Automatic Gates Gosford

Gosford's housing and blocks

Gosford, West Gosford, North Gosford, East Gosford and Point Frederick hold a mix of mid-century brick and fibro homes, newer townhouses and apartment blocks close to the CBD and the waterfront. Many streets climb steeply off the main roads, and a lot of driveways either drop sharply from the street or climb hard to a garage under the house.

That shapes the gate choice. A swing gate on a steep drive will usually hit the ground before it opens fully. A sliding gate running along a level line at the boundary is the common answer, though retaining walls and sandstone outcrops can interrupt the run-back beside the opening.

Ground and drainage

Sandstone sits close to the surface in parts of Gosford. That can be good for a footing but slows excavation, and it means a track footing may need to be cut rather than dug. Stormwater is the other issue. A steep driveway funnels water toward the gate line in heavy rain, and a ground track or an underground swing motor in that path will collect silt and water. A cantilever gate, which runs on rollers beside the opening rather than a track, can sidestep both problems.

Apartments and townhouses

Gosford's growing number of apartment and townhouse developments means plenty of shared driveways. Changes to a common property gate generally need the owners corporation's approval, so check your strata by-laws before getting quotes.

Council and approvals

Gosford is part of Central Coast Council, which was formed in 2016 from the former Gosford City and Wyong Shire councils. Under the NSW exempt development rules, a front fence and gate generally needs to stay at or under 1.2 metres to avoid an application. Parts of the hillsides behind Gosford back onto bushland and may be mapped as bush fire prone, which adds conditions on materials. Council's online mapping can show you.

Getting it done

Tell us about your driveway, including whether it slopes and how close the house is to the boundary, and we will connect you with a local installer who can measure up. If you are motorising an existing gate, see gate automation.