The Chamber’s Achievements

 THE MAINSTREET PROGRAM ESTABLISHED TO REVITALISE OUR TOWN CENTRES

By the mid 1990’s, Ettalong Beach, Woy Woy and Umina Beach town centres were in decline with a substantial number of vacant shops and struggling businesses. The Peninsula Chamber organised public meetings in each town centre and the Mainstreet Program was adopted as a vehicle to revitalise our town centres.

Matthew and Debra Wales offered their expertise pro bono in planning and project managing the upgrade of Ettalong Beach, Woy Woy and Umina Beach.

The meetings were a great success in identifying the strengths and opportunities of each community and laid the foundation for retail success we see today.

THE PENINSULA BUSINESS AWARDS

Between 1999 and 2014, the Peninsula Business Awards were produced by the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. The events were a huge success for a number of years being staged at the former Ettalong Beach War Memorial Club auditorium and continuing into the new Ettalong Beach Diggers and the Galleria Ettalong Beach in 2014. The Business Awards were an avenue to promote local businesses and recognise our business leaders and their employees. The entertainment was organised by Jenifer Green & Wayne Cornel of G’day Hollywood Productions. The events were a resounding success.

UMINA BEACH RETAIL CENTRE

From 1999 to the present day, the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has been an integral part of the ongoing Peninsula Mainstreet Program that has seen the successful revitalisation of the Woy Woy, Umina Beach and Ettalong Beach town centres. We successfully secured major national brands such as Coles and McDonalds into the Umina Beach town centre which was followed by Woolworths, Bunnings and Aldi. These major brand retailers contributed to the transformation of the main street (West Street) into one of the most successful strip shopping centres on the Central Coast.

UMINA BEACH ‘WIRES AWAY’

Debra Wales as the Mainstreet Co-ordinator under the auspices of the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce successfully negotiated with Energy Australia (Ausgrid), who owned the wires and power poles, to relocate the power lines underground in a partnership arrangement. This made a huge and lasting impact on Umina Beach retail centre. It also gave way to planting sixty (60) Cabbage Tree Palms along the main street to link the town centre to the beachfront at Ocean Beach. Debra ensured the new poles would take flag banners for community events and celebrations such as Australia Day.

THE 100 YEAR CELEBRATION OF UMINA BEACH TOWN CENTRE Umina Beach Town Centre 2014

The Chamber was an integral part of organising the 100th anniversary celebrations for Umina Beach. Our lovely guest historian Julie Aitchison and Historian Celebrity Entertainer and 2UE weekend radio presenter Jim Haynes. Mayor Lawrie McKinna opened the celebrations.

THE AUSTRALIAN FLAG BANNERS

Our National Flags had been flown in West Street Umina Beach for a number of years on Australia Day with huge support from the local community. The then Gosford City Council begun a process to prohibit the flying of our National Flag. Finally in 2026, after a long battle, Central Coast Council finally voted to fly the Australian flag banners on Australia Day in Umina Beach, Ettalong Beach and Woy Woy as part of their revamped banner policy. Great result to celebrate Australia Day for all.

TOWN CENTRE STREET CLEANING 2000 – 2023

Between 2000 and 2023, the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce secured funding through the then Gosford City Council for town centre security and street cleaning services for the three Peninsula towns. This service continued over the ensuing years and ensured a high level of street maintenance and security for businesses and shoppers. The cleaning continues today under Central Coast Council management ensuring that our streets are kept clean.

SECURITY CAMERAS INSTALLED IN OUR TOWN CENTRES 2006-2014

Between 2006 and 2014, the Peninsula CCTV Camera Network was instigated. Matthew Wales was instrumental in securing nearly $1M in Federal Funding for the highly successful CCTV camera network in the Woy Woy, Umina Beach and Ettalong Beach town centres. The Federally funded program has dramatically lowered crime rates and anti-social behaviour in the town centres ensuring that the Peninsula remains one of the safest commercial precincts on the Central Coast. The CCTV service continues today under the management of Central Coast Council and the NSW Police Force.

NEW BANNERS WERE DESIGNED & INSTALLED IN OUR TOWNS

The new town centre banners have created a positive and vibrant ambiance to our three town centres. Designed and funded by the Chamber, our organisation has been working with Central Coast Council to ensure that the standard of banners is improved and that our town centres are used for promotions and events that contribute positively to our business and wider community. The banners were designed by Christine Duchenne from Merakki Designs and Deb Wales from Wales & Associates Urban Designer Partners. The Chamber financed the design component, and we thank Council for funding and installing banners. They meet the Council banner policy in all aspects of “contributing to the overall amenity of the streetscape and are vibrant”.

ETTALONG BEACH BENDIGO BANK WAS ESTABLISHED

In April 2002‚ the last of the major banks announced it would close its doors in Ettalong Beach leaving the beachside village without any banking facilities. In response‚ the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce approached Bendigo Bank on behalf of the business community‚ to initiate the process to establish a Community Bank® branch at Ettalong Beach. A steering committee co-ordinated by Debra Wales was formed and a public meeting was held to assess the level of support in the community.

It became apparent that a very strong community spirit existed in favour of establishing a Community Bank® branch. More than 9‚000 survey forms were distributed to local businesses and residents. Local identity Veronica Cusack tirelessly canvassed the businesses to drum up support and investments. A business plan was prepared and feasibility study undertaken. Initial pledges of $450‚000 were reached in just seven weeks from 170 individuals and businesses. This was later extended to $650‚000 and achieved.

A suitable premise for the branch was identified. The company‚ Ettalong Beach Financial Services Limited was incorporated in September 2004 and a public share subscription floated. Ettalong Beach Community Bank® Branch opened its doors for trading on the 5th April 2005. The bank continues successfully to this day.

ETTALONG BEACH MAINSTREET PROGRAM COMMENCED WORK

In early 2000, Gosford City Council invested $1.0M into the revitalization of the Ettalong Beach town centre under the Peninsula Mainstreet Program from the 1998 Financial Strategy. The works included upgrading intersections to be made safe, repaving the main street, landscaping and new street furniture. Property owners were offered free assistance through our expertise to renovate their shopfronts to an ‘old world’ theme to give the town centre a sense of identity. Ettalong Beach was promoted through the media with stories of its progress and successes.

What followed was a gradual increase in property investment with new developments commenced including the redevelopment of the Ettalong Hotel and the construction of the Ettalong Beach Diggers Club & Mantra Resort. During the upgrading of the town centre, the Federal Government invested $1M in 2008 and $2M in 2010 towards the upgrade of the beachfront reserve. The former Gosford City Council announced in 2013 an additional $3.5 to complete the upgrade works. Works were completed in 2014. And the success story began.

This very important intersection became a roundabout with beautiful gardens funded by a contribution from the Peninsular Chamber of Commerce and the Federal Government.

ETTALONG BEACH TOWN BEACH

Ettalong Beach town centre has previously identified by the NSW State Government as a major tourist destination. Many years of infrastructure work to revitalise the town centre was undertaken up to 2014 with the completion of the Ettalong Beach waterfront reserve. The objective of these works (after years of lobbying and ‘in-kind’ planning by the Peninsula Chamber) was to improve the aesthetics of the village so as to attract interstate visitors and holiday makers. More importantly, the aim was to ensure return visitation so that tourism dollars created jobs and investment to our area over the longer term.

While the improvements proved to be successful for the town, successive Councils ignored the importance of maintaining the work and have allowed the beachfront and surrounding streetscape fall into disrepair. We now see the work we accomplished fall away to the point where the beach has become overgrown with scrub and weeds and made unsafe. The bare minimum of maintenance by Council has completely ignored the adopted Ettalong Beach Plan of Management.

In the 1980's the Public Works Department renourished the beach and partly re-vegetated the beachfront but never provided sufficient funding to maintain it. Hence, Ettalong Beach's best asset, our town beach, fell into decline. The once beautiful and popular beach was fast becoming unpopular because it was neglected and unsafe for young children, women and our elderly. Assaults had been reported and people were “roughing it” within the bush and valleys of the sand.

ETTALONG BEACH WATERFRONT RESERVE 1996

IN THE BEGINNING In its heyday, Ettalong Beach was a very popular holiday destination. From the early 1900's many travelled to Woy Woy by steam train and in the late 1950's, by the "old silver rattler". Many homes originated from fishing shacks extended with "built on" verandahs to become family homes. It was a glorious place to live and to visit during holidays as kids. Ettalong Beach town centre was built on the beachfront with large developments adjacent to the beach including the old Ettalong Hotel, the skating rink and takeaways. The beachfront was popular with canoes for hire, good fishing and beautiful golden sandy beaches that stretched from Ettalong Beach Point to Booker Bay.

The beachfront in its heyday 60’s & 70’s

SO WHAT WENT WRONG?

Sadly, by the early 1990's, the town had fallen into decline. Shopfronts were neglected and in disrepair with nearly 30 vacant shops. Both major traffic intersections and footpaths were unsafe and pedestrian hazards. The then Gosford City Council did very little to maintain the town centre. Businesses were closing or barely surviving. Antisocial behaviour was on the increase and the number of holiday makers and visitors were on the decline. In the 1980's the Public Works Department renourished the beach and partly re-vegetated the beachfront but never provided sufficient funding to maintain it. Hence, Ettalong Beach's best asset fell into decline. The once beautiful and popular beach was fast becoming unpopular because it was neglected and unsafe for young children, women and our elderly. Assaults had been reported and people were roughing it within the bush and valleys of the sand. No politician, Councillor nor Government body was prepared to take the initiative to save Ettalong Beach from its deterioration. It was left to local residents and business owners to do something and quickly. Failure to act would result in Ettalong Beach becoming a “ghost town”

TODAY we are very proud of our waterfront reserve

During the upgrading of the town centre, the Federal Government invested $1M in 2008 and $2M in 2010 towards the upgrade of the beachfront. Gosford City Council announced in 2013 an additional $3.5 to complete the upgrade works. Works were completed in 2014. And the success story began.

ETTALONG BEACH ROUNDABOUT 2017

In 2017 the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce was instrumental in securing $35M funding commitment from the NSW State Government ensuring that the key road projects such as Maitland Bay Drive/Picnic Parade intersection were upgraded and made safe.

NEW WELCOME SIGNS INSTALLED AT ETTALONG BEACH

In January 2024 Peninsula Chamber of Commerce were very pleased to announce the new Welcome Signs for Ettalong Beach town centre. With an evolving town centre, a number of local Ettalong Beach business owners suggested we refresh the image of our town centre to more contemporary coastal colours and images. The result is new welcome signs that reflect the changing nature of Ettalong Beach as new development provides more residential living in the town centre and increased business opportunities The original signs were installed by the Chamber of Commerce in 2000 as part of our heritage themed upgrade which has now evolved into a more coastal beach theme. The new signs were designed by Rebecca Campbell from Rebecca Campbell Creatives. We are very proud to have that talent available to create the new signs and marking a generational change in our community.

ETTALONG BEACH CHANNEL 2017 – 2023

Between 2017 – 2023, the Peninsula Chamber consistently advocated for regular dredging of the Ettalong Beach Channel and was successful in securing State Government funding for the Ocean Beach Renourishment Program in 2018. The then Minister for Local Government Paul Toole confirmed that the NSW State Government would assume control from Central Coast. Council over the channel and ongoing funding. In the lead up to the announcement, no one was listening and that led to our Chamber members holding a protest on the beach for all levels of Government to sit up and take notice of our community. The Chamber continues to lobby for regular dredging.

ETTALONG BEACH FORESHORE RENOURISHMENT 2024 – 2026

As a result of haphazard maintenance dredging and storm damage, the Ettalong Beach foreshore has suffered severe scouring and erosion to the point where the reserve interface with the beachfront is unsafe. With successful lobbying by the Peninsula Chamber, the Federal Member for Robertson Gordon Reid has secured $1.8M for the foreshore renourishment and reserve upgrade.

OCEAN VIEW ROAD PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES at ETTALONG BEACH

Proposed upgrade of Ocean View Road Ettalong Beach – to install raised thresholds to slow speeding traffic. The owners of the Ettalong Beach Markets over the years have consistently requested the assistance of the Chamber of Commerce to present to Council safety improvements on Ocean View Road. Presently, vehicles (5pm onwards) speed past the Ettalong Beach Theatre and restaurants at a dangerous level. We are amazed no one has been killed. This area is a tourist precinct with people crossing the road to the theatre, restaurants and markets and at present, the road is dangerous from speeding traffic. Our proposal is to construct raised thresholds and raised pedestrian crossings to slow traffic down from Broken Bay Road intersection to the theatre complex (end of town) Traffic signs are simply ignored.

BULLION STREET CARPARK UPGRADE

After several years of lobbying by the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Central Coast Council has now committed funds for the 2026-2027 financial year for the upgrading of the Bullion Street carpark. The carpark is one of Umina Beach’s hidden assets servicing the West Street retail centre with multiple points of entry ensuring that shoppers and visitors have easy access to the main street retail and commercial services.

The proposed works will include the removal of all the old Koppers Log barriers and landscaping (what’s left) which will be replaced with new sandstone block barriers, tree planting to improve shade and the resealing of the entire carpark with a new hot mix bitumen surface together with new line marking and signage.

This is a long overdue (but welcome) upgrade that will improve the carpark and ensure that this valuable commercial asset properly services the local business and wider community.

OCEAN BEACH ROAD/RAWSON ROAD INTERSECTION UPGRADE

Nobody will dispute that the Ocean Beach Road/Rawson Road roundabout has been a major traffic bottleneck for over 10 years. Back in 2017, the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce lobbied the Federal Government for funding the upgrade the intersection to accommodate the ever-increasing traffic flow.

The current Federal Labor Government has continued its support for the project with the Federal Member for Robertson, Dr. Gordon Reid confirming the funding commitment in 2025 with works to commence in 2027-2028 under the auspices of Central Coast Council.

Intersection design work is well advanced with Central Coast Council recently acquiring the old Central Coast Interior Lining’s building which is presently being demolished to make way for the construction works depot.

RAIL CROSSING DESIGN WORK COMMENCES 2025

Following sustained lobbying from the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce over the last five years, its finally good news from the NSW State Government that detailed design is underway for the upgrading of the Rawson Road/Railway Street intersection adjacent to the Rawson Road rail crossing.

By any standards, the Rawson Road rail crossing and intersection is becoming increasingly dangerous with traffic volumes on the rise and multiple accidents over recent years.

The existing intersection is a major safety risk which has finally been acknowledged by the State Government resulting in funds to commence the investigation and design work for the reconstruction works which will include a signalised intersection originally proposed by the Chamber.

The upgarde is now more important than ever as Central Coast Council is due to start the Ocean Beach Road/Rawson Road intersection reconstruction in 2027-2028 which will place further pressure on the rail crossing intersection.

But we don’t want to see this process drag on. It’s imperative that the design is finalised as soon as possible and detailed costings prepared for the work.

Importantly, we want to see a commitment from the NSW Government that funding will be provided for the work and that the project actually happens.

WOY WOY TOWN CENTRE PLANNING REVIEW 2017 – 2026

Despite repeated push-back and delays from Central Coast Council to review the Woy Woy town centre planning controls and management processes, the Council has now finally committed to the planning overhaul over the 2026-2027 Financial Year. This review is well overdue as Woy Woy has languished behind the increasingly popular Umina Beach and Ettalong Beach retail centres.

Importantly, the review is timely in light of recent decisions by the newly formed State Government Housing Delivery Authority which has given the “green light” to several key development sites for new mixed-use retail/residential development (including affordable housing) up to 14 levels.

Woy Woy is a strategic regional transport hub that has the capacity to provide shop top housing/residential accommodation close to the rail station thus encouraging people to live, work and commute within the town centre.

WOY WOY PENINSULA ROADS

The Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has been lobbying Council for years to upgrade our roads. With a population of over 36,000 residents our roads should now become a priority.

Over 80% of our roads are not kerbed & guttered, poor drainage and lack of footpaths. In part we look like a third world country. We have put to council to have a Plan of Management to reconstruct our roads. Recently, both Federal and State Government have completed minor works such as a re-seal and built footpath without kerb and guttering. This will eventually degrade the recent work. A few of our urgent listed roads below:-

Parts of Springwood St completed with kerb & gutter, drainage and footpaths.

A Program of Works for the Woy Woy Peninsula should commence immediately to complete our road upgrading as a matter of urgency and importance.

We want to be proud of where we live

1. Rabaul Avenue from Hobart Street to Lone Pine Avenue – whilst Council has recently resealed the road, it lacks any kerb and gutter, concrete footpaths and stormwater drainage whilst serving as a major collector road, commuter route to Woy Woy Road (as an important alternative to Ocean Beach Road) and school bus route to the Umina Beach Secondary College campus and St. John the Baptist public school;

2. Brittania Street from Ocean Beach Road to Springwood Street – this is a much used “rat run” between Ocean Beach Road and Springwood Street providing an alternative connection to Ettalong Beach (rather than Bourke Road);

3. Albion Street between Ocean Beach Road and Springwood Street – as above;

4. Rickard Street between West Street and The Esplanade – this is a key connection at the eastern end of the Umina Beach shopping precinct that provides direct connection to the Ocean Beach foreshore and beach parking areas from the town cenrtre;

5. Beach Street between Springwood Street and Broken Bay Road – this is a high use connecting road from Springwood Street directly to the Ettalong Beach village centre and acts as “rat run” for traffic as an alternative to Bourke Road.

Key to this process is the preparation of a Program of Works for the Progressive Upgrading of Peninsula Roads. I’m not aware of any comprehensive assessment of the state of our local roads, their condition, reconstruction cost and prioritisation. It is the Chambers view that Council should be preparing such a program so that it has the correct and relevant data as tool to access both State and Federal funding when available.

BRISBANE WATER OYSTER FESTIVAL 2000 - 2026

In 2025 the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce was proud to announce that the Brisbane Water Oyster Festival celebrated its 25th anniversary year on Sunday 9th November 2025 at Lions Park Woy Woy. The Brisbane Water Oyster Festival has been one the longest running community events on the Central Coast.

As a local business organisation, we are very proud to have provided this free iconic community event for 25 years from humble beginnings at Woy Woy waterfront in 2000 to many years at Ettalong Beach. We relocated to Woy Woy Lions Park as the road closure had little impact on local residences who were very kind to accept this once a year event. Every year has been a great year of oysters, food, wine and entertainment. We have had many great sponsors and this 2025 it was with great pleasure to announce the return or our Naming Sponsor, Deepwater Plaza Woy Woy who have delivered over 40 years of retailing and service to the Peninsula community. Our other great sponsors were Bruce Kerr Pty Ltd. Woy Woy and Atlantis Apartments Ettalong Beach. The Stephensons Real Estate Umina Beach joined as major sponsors as did Yellow Brick Road Umina Beach. Holiday Co Ettalong Beach and Six Strings Brewery joined our sponsorship providing much needed assistance to our event.

Our famous ‘How Many Oysters Can You Eat in 30 Seconds’ was very popular each year with two sessions during the day. Since the beginning, our entertainment has been produced by G’day Hollywood Productions with Wayne Cornell and Jenifer Green hosting the shows since 2000 and each year was just as exciting and entertaining thanks to Wayne and Jenifer. The famous Sydney Rocks were the highlight of the day with our local oyster farmers and suppliers. There was plenty to eat right until the end of day.