Terrigal Boardwalk: Council votes to fund project
A controversial $6 million pedestrian link between Terrigal Beach and The Haven will go ahead but only after Mayor Jane Smith surprised everyone with a deal to address community concerns.
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The controversial Terrigal Boardwalk will go ahead after Central Coast Council voted last night to match almost $3 million in State Government funding.
The boardwalk will provide level access from Terrigal Beach around the rocky headland to The Haven and many are pinning their hopes on it also giving a boost to tourism and business in Terrigal.
But the idea of the boardwalk has been a divisive one with many in the community arguing it would ruin the last piece of natural coastal rock platform in Terrigal, destroy a historic place of recreation and damage the environment.
This division was reflected in council’s deliberation on the issue last night with some councillors arguing that the funding would be better distributed to a number of community projects across the region and others insisting the project would benefit both people, business and tourism.
Still others argued it would be madness to hand back millions in State Government funding as happened with the ill-fated Winney Bay Cliff Top Walk debacle.
Ultimately a multi point motion put forward by Mayor Jane Smith sought to strike a balance between allowing the project to proceed and addressing some community concerns.
It was something of a turn up for the books with conservative councillors praising her ”sensible” approach to the project and left leaning councillors opposing her plan.
Under the conditions of her motion $1,648 of council’s portion of the project will come out of the Terrigal Tourism and Business development levy, leaving the remainder of the funds to be spent elsewhere in the local government area.
Council will also seek a fixed price contract to allay fears that the costs of the project will blow out.
Crucially the boardwalk will give access to some parts of the rock platform and will try to minimise impacts on the look of the rocky headland and on the environment.
Mayor Smith said she had found the issue difficult because the community was so divided.
“I have mixed feelings about it,” Cr Smith said.
“The proposed boardwalk will offer all-inclusive access between Terrigal Town Centre and the Haven for pedestrians,” Mayor Smith said.
“Council has also listened to the community and made some changes to the design of the proposed boardwalk to ensure minimal adverse environmental impacts associated with construction and future use.
“Council will also investigate any heritage significance of the rock platform and work with the funding body to accommodate any heritage considerations.”
Terrigal MP Adam Crouch has welcomed Council’s support for the Terrigal Boardwalk.
“This decision is clearly what the majority of our community wanted. 81% of residents who were surveyed by Council support the Boardwalk. This is in addition to 2,000 residents who signed my petition to help secure $2.9 million in environment and tourism funding from Deputy Premier John Barilaro in 2018,” Mr Crouch said.
“I look forward to council getting on with the job of delivering the boardwalk and nearby rock pool as quickly as possible,” he said.
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