Cr Rob Turner was voicing his support to the town centre master plan sub-committee charter and, more broadly, to the town centre.

He was speaking at the May council meeting.

“The town centre master plan committee has a brief of looking into the future and seeing what we need in the central business district,” he told the council meeting.

“It is important to keep the Port Macquarie CBD, its waterfront area and the town green in the condition that is expected.

“We have an envious CBD, there is no question about that.

"The town centre master plan is virtually funded by the property owners of the CBD and does not impact on other council operations.”

Council adopted the amended town centre master plan sub-committee charter at the meeting.

The move aligns the sub-committee charter to the revised council organisation structure which was adopted in April.

The charter plans and implements traffic and road safety programs and activities addressing pedestrian, cyclist and vehicular needs in and around the town centre precinct.

The report was tabled at council’s ordinary meeting in May

“In line with this structure, the responsibilities for the town centre master plan sub-committee are being moved to the director of strategy and growth,” the report said.

“Not only does this provide a level of consistency to the sub-committee, it also moves the sub-committee into a forward planning division of council.

“Council has the option to either adopt the recommendations of this report, to amend the recommendations or to decline to adopt the recommendations.”

The meeting was told that the strategic advice and recommendations to council from the town centre master plan sub-committee will assist in the ongoing revitalisation of the Port Macquarie CBD, consistent with the adopted Port Macquarie town centre master plan (1992 and reviewed 2014).

The report noted that the independent external members are volunteers and no financial reward is offered to these positions; however the strategic advice and recommendations from the sub-committee will assist council in ensuring that ongoing revitalisation of the Port Macquarie CBD is undertaken in a prudent and cost effective manner.

The town centre master plan sub-committee advises and makes recommendations to council with regard to the strategic direction of the CBD/

However, all recommendations that commit council to the expenditure of funds or commit council to a particular outcome or course of action will be referred to the relevant Director, who will determine under delegation, the process for implementation, the report noted.

“Where necessary, the recommendation will be the subject of a report to council, for council to make a formal determination and resolution on the issue,” the report said.