Community shapes priorities for Coffs Harbour

Planning for the Solitary Islands Coastal Walk, major initiatives at Toormina and Moonee Beach, preparations for life after the Coffs Harbour Bypass, and future options for the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club site are among the priorities included in the City of Coffs Harbour’s adopted 2026/27 Operational Plan.

Council adopted the plan at its 18 June meeting following consideration of community feedback on the draft document.

“We had more than 140 formal submissions from the community and these have helped guide the final form of what is effectively the City’s to-do list for the next 12 months,” Mayor Nikki Williams said.

“An engaged community is a strong community and the additional initiatives are the icing on a cake which includes substantial investment in water and wastewater infrastructure that is critical going forward in a fast-growing region.”

Key additions to the 2025–29 Delivery Program and 2026/27 Operational Plan include:

preparation of an options paper analysing future uses for the Coffs Harbour Yacht Club site while ensuring community aquatic sports continue to be supported
analysis, in partnership with Coffs Coast Regional Park, to identify infrastructure gaps, accessibility issues and opportunities to support delivery of a continuous Solitary Islands Coastal Walk between Woolgoolga and Sawtell, including Hearnes Lake
$150,000 to deliver the Toormina Community Precinct Masterplan
$200,000 to progress actions under the Post Bypass Renewal Action Plan during 2026/27
planning and design funding for the Moonee Community Hub
an initial $500,000 for detailed design of Harbour Drive in the Jetty area, positioning the project for acceleration in 2027/28
preparation of a report on establishing and operating a Sports Council as part of the City’s Sport and Active Recreation Strategy
establishment of a working group with community stakeholders to develop a revitalisation plan for the sister-city relationship with Sasebo, Japan.

“On top of the formal submissions process, the City coordinated five community drop-in sessions as part of a broad engagement initiative. We set up staffed stands at markets, shopping centres and at Wiigulga Sports Complex to better understand the needs and wants of the community,” City General Manager Murray Wood said.

“As much as we might want to, we can’t do everything so these casual conversations helped identify common themes and informed the prioritisation analysis.”

The Operational Plan outlines the City’s services, projects and funding allocations for the 2026/27 financial year and represents the second year of the four-year Delivery Program.

The adopted plan includes detailed actions across the City’s four directorates: City Infrastructure, Business Services, City Planning and Communities, and the Office of the General Manager.

Major capital works for 2026/27 include:

$3 million to renew the end of Fiddaman Road at Emerald Beach and upgrade car parking, culverts and drainage
$1.2 million for the Park Avenue bus interchange upgrade
$750,000 for ongoing remediation and maintenance of the Coffs Harbour Jetty
$200,000 to renew amenities at Nana Glen Sportsground and improve facilities at the Nana Glen Equestrian Centre
$5 million towards a new flood detention basin in North Boambee Valley
$1.85 million to duplicate the water main on Solitary Islands Way between Mullaway and Corindi
$5 million for capital projects at the Coffs Harbour Water Reclamation Plant to improve biosolids treatment and disposal
$1.579 million to complete a new footpath and bike lane improvements on Lyons Road between De Castella Drive and Toormina Road
$3 million to complete the North Boambee Road bridge replacement and road raising west of Bishop Druitt College
$1.016 million to renew beach access stairs at Murrays Beach, Sawtell
$1.7 million for planning and associated capital works at the Coffs Harbour Waste Transfer Station
playground upgrades, including $460,000 for new amenities, shelter and playground renewal at Coramba Park.