Port Macquarie Tidal Pool Committee chairperson Kathryn Butler says the committee is continuing to work behind the scenes to ensure the project comes to fruition.
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At the council meeting on Wednesday, February 19 councillors voted in favour for general manager Craig Swift-McNair to advise whether the Department of Industry Crown Lands has provided its position regarding the construction of new ocean tidal pools.
Ms Butler said the committee will also continue to work with Crown Lands to advance the project.
The tidal pool has been in the spotlight recently, after during the election campaign for the marginal seat of Cowper, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a re-elected Coalition government would commit $4.5 million dollars to a tidal pool in Port Macquarie.
The $4.5 million grant was promised despite Port Macquarie-Hastings councillors voting to place on the record that a tidal pool is not a priority for council in May 2018.
Ms Butler said it still hurts, given how much work has gone into progressing the tidal pool plan, for the council to reiterate it's not a priority.
Ms Butler also said she's disappointed about the amount of comments posted on social media in relation to the tidal pool receiving the funding, while Lake Cathie hasn't received any.
She said people shouldn't compare the issues as they are completely different.
Ms Butler, said a feasibility study on the tidal pool funded through a $50,000 grant from the state government, would be completed by the end of March 2020.
She said the committee has followed all official protocol to the letter.
Once the study is complete the committee will then prepare a development application to submit to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
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