The Hunter & Central Coast Regional Planning Panel has given approval for a shopping centre development application at Fullerton Cove.
The development involves the construction of a supermarket, liquor store, commercial tenancies, medical centre and car parking.
Mayor Leah Anderson said the new mixed-use shopping centre would be an excellent benefit for the growing community.
"This type of development is a priority for Council, highlighting housing, open space, the environment, community facilities, and town centres," Mayor Anderson stated.
"The approval of this development aligns with our 20-year Fern Bay and North Stockton Strategy plan to help guide development in the area," she added.
When approving the development, the Regional Planning Panel considered the development to be in the public interest.
Councillor Giacomo Arnott said the development will have positive social and economic benefits for the local community.
"I've been advocating, alongside the community of Fern Bay and Fullerton Cove, for a supermarket and local retail in the area since I was first elected in 2017 – from the implementation of the Fern Bay and North Stockton Strategy, to the rezoning of the land, to a letter being sent to the Planning Panel late 2024 encouraging them to speed up this development approval," Cr Arnott said.
"This approval has been a long time coming and I'm thrilled at all the local jobs that will be created, and that one of our fastest growing areas will have access to groceries and services nearby.
"I believe in building well serviced neighbourhoods, and the rapid growth of this area without local retail options is a decades-old error that I am pleased to see fixed, but also committed to preventing occurring again," he added.
The site at 42 Fullerton Cove Road, Fullerton, was rezoned in 2022 to be a shopping centre as part of the Fern Bay and North Stockton Strategy plan.
