Let’s get it happening: Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott wants Port Macquarie to have the ‘best foreshore in Australia’.
PORT Macquarie’s much-loved foreshore received a $1 million injection in last night’s federal budget.
Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott said foreshore access and amenity works were back on the agenda thanks to the budget.
“Let’s get the best foreshore in Australia happening in Port Macquarie,” he said.
Mr Oakeshott said he was a fan of sorting out the footbridge over Kooloonbung Creek for safe and continual foreshore access as a starting point.
The Lyne MP said an opportunity existed for council candidates to put their vision on the table and make the foreshore a centrepiece of the September council elections.
He said $1 million dollars sets a pretty good challenge for the NSW Government, which owns the foreshore, to at least match the funding and help our community realise its foreshore vision.
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A foreshore vision was developed based on community input after Port Macquarie-Hastings Council engaged consultants in 2008.
The state government has concentrated to date on a plan of management for Westport Park and has legally protected the park from development.
The Budget also contained about $1.5 million for the next stage of Wayne Richards Park.
Mr Oakeshott said the funding would allow for progress on what was well-used and much-needed sports facilities in Port Macquarie.
The work could involve the relocation the council’s depot, he said.
The sports-related funding, totalling $1.8 million, includes wiping the $320,000 Port Macquarie Hastings Hockey Association debt to the council for the hockey field resurfacing project.
Meanwhile, Mr Oakeshott said it was a tight budget which would pass a tight parliament.
The surplus budget contains many cost-saving measures.