Coffs Harbour foreshore rezoning clears way for about 250 homes

A finalised rezoning of government-owned land at the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore has cleared a planning pathway for about 250 homes, alongside tourist accommodation and new public spaces.

The NSW Government announced the rezoning on Friday after the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure completed its assessment under the state significant rezoning process.

The amended planning controls allow a likely mix of about 250 homes and 200 tourist accommodation rooms on land between the railway line and Jordan Esplanade. Buildings may range from two to six storeys.

The plan also provides for commercial uses, better walking and cycling connections, new open space and a multipurpose community area. The former Deep Sea Fishing Club site will be restricted to tourism uses.

The final plan changed after consultation

The Department publicly exhibited the proposal between May and June 2025 and received 1,724 submissions. According to the NSW Government, the final version lowers some proposed building heights, retains more recreation land and adds design requirements intended to protect important views.

Future development will also be subject to a 3 per cent affordable housing dedication or monetary contribution in perpetuity. The wording is important: the contribution could be provided as housing or money, so it should not yet be treated as a confirmed number of affordable dwellings.

Design guidelines are intended to manage building form and protect view corridors towards Muttonbird Island and Corambirra Point. Additional public recreation land will be retained near the Marina Drive entrance.

The final rezoning changes what may be developed on the land. It is not a development approval for 250 completed homes, nor does it establish a construction start date.

Individual development proposals will still need to progress through the applicable assessment, design and delivery processes. The eventual number and type of dwellings could also depend on detailed applications and commercial decisions.

Infrastructure package still being finalised

The NSW Government and City of Coffs Harbour are finalising a voluntary planning agreement to fund public works associated with the precinct.

The proposed package includes $8.2 million for open-space and foreshore park upgrades, $750,000 for road improvements and about $1.9 million in broader local infrastructure contributions. The state has also previously agreed to cover road realignment and necessary water and sewer infrastructure costs, according to the council.

These works matter because rezoning alone does not make land ready for occupation. Roads, utilities, parks and safe connections must keep pace if the precinct is to function as an extension of the existing city and harbour area.

For the local property market, the decision adds medium-density housing capacity in a prominent, well-connected location. However, the homes will form only part of a mixed-use waterfront precinct that also has tourism, recreation and commercial objectives.

That mix may create a wider range of apartment and attached-housing options than is available in nearby detached-house neighbourhoods. Buyers should nevertheless wait for detailed applications before making assumptions about apartment sizes, tenure, prices, parking or completion dates.

The affordable housing contribution is a positive addition, but its eventual effect will depend on how it is delivered. A monetary contribution may support housing elsewhere rather than producing discounted homes within the foreshore precinct itself.

What it means for you

• The rezoning creates capacity for about 250 homes but does not mean construction is ready to begin.
• Prospective buyers should watch for detailed development applications, which will reveal dwelling types, parking and staging.
• Nearby owners may see gradual changes to traffic, views and local amenities as individual projects progress.
• Renters should not count on immediate relief because the timing and tenure of the future homes remain uncertain.