A new 30,000 person event space at Morisset that will host national and international performers has been approved for development.
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Lake Macquarie councillors voted unanimously on Monday night to approve Winarch Capital's development application for the Cedar Mill event site on the former Morisset Country Club golf course.
The entertainment facility will host a range of events, markets and functions, with capacity to stage outdoor performances for audiences of up to 30,000.
The development application for the event site is central to Cedar Mill's multi-million dollar redevelopment of the golf course, which also includes a tourist park, outdoor gardens, café, restaurant, splash park and other recreation areas.
Councillor Jason Pauling said the project will cause some impacts on surrounding residents but "that's a price fair to pay in some instances in relation to what will be an absolutely fantastic attribute" that would attract people to the area, such as medical professionals to fill staff shortages.
He said the site was close to a train station and the freeway, but acknowledged that some local infrastructure will need upgrading.
Councillor David Belcher also had concerns around surrounding infrastructure and the "critical need that that is addressed as part of this development" but said the development would go a long way to addressing the city's youth unemployment issue.
Councillor Brian Adamthwaite pointed out there were conditions of consent imposed on the development, including capping on the number of people using the train to attend events, the number of car parking spaces, operating times and flora and fauna protections.
He said the community was devastated when the golf club closed, and was pleased to see the future of the site was now looking positive.
"It did start off at a pretty dismal place when the golf club closed down, but we are now moving potentially into a really exciting place," he said.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the Cedar Mill facility would help achieve desired growth and development outcomes for Morisset outlined in both Council's strategic plans and the Draft Hunter Regional Plan 2041, which identifies the town as a 'Regionally Significant Growth Area'.
"Morisset is growing quickly already; investors and families have discovered the area's attributes and are making the choice to relocate there. We have engaged the University of Newcastle to undertake a Resilience and Growth Study for Morisset and the South West Precinct to ensure that growth is sustainable and addresses the needs of the community."
Dantia CEO Josh Sattler said Cedar Mill's redevelopment of the former golf course was a value-add proposition for a part of the city poised for significant transformation.
"Morisset has so many strategic and lifestyle assets - it is well-located for growth, has significant open space, affordable housing and is idyllically situated at the foothills of the mountains and in close proximity to the lake," Mr Sattler said.
"This is a state-significant tourism development that will cast Morisset in an exciting new light and showcase our city to visitors from across NSW, interstate and overseas."
Winarch Capital managing director Paul Lambess welcomed council's decision.
"This project represents an enormous opportunity for the south-western corridor of Lake Macquarie and we appreciate the collaborative and progressive approach that Lake Macquarie City Council has taken in recognising that opportunity to create jobs and help Morisset reach its potential," Mr Lambess said.