In 2022, the Monteath & Powys Development Services Planning team were successful in having a re-zoning gazetted for the site, rezoning from RU2 Rural Landscape to B1 Neighbourhood Centre, E1 Local Centre and E2 “Land Zone”.

Following the successful re-zoning of the site, the M&P Project Management team worked seamlessly with the Planning team to lead the engagement and management of the design and site investigation team to develop the Development Application (DA) documentation.

The DA package included the following documents:

• Detailed Survey (M&P Survey team),
• Architectural Plans,
• Civil Engineering Plans,
• Landscape Plans,
• Quantity Surveyor Report,
• Flood Modelling,
• Flood Emergency Response Strategy,
• Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment (ACHA),
• Aboriginal Due Diligence Assessment,
• Aboriginal Heritage Impact Permit (AHIP),
• Acid Sulfate Soils Management Plan,
• Preliminary Contamination Assessment (PCA),
• Biodiversity Development Assessment Report (BDAR),
• Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP),
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Report,
• Acoustic Assessment Report,
• Bushfire Assessment Report,
• Traffic and Parking Impact Assessment Report,   and
• Economic and Employment Impact Reporting.

Throughout the DA design and site investigation phase, extensive consultation was undertaken with various local Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs) and authorities including Australian Government Defence, Heritage NSW, Port Stephens Council, Hunter Water Corporation, NSW Department of Planning and Environment, Heritage NSW, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and Ausgrid.

The re-zoning, design and site investigations facilitated the preparation of a Statement of Environmental Effects by the Planning team to accompany the lodgement of a Development Application in December 2023 to Port Stephens Council.  

The DA proposed the development of a crucial community asset in a Commercial Premises (Neighbourhood Shopping Centre) including Signage, Sewer Extension and Demolition at 42 Fullerton Cove Road, Fullerton Cove NSW 2318.

The development was assessed against the relevant provisions of the LEP and Council’s Development Control Plan (DCP), the matters referred to in Section 4.15(1) and Section 6 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act) and other matters required to be considered.  In January 2025, following thorough work by the Project Management and Planning teams to address numerous RFI’s, Port Stephens recommended development approval, and the Hunter and Central Coast Regional Planning Panel endorsed the Development Application.

As a result of the successfully delivering the Land rezoning and Development Consent, the M&P are currently progressing the design through to Schematic Phase of approximately 60/70%.  The schematic design phase and package will include the following:

• Developed architectural documentation,
• Developed landscaping documentation,
• Anchor Tenancy layouts and specifications,
• Civil documentation,
• Structural documentation,
• Building services documentation,
• Fire services documentation,
• BCA Assessment, 
• Section J,
• ASP3 Design,   and
• Revised Section 50 requirements.

During management of the design phase, the project team will be also undertaking:

• Consultation with local Indigenous parties,
• AHIM#2 for the salvage and analysis of heritage artefacts,
• ASP3 (Electrical HV) design and Ausgrid consultation,
• Hunter Water consultation and updated development requirements,   and
• Consultation with other authorities.

The design will be utilised to procure the builder under a Design finalisation and Construct Contract model.  The Builder will be responsible for obtaining the Construction Certificate and all remaining approvals.