Pat Conaghan MP

Local Roads and Community Infrastructure projects revealed

A total of 30 major community infrastructure projects will be constructed in Cowper through the Australian Government’s $1.5 billion Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program designed to support local jobs and businesses as our region recovers from COVID-19.

Projects include 12 public space or town centre upgrades, two carpark overhauls, eight new cycleways or footpaths and a new glasshouse at the North Coast Botanic Garden in Coffs Harbour.

Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said getting shovels in the ground to construct these 30 projects is expected to support 161 local jobs over the coming year.

“Every single job we support makes a huge difference in our local community, which is why our 2020-21 Federal Budget included programs like the JobMaker Hiring Credit to encourage businesses to employ young jobseekers,” he said.

The projects being delivered through the Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program in Cowper include:

  • Bellingen Shire Council: $275,000 to rehabilitate and replace sections of Crown Street in Bellingen and $250,000 to replace the failing timber crib walls along River Street at the Mylestom Reserve. Grants total: $525,000
  • Coffs Harbour City Council: $782,096 to build a new glasshouse building at the North Coast Botanic Garden and $600,000 towards the North Wall public car park relocation and reconfiguration to provide greater recreation space for the community. Grants total: $1,382,096
  • Kempsey Shire Council:

– Rankine Street Public Realm Activation, Crescent Head – $400,000. Implementation of the Crescent Head Public Domain Plan in the village centre at Rankine Street. Footpaths will be widened, accessibility improved, and landscaping completed to greatly enhance the space.
– Footpath, Horseshoe Bay, South West Rocks – $60,000
This project completes a missing link of footpath between the newly constructed beach access footpath and the public amenities and kiosk at Horseshoe Bay.
– Parking, footpaths, landscaping and picnic facilities at Back Creek, South West Rocks – $250,000
Constructing footpaths, as well as improving access to community facilities at Back Creek. Picnic shelters and barbecue facilities will also be built and the area landscaped through $250,000 from this program.
– Car park refurbishment – Clyde Street, Kempsey CBD – $350,000
The current carpark is failing and has poor parking configuration and pedestrian access. This project will construct an off-road carpark in Clyde Street to significantly enhance the amenity of the location through $350,000 from this program and $538,691 from Kempsey Shire Council. This work will complement current works to replace the public amenities
– New concrete bridge – Christmas Creek, Saleyards Road, Kempsey – $100,000
The current wooden bridge over Christmas Creek on Saleyards Road has aged and is being replaced. This project replaces the bridge with a new concrete bridge through $100,000 from this program and $150,000 from Kempsey Shire Council. Grants total: $1,160,000

  • Nambucca Valley Council:

– Bicycle and walking path improvements, picnic shelters and barbecue facilities, Nambucca Heads V-Wall precinct – $310,000
Upgrading bicycle and walking paths, as well as improving access to community facilities at the popular Nambucca V-Wall. Picnic shelters and barbecue facilities will be built and landscaping improved.
– New public amenities in Ridge Street, Nambucca Heads – $150,000
The aged public toilet in Ridge Street will be replaced with an accessible, new modern facility to better support residents and visitors.
– River Street foreshore revitalisation and improved footpaths, Macksville – $100,000
This project will implement some of the actions in the Macksville CBD Revitalisation Plan by improving bicycle and pedestrian footpaths, beautifying the Nambucca River foreshore, landscaping and reinstating some of the town’s popular verandah posts.
– New banner poles, Nambucca Heads – $30,000
Banner poles will be constructed along the town’s main street to enhance its visual appeal and provide a new advertising space. This project was suggested by the Nambucca Heads and Valla Chamber of Commerce.
– New footpath at Valla Beach Road, Ocean View Drive to playground, Valla Beach – $46,500
There is currently no pedestrian footpath in this area of Valla Beach and constructing a new footpath will improve access for both residents and visitors.
– Landscaping improvements at Anderson Park, Valla Beach – $21,500
Landscaping around the recently constructed basketball/netball courts and skate park in Anderson Park will complete the upgrade of this popular public space.
– Skate park, Scotts Head – $53,000
The Scotts Head community has been calling for a skate park be constructed to provide greater recreation options for residents and visitors. This program will deliver it in on land adjacent to the caravan park.
– Footpath improvements, Scotts Head – $27,000
Sections of footpath will be widened and improved to provide better accessibility.
– New climbing wall, Hennessey Tape Oval precinct, Bowraville – $30,865
A climbing wall will be constructed to complement the existing bike and skate park area at this popular park. Grants total: $768,865

  • Port Macquarie-Hastings Council:

– Resurfacing Hay Street, Port Macquarie – $280,000
Rehabilitating and asphalt resurfacing of Hay Street (South) William St to Hayward St – Port Macquarie. Renewing a deteriorated road asset segment in a heavily used section of the Port Macquarie CBD.
– Solar PV Port Macquarie Airport – $140,000
Installing a Rooftop Solar PV system on the roof of the Port Macquarie Airport terminal. The Proposed 100kWatt peak system, is forecast to supply an average of 450 to 500 kWh of power per day, which is approximately 40 per cent of the terminal’s electricity usage.
– Footpath -Rushcutter Way: Moondara Tce to Bangalay Dr (SE side), 200m – $100,000
This project completes a missing link of footpath in the Lighthouse Beach area of Port Macquarie.
– Footpath -Major Innes Road: Braeroy Dr to The Ruins Way (E side), 320m – $130,000
This project completes a missing link of footpath adjacent to St Columba Anglican School.
– Footpath -Watonga Street: Connection to Matthew Flinders Dr, 35m – $50,000
This project completes a missing link of footpath on steep gradient, linking local shopping centre to Lighthouse Beach.
– Port Macquarie Lumiere – Historic Courthouse – infrastructure component
Installing tourism infrastructure at the Historic Courthouse in Port Macquarie to support Bicentenary through $65,000 from this program, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council – $55,000 and Austrade – $145,000.
– North Shore Fish Cleaning table – $30,000
The Port Macquarie North Shore Community and Council Action Team (CCAT) identified the installation of a fish cleaning table as a priority project for community, tourism and to assist seniors to have access to the park land and facilities. Grants total: $1,826,618 – a total of $795,000 for these projects in the electorate of Cowper and the remainder is for projects in the electorate of Lyne.

GRANTS TOTAL: $5,662,579

For more information on the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program visit the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications website.

Stay Connected

Follow me
on Facebook

Follow me
on Instagram

Subscribe to
my newsletter