The Central Coast Council is nurturing property industry interest as it works to cement its area as a development hot spot. The council on November 28 hosted a discussion attended by more than 30 property developers, real estate agents and builders from the local area, nationally and interstate at the Ulverstone Sports and Leisure Centre. The need to encourage housing developments of greater density to help tackle affordability was one of the issues raised. Companies represented included big real estate firm Knight Frank, prominent builder Fairbrother and Launceston-based mixed investment company the JAC Group. Mayor Cheryl Fuller said it was fantastic to see so many knowledgeable professionals "with a passionate interest in our part of the state". "We welcome future development interest, as we all know that this greatly benefits the community, especially when done with a thoughtful, sustainable and strategic lens." Council community, growth and development director Daryl Connelly said the council had received "well over" 300 development applications annually for the last three years. He said that was more than its neighbouring councils (Devonport and Burnie) and the round table event showed the interest was not waning. The council said the discussion had given it deeper understanding to inform its strategic decision making about development. Council staff told the meeting about recent improvements to process aimed at making it easier to develop sustainably. The council said key themes from the discussion included: Of the region's nine council areas, Burnie had the strongest start to the financial year for housing approvals. That council approved 41 dwellings in July and August combined the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported. The state had 529 dwellings approved across its 29 councils, with only Launceston (74) and Clarence (61) having more approvals than Burnie. Devonport had 20. Central Coast and Waratah-Wynyard had 13 each. The region's other totals: