TWO ambitious plans to link cycleways and pathways in the Camden Haven have taken a giant leap forward.
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State government funding will be provided for stage one of the Beach to Beach Riverwalk project, 5.5 kilometres of new pathway and cycleway linking 11 kilometres of the circuit connecting Dunbogan, Laurieton and North Haven.
Port Macquarie Hastings Council also announced it was successful, earlier this month, in securing $200,000 funding from the State Government for the Schools to Schools project under the government’s Cycleways Program.
The Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams, announced on Friday $200,000 funding from the state government was a fantastic outcome for the community and she was looking forward to seeing work commence.
“While there are two very similar projects being developed by the Beach to Beach and Schools to Schools committees, this first funding will see the Beach to Beach project being able to proceed,” she said.
Mrs Williams said she had also asked for $20,000 to further the planning and development of the 13 kilometre Schools to Schools plan.
“While the Schools to Schools committee are working very hard to finalise their plans, there is still a lot of work to be done before any structural work can begin,” she said.
“This is just the start of what will be a long term project that is set to vastly improve pedestrian safety and will also allow for school children to walk to and from school on a footpath rather than traversing undulating road verges along Ocean Drive.”
For the Schools to Schools project, confirmation of the successful funding application by the council was made to Schools to Schools committee member, John Cooke, at a meeting earlier this month attended by Mayor Peter Besseling, General Manager Craig Swift-McNair, Member for Lyne David Gillespie and Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council mayor Peter Besseling welcomed the further funding announcement for the Beach to Beach Riverwalk from Mrs Williams.
“This is very welcome news for Council and the broader community and will supplement other access works that Council has planned for the Camden Haven,” he said.The vision driving the Schools to Schools project is to eventually get 12.8km of sealed pathway built from Kendall Public School to Laurieton Public School allowing school children (in particular) and the wider community to walk or ride safely off-road.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayor Peter Besseling said this project would form part of Council’s 2014/15 Footpath and Cycleway program which has a price tag of more than $500,000 attached to it.
“The most immediate priority is to provide safe access to Camden Haven High School, a school with a current enrolment of approximately 1000 students,” Cr Besseling said.
The section of path between Glen Haven Drive and Mountain View Road, on the southern side of Ocean Drive, is earmarked as Stage One for consideration and would finish at Mountain View Road.
“The enthusiasm of the community behind the pathway project is to be congratulated and when completed, will provide great benefits to locals and visitors alike,” Cr Besseling said.