Have your say: Council’s 4 options for Pat Morton lookout upgrade

It’s one of the Northern Rivers’ most popular lookouts, and now locals can have their say on plans to make it even better.

Pat Morton Lookout, Lennox Head.

Four options will be put on public exhibition for an upgrade of Pat Morton lookout at Lennox Head.

Ballina Shire Council unanimously endorsed the draft car park and shared path concept design presented to them on Thursday, and now the community will have a chance to offer feedback.

At the lookout, a number of pathways converge, including the coastal walk, which follows the coastline south and connects to beaches, recreation nodes, access points and lookout areas; the northern side shared path, which connects to the Lennox Head village; and the southern side shared path, which connects Skennars Head, East Ballina and through to Ballina.

The concept design planning document seeks to define the missing link between the two shared paths (north and south), which are intended to support commuting and access to residential areas, schools and sports facilities.

The primary challenge for the concept design was ensuring that an appropriate amount of access and connectivity was provided while maintaining and enhancing the existing natural aesthetics and amenity of the site.

The draft plan includes four concept design options that seek to achieve the connection of the shared paths while offering improvements to facilities and features.

Option 1

Option 1 of the Pat Morton Precinct – Car Park and Shared Path Concept Design, by Ballina Shire Council.

This option provides a new path north of the carparking area.

The edge of the car park area would be pulled back to the south to give more grassed area and to make provision for the path.

The pathway is 2.5m wide and separated from the carparking pavement by a narrow grass verge.

Option 2

Option 2 of the Pat Morton Precinct – Car Park and Shared Path Concept Design, by Ballina Shire Council.

This option provides for a 2.5m path with pathway along the northern edge of the carparking area. The pathway would be defined and separated from vehicles by wheel stops and pavement colour/patterning treatment. (Both option 1 and option 2).

Option 3

Option 3 of the Pat Morton Precinct – Car Park and Shared Path Concept Design, by Ballina Shire Council.

Provides for a 2.5m wide pathway that passes through the carparking area leaving the northern edge of the car park as a grass surface.

Option 4

Option 4 of the Pat Morton Precinct – Car Park and Shared Path Concept Design, by Ballina Shire Council.

This option provides for a reconfiguration and reconstruction of the carparking area.

It includes a 2.5m wide pathway that passes through the car park area leaving the northern edge of the car park as a grass surface.

Community feedback will be used to develop a preferred concept design option, to enable council to progress with a more detailed design.

The full proposal will be available from the Ballina Council website.