Empty CBD building costing Coffs council $250K a year could make way for 13-storey development

The old City of Coffs Harbour administration building has been sitting empty in the CBD since 2023 and costs the council more than $250,000 a year to maintain.

But 2026 looks to be the year the council says “no more”, with the building up for sale with permission for the site to become a new block of as many as 13 storeys.

❓What happened: Councillors gave the go ahead for the City of Coffs Harbour to put 2 Castle Street on the market during the January meeting.

• Nine different options of what to do with the Castle Street property were presented, including renovations, leasing, and repurposing into a community hub. 

• “Putting the site – which includes 45 underground car parks – on the open market for sale was found to be the preferred option as it is financially sustainable,” City Business Services Director Steve Bayliss said.

• Bayliss said the council had fielded several inquiries in the past 18 months about a potential sale of the property. 

💵 Cost to council: Built in 1983, the Castle Street building was occupied by the council from 1985. 

• In 2023, staff moved to Yarrila Place on Gordon Street.

The council has continued to maintain the Castle Street building and grounds to ensure it doesn’t deteriorate. 

The annual budget to maintain the building in its current state is $264,000, including electricity, security, landscaping, insurance, and property costs. 

➡️ What next: Councillors voted to authorise the General Manager to place 2 Castle Street on the open market for sale. 

• A further report will be provided to the council seeking approval to proceed once the open market process has been completed. 

The site is zoned as E2 Commercial Core with a complying building height limit of 44-metres – roughly equivalent to 13 storeys.

Thumbnail: The former City of Coffs Harbour administration building in Castle St. Picture supplied.