Thousands and thousands of visitors flock to our seaside town every year to soak up the atmosphere, enjoy our hospitality and to search our hinterland regions. In a tourism sense, Port Macquarie, seemingly, has it all.

Hand in hand with our city being a mecca for tourists, we also have an entire community that relies on the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to ensure that lifestyle is maintained and improved for locals to enjoy.

While its core job is based around roads and footpaths, council is liaising closely with the Department of Primary Industries on the draft plan as it works to ensure we can capitalise on our natural beauty for everyone to enjoy.

The final plan will go to DPI to progress to the next phase of the project.

The council’s latest call for input and support of its proposal for the upgrade and improvement to the breakwall deserves our attention.

There is a concept plan currently on exhibition showing some of the design ideas council believes will help maximise this part of our river and ocean frontage. And, rather than simply sit back and wait for council to make a final decision and then have our say, the Port News believes we, as citizens, should take some ownership of this project.

The concept plans themselves deserve to be discussed and dissected if only to ensure we get a good cross-section of comments. And this is the value of public consultation: the varying degrees of thought and ideas can only mean a better end product.

The stretch of waterway from the marina right through to Lighthouse Beach is one of the most beautiful and scenic stretches of coastline on the eastern seaboard. And it is accessible to the community.

The other notable inclusion on the concept plan is a new lookout at the mouth of the river – on the southern breakwall overlooking Town Beach. This would give fantastic views across Town Beach, particularly when the swell is running.

The Port News supports the inclusion of fishing platforms as part of the vision for this area and the widening of the footpaths to accommodate all users. Submissions remain open until August 19.

To view the concept plans go to www. pmhclistening.com.au/breakwall-upgrade or contact council on 6581 8111.