Cr Keith Rhoades says Sawtell is Coffs Council’s ‘forgotten town’

Councillor goes in to bat for residents waiting ‘something like 40 years’ for kerbs and gutters – at exclusive beachside street.

Sawtell rock pool. Picture: Lisa Stevenson

Councillor Keith Rhoades has labelled Sawtell “the forgotten town” after no projects from the area were considered for a chunk of federal government grant money.

The long-serving councillor made the statement during debate on whether to proceed with spending $1.3 million improving drainage at Mullaway over a plan to build a cycleway in West Coffs Harbour.

Mr Rhoades took issue with the idea that money from a grant program called Local Roads and Community Infrastructure was not going towards road projects.

The three projects which received money were for Vost Street Netball Courts renewal, the Moonee cycleway and the Orchid Road and The Boulevard Drainage Project.

“I can’t see a project regarding local roads in the area – and I think you are all familiar with it – called Sawtell,” he said.

“It’s the forgotten town when it comes to Coffs Harbour City Council.”

After listing Bayldon Road and Brown Ave as areas worthy of upgrades, Mr Rhoades honed in on Park Street as needing special attention after residents had waited “something like 40 years” for work to occur.

“(Park St) have the highest residential rates in our city. Kerb and gutter? (A) properly formed street? Sorry, not there.”

Park Street is located directly behind Sawtell beach and estate agents have referred to it as one of the most sought after property locations on the Coffs Coast with house prices sometimes edging close to $2 million.

In response, Council’s director of sustainable infrastructure Mick Raby indicated there could be something for Sawtellians to look forward to in the 2021-22 capital works program.

“Acknowledging what the councillor has said about Sawtell, I would hope that when the entire program is presented to council all councillors are pleasantly surprised about the road projects that will be put up.”

Mr Raby added that while road prioritisation was still ongoing, Council had a “healthy” road renewal budget.