communitynow NEWSLETTER
WINTER 2019
GETTING AROUND
in our
growing
c o m m u n i t y
W
e all know how many cars there are on the road (just ask the kids when they play spotto!), and that traffic congestion is a real issue during peak times. Nobody likes being stuck in traffic (unless you enjoy the time to belt out your favourite song or catch up on a podcast), and we definitely have a culture of relying on our cars to get around.
Ocean Drive between Matthew Flinders Drive and Greenmeadows Drive (South) in Port Macquarie will be upgraded, which includes the duplication from 2 to 4 traffic lanes to improve traffic flow, plus upgrading of six intersections and access points, and improved pedestrian links.
This is a $70 million construction project that is being funded in partnership with the With more than 20,000 people expected to State Government (who recently move to our beautiful region by contributed an additional $50 2036, ensuring we have the best By 2036 it’s million), and work is expected to get estimated our possible transport network so that region will be underway once required construction we can all get from A to B safely and home to 104,000 planning processes are completed. efficiently is one of Council’s key people and we’ll priorities. There are also further upgrades need 10,000 to Lake Road that are currently new homes You will have seen many in the planning phase. When improvements take place across our planning (including concept design, road network in recent years, such investigation, traffic modelling, benefits as dual lanes and intersection improvements analysis, detailed design) is finalised, this will along Hastings River Drive, the new Stingray see the continued duplication of this busy road Creek Bridge, Houston Mitchell Drive and between Central Road and Ocean Drive. Beechwood Road. Plus improvements to parts of Gordon Street, and making Lake Road safer and providing easier access to the industrial area… and there’s lots more to come. We know working with other levels of government to address pinch points such as Lake Road, Ocean Drive and the Oxley Highway (a State Government controlled road) is a high priority for our community, and we’re continuing to work on improvements in these areas. For example, around 3.4 kilometres of
These upgrades have been in planning for a number of years, and are part of ongoing improvements that you will see occurring right across our 1,368kms of sealed and unsealed road network. The rates we all pay contribute only a small portion to the money we need to maintain and improve our transport network, and we rely heavily on other levels of government to help cont. inside ... us out.
Delivering for our growing community
From the Mayor
W
elcome to your Community Now newsletter. Brrr … winter is certainly upon us, and there’s no better time than to layer up the winter woollies, jump in the car and do a bit of exploring around our beautiful region. We are so lucky to have so much to see and do, and whenever I’m chatting to visitors they always tell me how amazed they are with the variety of local experiences that seem to be popping up around every corner. If I talked about all my favourites we’d need a bigger newsletter ... so instead why not jump onto portmacquarieinfo.com.au and see everything there is to explore? And you don’t have to have friends or family visiting as an excuse to get out and about … why not pack the portable barbie, grab some snags and find yourself a quiet spot in the hinterland for a classic aussie barbie lunch? Or you could save the cooking for someone else and enjoy a hearty winter pie in one of the many cafés or pubs that are dotted along our rural roads. And if you’re a sweet tooth like me, the scones with jam and cream, washed down with a hot cuppa is something you simply must make a stop for … (mmm I can smell them now!) Who needs to go on holidays when everything is right here on our doorstep? And it seems the secret’s definitely out, with on average around 100 people moving to our region every month there’ll need to be even more cafés serving pies and scones … just to keep up with the demand! Winter is a beautiful time in the Port MacquarieHastings … so why not have a ‘staycation’, get out, explore and enjoy? portmacquarieinfo.com.au Peta Pinson Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayor PS I almost forgot, our new plan and budget for this financial year is now available, so why not jump onto our website and see the exciting projects we have happening near you? pmhc.nsw.gov.au/operationalplan
What a transformation! > The Kooloonbung Creek Foreshore has had a $693,000 facelift. This fantastic upgrade has been funded from the Town Centre Master Plan Committee Reserve which is made up of a levy paid by property owners within the Port Macquarie CBD for streetscape and beautification works.
Boost for a popular attraction > Upgrades to improve pedestrian and vehicle access and provide better parking at the Tacking Point Lighthouse has started and on track for completion before the September school holidays (weather permitting).
Did you sea litter? Now you don’t > We've partnered with the Coastal Warriors to have two seabins installed at Port Macquarie Marina that capture litter floating in the ocean. The Council seabin was purchased as part of a NSW EPA Waste Less Recycle More Initiative funded from the Waste Levy.
Airport reaches new heights > With a new departure lounge, café, passenger screening, accessible amenities, and dedicated rental car area, it’s up, up and away for travellers. Plus ducted air-conditioning, Wi-Fi and improved flight information displays really make our upgraded Airport 'first class'. Work has started on Stage 2 which includes a new passenger check-in area and baggage claim carousel planned for arrival by the end of 2019. The upgrade to the terminal building is a $9.875 million project funded through a $5 million contribution from the NSW Government under the Restart NSW Regional Tourism Infrastructure Fund and $1.25 million from the Australian Government. Council will contribute up to $3.625 million to the project.
Biodiversity in action
Coastal Walk Upgrades just around the bend
> An enthusiastic group of indigenous trainees from BioDiversity Solutions Australia have put their conservation and land management skills to the test working with Council, NORTEC and TAFE NSW to protect our local environment.
> This staged upgrade commencing with Charlie Uptin walk section will get underway in the coming months and will result in new pathways, seats, safety rails and more along our region's number one tourist attraction.
Chip off the old toilet block
New dog park to be off the chain
> We can now enjoy safer, cleaner and more accessible amenities at Lake Cathie.
> Community feedback is in and designs for a new dog park at Stuart Park in Port Macquarie are now complete. Construction will commence in the coming months. adding to the other great offleash areas for pooches and their humanoid friends to enjoy.
Boaties spoiled for choice
And the winner is …
> More than $1 million of upgrades to the Bruce Porter Reserve in Laurieton and the boat ramp at Dunbogan Reserve are now finished. Talk about ramping things up for boaties in the region!
> Local artist Kim McLean submitted the winning design for the Rainbow Beach Reserve Amenities Art Competition … run by the Bonny Hills Progress Association. Depicting a traditional but quirky day at the beach, this piece is sure to turn heads at Bonny’s this summer!
More play choices for kids
Youth up-and-comers
> Wall Reserve Playground in North Haven is now open with heaps of natural play elements, improved seating, bike pathways and softfall. You could say the kids will definitely be climbing over walls to get to this one!
> From youth voice forums and library Cosplay, to street art and Moonlight Movies, this year’s Youth Week was one of the best yet with a full blown celebration of young people right across the region.
Getting around in our growing community This is why partnering with the State and Federal Governments, and other key stakeholders is so important. It is only together that we can address our traffic network challenges ‘head on’, and ensure that State controlled roads (such as the Pacific Highway and Oxley Highway), and our local roads all work well together.
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options to alleviate traffic congestion, via the better dispersal of traffic across the road network.
The development of a Strategic Business Case does not mean that Council has agreed to build an Orbital Road in the corridor that was discussed during the community engagement, or any other route. It means that Council will now review a You may have heard the recent conversation and broader range of options, both potential new community consultation on a proposed routes and upgrades to the existing road Orbital Road for Port Macquarie, and we network to get a better understanding of the Unsure of who manages which thank everyone who has been involved costs and benefits associated with various road, Council or so far. options to address our traffic issues. Your input into the process is critical if we are to come up with a solution that addresses traffic congestion, whilst minimising the impacts on our community and the environment.
the State? Visit pmhc.nsw.gov.au/ road-ownership to learn more
There were many people in our community who made contributions during the recent engagement period for the proposed Orbital Road, and at the recent Council meeting, Councillors decided to move forward with the development of a Strategic Business Case. This Strategic Business Case will investigate new transport route options and how these compare with, or add to possible improvements to the existing road network such as the planned upgrades to Lake Road, Ocean Drive and other Council managed roads, as well as the State Government controlled Oxley Highway. Upon completion of the Strategic Business Case, Council will have more detail on preferred route
The Strategic Business Case is expected to take up to 24 months to complete, and may include short, medium and long-term options to improve the existing Port Macquarie road network such as intersection upgrades, the widening of roads and/ or possible new links. Further detailed analysis of the existing road network will also take place through the development of a Port Macquarie-specific traffic model, building on the work already completed as part of Council’s Area Wide Traffic Study. We’re committed to working with, and keeping you, our community informed on the progress of the Strategic Business Case and all the work we are doing to improve our transport network. You can find more information on our website or at our Customer Service Centres including a handy fact sheet on the Proposed Orbital Road Strategic Business Case.
haveyoursay.pmhc.nsw.gov.au/orbital-road
O U R C O M M U N I T Y S T R AT E G I C P L A N
we need you!
H
ow lucky are we to live in such a beautiful part of the world? And as our region continues to grow it is important that as a community we adapt and change to ensure we maintain our unique character and community values whilst balancing this with the needs of a growing community. Our community is forecast to grow from around 80,000 to more than 104,000 people by 2036.
The CSP is our ‘guiding light’, and is developed in partnership with the community to identify the vision, priorities and aspirations for our community’s future and how we are going to achieve this. It is our community’s most important plan, and looks at four key areas: > Where are we now? > Where do we want to be in 10 years time and how do we start planning for where we want to be in 2050? > How will we get there? > How will we know we’ve arrived?
pmhc.nsw.gov.au
You may not be aware that every 10 years, Council works with our community to develop what is called a Community Strategic Plan (CSP).
To w a r d s
2030
C O M M U N I T Y T O W A R D S
2 0 3 0
S T R AT E G I C C O M M U N I T Y
P L A N
S T R A T E G I C
P L A N
A successful CSP is one in which the whole community feels ownership, and we’re looking for your BIG ideas for the future of our region, and the things that are important to you. Over the coming months Council staff will be out-and-about in the community asking for your input, so look out for us and get involved as together we develop the future vision for our community.
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Save Our Recycling campaign We support a state-wide approach to managing waste and recycling. Learn more and pledge your support to ‘Save Our Recycling’ today. Let's look after our local environment together. Visit: Share your thoughts ...
pmhc.nsw.gov.au/save-our-recycling
Wauchope
C O M M U N I T Y
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Planning for our community’s future Over the next two years we’re working in partnership with local communities to develop localised Community Plans, and we want to hear from you! This is your chance to have a say on what’s important to you and the future of your community. Get involved at: We value your opinion!
Please share your thoughts about the future of your area at our Community Think Tanks When: 1st Think Tank: Thursday 25 July 2019 – 6.00-8.00pm 2nd Think Tank: Thursday 8 August 2019 – 6.00-8.00pm Where: Wauchope Community Arts Hall, Oxley Lane, Wauchope You can have your say by completing the online survey on Council’s Community Planning Website:
pmhc.nsw.gov.au/community-planning
pmhc.nsw.gov.au/community-planning
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