Riding Lane upgrade behind Cultural and Civic Space back on council agenda

It’s not the first time the lane behind the Cultural and Civic Space at Coffs Harbour has been put forward as a priority project – the 300-metre lane has been estimated to cost $5m. See what councillors decided to do.

The Coffs Harbour mayor has moved to keep the upgrade of an aging footbridge over a popular creek on the table for government funds.

Paul Amos revealed he will work with both our state and federal MPs – Gurmesh Singh and Pat Conaghan – to gain the appropriate approvals and look at the timeframe of the project.

The matter was on the packed agenda at council’s Thursday night (April 28) meeting which went for over three hours.

Coffs Harbour mayor Paul Amos at the Botanic Gardens swearing in ceremony prior to the newly elected council’s first meeting on February 10. Picture: Janine Watson

In February this year Coffs Harbour City Council resolved to approve two projects to be nominated for phase three of the Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program:

• New footbridge at Boambee Creek – $2,483,192
• Lighting upgrade at Clive Joass Sport Park, Woolgoolga – $281,000

But according to the agenda for Thursday night’s council meeting, funding for the footbridge could not proceed until council gained the appropriate approvals from the land manager (Australian Rail Transport Corporation) and Fisheries NSW.

The footbridge is located under the railway line across the picturesque Boambee Creek; popular with paddle boarders and dog walkers.

The footbridge under the bridge at Boambee Creek.

It was also noted in the agenda that some design issues emerged which could delay the finalisation of the project further, so ultimately – ‘It is unlikely therefore that the project can be delivered within the prescribed timeline’.

Projects must be complete by June 30, 2023.

Instead it was suggested to put forward the controversial Riding Lane upgrade as an alternative contender for funding as it was a ‘priority laneway’ to enhance the city centre’s value as an ‘activated urban space, establishing and strengthening pedestrian and cycle links, improving connectivity within the City Centre’.

The recommendation before councillors was to approve the lane upgrade as an ‘alternative nomination at an estimated cost of $2,764, 192’.

With the controversial project causing such division and ultimately suspicion in the community, the inclusion of the project in the agenda prior to Thursday’s meeting again got people talking on social media.

Protesters for the Cultural and Civic Space prior to an extraordinary meeting in March last year. There have been protests on both sides with those against carrying coffins into one meeting saying ‘democracy is dead’. Picture: Janine Watson

The Riding Lane behind the Gordon Street project is about 300 metres long and previous cost estimates have put upgrade costs as high as $5m.

The lane is also home to an established fig tree which is a focal point for the bold curved glass design of Yarilla Place, formerly known as the Cultural and Civic Space.

It’s not the first time the lane upgrade has been put forward as a priority project.

Coffs Harbour City Council Gallery and Museum curator Jo Besley by the Riding Lane and the fig tree. Picture: Janine Watson.

In 2020 then deputy prime minister Michael McCormack wrote to councils asking for suggestions on local land transport projects that could be fast-tracked as a kind of Covid-related economic stimulus.

But ultimately councillors decided not to put the project forward with some appearing to be blindsided by the suggestion from senior staff that they request $4.5m towards the cost of upgrading the lane.

Now with a new batch of councillors on board the lane upgrade has found its way back on the agenda.

In a three-hour meeting Mr Amos successfully moved to defer the matter and continue working with all levels of government to push ahead with funding for the Boambee Creek footbridge.

Long and winding road for controversial project

The state government approved the development application for the building, which will house a new art gallery, museum, council offices and various public spaces, in late 2020.

Three of the new Coffs Harbour City councillors Tony Judge, Julie Sechi and Rodger Pryce at their first meeting in February this year. Picture: Janine Watson

Construction began early last year with the total cost of the project now expected to be $81.27 million, which is approximately $4.75 million over the $76.52 million project budget, established in 2018.

The Cultural and Civic Space building was renamed Yarilla Place in September last year.

It is due to be complete by the end of this year.