Increasing sheltered seating areas, enhancing landscaping and acknowledging its cultural significance.
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Port Macquarie's historic Coal Wharf will get for a $50,470 makeover thanks to a state government grant announced on Monday, December 10.
Northside Progress Association president Kingsley Searle said there were also plans to include usable sculptures.
"This is a significant place in Aboriginal and early European settlement history," Mr Searle said.
"The association has for many years encouraged the involvement of the Birpai peoples in our plans. They use this land quite a bit and we welcome and support that use.
"This funding will see two or three sets of seating with shelters along with further landscaping and plantings of trees and shrubs.
"All this will be achieved without destroying this area's beauty; we want to enhance this area," he said.
"We also have looked at introducing sculptures that will not only look good but can also be used."
Mr Searle thanked Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams and Port Macquarie-Hastings Council mayor Peta Pinson for their support on the project.
The association has been working for many years on developing and protecting the heritage of the Coal Wharf Reserve.
If the association did not act, this area would have remained run down and would have been earmarked to be returned to forest.
- Kingsley Searle
"If the association did not act, this area would have remained run down and would have been earmarked to be returned to forest.
"The community would have lost a valuable asset," he said.
"We participated in community consultation discussions with council departments and the Birpai Land Council to ensure this area was kept and ultimately improved."
Mrs Williams acknowledged the efforts of the association in creating the plan for the historic area.
"Coal Wharf Reserve on the North Shore is a beautiful location but unfortunately it is in need of improvements," she said.
"I have met with the Northside Progress Association on numerous occasions and they have highlighted the need for funding to be allocated for the project.
"This project aims to implement stage one of the reserves' master plan in creating a social recreational hub for North Shore residents, visitors and the wider community."
The funding was made available through the stronger country communities program.
Mr Searle said the association's next big project was at Kangaroo Park.
He said the association wanted to continue the theme from Coal Wharf Reserve through to the Kangaroo Park.
"We want to tie these two areas together," he added.
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