“We feel so excited and relieved after all the work that all our committee and the Lake Cathie-Bonny Hills Lions Club has done,” committee member Clare Gray said. 

“It’s a great result.” 

Mrs Gray said the plan will bring back a bit of beauty and excitement to the Lake Cathie Foreshore Reserve. 

She said it will also provide a boost in visitor numbers to benefit businesses.

Councillors were unanimous in their approval of the plan which received significant community input.

Features include a fenced playground, picnic areas, paths, a new toilet block, parking facilities and family skate and recreation park.

Work will commence on a new fenced playground and swings in March. 

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council acting director Dan Croft the plan’s approval is a great outcome for the local community who have been involved right from the start.

“By participating in workshops, think-tanks and fun day activities where some great ideas on what should be included in the plan were shared,” he said. 

“Lake Cathie is such a popular place with a growing number of residents and visitors enjoying the foreshore, so we’re proud to be able to upgrade the area so it can be enjoyed by all for many years to come.

“The approval of the plan means we can now start work on sourcing funding for the upgrades, and are excited to commence the construction of the $138,000 upgrade to the foreshore playground in the coming month.”

Mr Croft thanked the Lake Cathie community who he said had been instrumental in the creation of a new vision for the foreshore that will provide great recreational benefits.

The endorsement of the Lake Cathie Foreshore Master Plan comes after the recent joint funding announcement of $350,000 by council and the NSW Government to allow for sand dredging and beach nourishment works.

Dredging is planned to commence in late May and is expected to take four weeks. 

For more information visit haveyoursay.pmhc.nsw.gov.au/lakecathie