Making big strides

2016 saw the volunteer executive working hard to navigate a range of planning and funding challenges and they hope to see this work begin to pay dividends. They are optimistic that 2017 will see another 1.5km of shared cycleway constructed.

A series of volunteer working bees are planned to commence soon on a 160m section of pathway to the east of Dunbogan Reserve. Works will begin once Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has finished extending culverts and road surfacing in this area.

The executive also adopted a strategy for the section of pathway which continues along the houses on Camden Head Road fronting Googleys Lagoon. The committee has labelled this section ‘D6’ and it covers a 760m distance.

Careful consideration was given to the planning of this section by the committee. This section provided an opportunity to access the Crown Land Reserve behind the houses that fronts the scenic edge of the lagoon. After an extensive process that considered factors such as construction, user access, privacy, safety, street lighting, approvals, cost, etc. the executive opted for creating a 2m wide footpath running along the northern roadside of the road.

In conjunction with this roadside cycleway, B2B intends to create a ‘Nature Trail’ to follow the waterside edge of the lagoon through the Crown Land Reserve. B2B intends to improve both entrances to this section of bushland with a graded Bago gravel pathway, signage and bollards.

The B2B team believes their solution for ‘D6’ achieves a win-win for the Camden Haven – another piece of the route to Pilot Beach gets completed and a new nature trail opens up a beautiful section of riverside to the community. To view the discussion paper which outlines the planning visit haveyoursay.pmhc.nsw.gov.au/beach-to-beach-riverwalk-camden-haven. If you have any comments email b2briverwalk@yahoo.com.au by March 29.