West Beach Rd to get $2.8 million upgrade thanks to Federal Government and West Torrens Council
A SUBURB that has long been the “forgotten cousin” of other coastal areas is set to get a boost thanks to the Federal Government and the local council.
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TRADERS have welcomed a $2.8 million upgrade of West Beach Rd, saying the suburb has long been the “forgotten cousin” of other coastal areas.
The Federal Government announced the upgrade last week and will joint fund it with West Torrens Council.
The upgrade will include new turning lanes, on-road cycle lanes, drainage, landscaping and improved footpaths.
Work is expected to start in coming months and be completed in mid-2018.
West Beach Chicken and Seafood’s Muhammad El-Sayed said the road upgrade would help attract more people to the area.
“It’s actually a little secluded place that no one really goes to,” Mr El-Sayed said.
“They go between Henley Beach and they go to Jetty Rd, Glenelg.”
“They have a beach here but nobody knows about it and I think it’s good that more money is being spent.”
Bakers Edge owner Norm Collins said the announcement was “great for the area”.
“Anything like that is good because we feel like the forgotten cousin sometimes and we are left alone and nothing happens,” Mr Collins said.
“It will be great having something like that, especially since the nearby park is used by heaps of kids.”
The Federal Government has committed $1.89 million to the project through its Roads to Recovery program.
The remaining money will come from West Torrens.
West Beach resident Leon Williams said he had been “hounding and hounding” the council and the government to fix the road.
“The problem is it’s on the fringe of two councils and West Beach Rd is not a long road,” Mr Williams said.
West Torrens Mayor John Trainer said there was still an element of confusion about the project because the council was yet to receive an official funding agreement from the Federal Government.
He said neighbouring Charles Sturt Council should also contribute to the upgrade.
“It has been the opinion of this council that it is quite wrong that rates paid by 35,000 ratepayers should be spent to upgrade a road where most of the affected residents are in Charles Sturt,” Mr Trainer said.
“It is most unfortunate that ratepayers of West Torrens are still going to have to spend a lot of money on this road when there are other urgent requirements elsewhere.”