Election 2022: Constance’s new child-friendly project promises to provide for young families
A raft of new child-friendly amenities have been announced for the South Coast, from play areas to pump tracks. Find out what’s on offer in your area, as election day nears.
The South Coast News
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Road and infrastructure projects that have so far dominated the electoral race in Gilmore took a back seat on Tuesday, as Liberal candidate Andrew Constance unveiled plans for new child-friendly projects.
The former-Minister for Transport announced the $400,000 project in Nowra alongside Liberal Shoalhaven City Councillor Paul Ell.
The project promises to see new playgrounds and pump tracks built in the Shoalhaven, which Mr Constance said will benefit young families that have moved to the area.
“These projects bring the community together,” he said.
“It really does drive the opportunities recreationally for our young people.”
Two new pump tracks - a circuit-style complex used by BMX riders - will be built at Sanctuary Point and Sussex Inlet in the Jervis Bay area, with an investment in each of $75,000, according to Mr Constance.
That is in addition to two new playgrounds in Kangaroo Valley and Kiola, south of Ulladulla, which received investment promises of $150,000 and $100,000 respectively.
Shoalhaven Australia Day Citizen of the Year awardee and community leader Fran Mooney had been heavily involved in the rebuilding of Sanctuary Point Skate Park, and welcomed the projects which will be co-located alongside the skate centre.
“This is a massive help towards our building our community spirit and getting our families out to actually have something worthwhile in our community,” she said.
“It’s been a long time coming for some sort of new infrastructure with the amount of new families that we have moved into our area.
“Sanctuary Point and St Georges Basin are no longer just a retirement village or retirement area, we have so many young new families that have moved to the area and the infrastructure hasn’t kept up with the population.”
Shoalhaven councillor Paul Ell also welcomed the decision.
“This contract will make an enormous difference,” he said.
“It will provide for young families in that area.”
The announcement comes almost a month out from the election, a ballot which will likely be dominated by concerns around regional infrastructure and a continuing housing crisis.
At her campaign launch in Nowra, incumbent Labor candidate Fiona Phillips said the housing crisis was a serious issue, hitting out at perceived inaction by the Morrison Government.
“The government has done nothing on housing,” she said.
“They have continually ignored the crisis that has been occurring.
“I’m a mum, I’ve got four kids. I want everybody’s child to be able to grow up and to afford to rent or to afford to buy, and I want our workers to be able to live and work locally.”
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