggerah into a mixed-use centre. Given the emphasis on Greater Sydney and the Six Cities region connected by fast rail, Ethos Urban combined its strategic planning, urban design and economics services to explore potential growth scenarios for Tuggerah. 

The study began with an analysis of local context such as built form character, topography and flooding presenting the key constraints and opportunities for the Tuggerah precinct. It was realised very early on through initial observations during a site visit that significant barriers including the railway line and highways as well as flooding presented key challenges for movement between separated quadrants in the precinct. 

Six design and planning principles were formulated to guide the development of multiple growth scenarios. A detailed methodology was prepared which consolidated economic analysis with levels of intervention to realise growth and the investment required with and without fast rail. Each of the scenarios therefore responds in different ways in terms of their broader land use composition, low, medium and high flood mitigation measures and design intervention. 

This work has resulted in the Department of Planning and Environment identifying mixed use investigation areas and place strategy outcomes for Tuggerah in the Central Coast Regional Plan 2041. 

Key features of the Urban Design Analysis include: 

• Strengthening and improving the spatial connections between Wyong and Tuggerah.
• Scaling growth and demand which can be balanced with new infrastructure and services.
• Identifying targeted areas for flood mitigation to unlock growth.
• Creation an urban mixed-use centre focused along Anzac Road.
• Facilitating local connections and an improved urban grid across separated quadrants.
• Improving blue and green connections between Tuggerah and surrounding sports and recreation areas.