Seven community infrastructure projects will be delivered in Port Macquarie 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.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council has received a total of $1,826,618 through this program and one of the exciting projects being delivered in the electorate of Cowper is installing a rooftop solar PV system on the Port Macquarie Airport terminal next year.

Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said getting shovels in the ground to construct these seven projects is expected to support 31 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 Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack also moved swiftly to allocate $1.5 billion funding for the construction of community infrastructure and road upgrades back in June and today I am announcing the projects Port Macquarie-Hastings Council will be delivering.”

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

• 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.

• Rooftop solar PV system, 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 the community, tourism and to assist seniors to have access to the park land and facilities.

Grants total: $795,000 for projects in the electorate of Cowper.

The remaining funding is for projects in the electorate of Lyne.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayor Peta Pinson welcomed the funding and approval of the community and Council-nominated projects for her region by the Federal Government.

“The members of our COVID-19 Recovery Working Group, Councillors and Council staff have invested a lot of time to identify a range of projects that could be fast-tracked or implemented immediately to generate local economic activity and provide great outcomes for our community,” Mayor Pinson said.

“Walking paths, seating and shade, and even a fish cleaning table may be small projects in size, but they are huge for our local communities and will make a real difference in improving safety and accessibility.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the projects funded under the program will improve the quality of life of Australians and have lasting economic and social benefits for local communities.

“Our funding boost will help communities across Australia accelerate priority projects to get people into jobs and stimulate our economy,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

In May 2020, the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government also pre-paid $1.3 billion of this year’s Financial Assistance Grant to provide untied funding for all local councils across Australia to spend on local priorities

More information on the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program is available at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications website.

Media Contacts:

Mr McCormack – Dean Shachar 0429 920 254

Mr Conaghan – Liz Spry 0418 928 744

Ms Pinson – Andy Roberts 0412 769 454