Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has released a draft Lake Cathie Foreshore Master Plan to guide the future of the Lake Cathie foreshore.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The plan was presented to the community at a Family Fun Day on November 25 and proposes features including a fenced playground, picnic areas, wider paths, additional car parks and an interactive family skate and recreation park including seating and exercise equipment.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council group manager Lucilla Marshall said the plan was put together with input gathered from a recent community Think Tank.
“One of the biggest areas people wanted to improve was connectivity of the space,” she said.
“How to make it accessible for everyone.”
Ms Marshall said the interactive family skate and recreation park has caused some debate about whether the location is the right one for the facility.
“We want all comments and thoughts about the plan because otherwise there’s no point in doing community engagement,” she said.
“If we don’t hear their opinions we can’t make the best outcome for the community.”
Lake Cathie resident Merv East has launched a petition against the move and said Lake Cathie is a beautiful location, with a unique lake system and access to the ocean.
“We only have one opportunity to make the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council see how many residents are against a skate park in the foreshore master plan,” he said.
Mr East would prefer the skate park to be located a few kilometres away from the foreshore.
Another Lake Cathie resident Faith Buggie said the skate park would be an ‘eyesore’ and would be too large a facility for the space.
Local Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams said she congratulated the members of the Lake Cathie Skate and Recreation Park Project Committee.
“Once the plans for the skate and recreation park are finalised I will work closely with the committee to source funding opportunities,” she said in a recent address to parliament.
“This has been a long-term vision of the Lake Cathie community and I am confident that with the hard work, determination and dedication of the committee and support from Lions Club and council that it will become a reality,” she said.
Twelve-year-old Skie Mcdonald and 11-year-old Georgia Freeman said they would be at the skate park after school and on weekends.
“I think the skate park would be good for the kids and it would attract more tourists too,” Skie said.
Lake Cathie resident and business owner Kylie Marsh said the foreshore plan is completely inclusive with the proposed features of 2.5 metre paths, accessibility to playgrounds and disabled access for unisex toilets.
“The plan just nails it,” she said.
For more information about the plan or to make a submission online please visit http://haveyoursay.pmhc.nsw.gov.au/lakecathie