Lake Macquarie City Council will invest $365 million over the next 12 months through its Operational Plan 2021-2022, boosting lifestyle and wellbeing opportunities across the community.
Council voted on Monday night (28 June) to approve the plan, which contains 286 actions and $90 million of capital works projects that will provide an injection into the local economy.
It also marks an unusual fifth year of the Delivery Program; and continues a commitment to the City’s ongoing recovery from COVID-19.
Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser said while the City still felt the impacts of the pandemic, the plan and budget would be important to help keep the economy moving.
“We are all aware of the impact that COVID-19 has had on our community and local businesses, especially with this recent outbreak in Sydney,” she explained.
“As a community, we need to work together to remain safe and support local businesses.
“Despite the pandemic, council continues to look to the future.
“This plan and budget present a sustainable approach for growth and the economy, as well as provides further investment in the lifestyle we’re renowned for in Lake Macquarie.
“In the year ahead, we’ll be investing in new places to play, new paths to explore our City, making our roads safer, creating more to see and do, and making sure our lifestyle and community remains sustainable moving forward.”
Some of the highlights of the fifth and final year of council’s Delivery Program 2017-2022 and Operational Plan 2021-2022 include:
- Construction continuing on the $12 million Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track from Belmont to Blacksmiths;
- Investing $12.7 million in parks and playgrounds across the City;
- Completing $28.6 million worth of works on resealing, resurfacing and rehabilitating our local roads;
- Construction commencing on a new bridge at the Weir Road in Barnsley;
- Consultation beginning on Council’s Urban Greening Strategy to explore ways to increase tree canopy cover across the City;
- Preparing a draft master plan for community and recreation facilities at Catherine Hill Bay;
- Work continuing on the $4 million upgrade at Thomas H Halton Park in Croudace Bay, including new playground, off-leash dog park and path improvements;
- Starting construction on stage two of the Landcare Resource Centre upgrade in Teralba;
- Preparing the Plan of Management and Master Plan for Morisset Showground;
- Starting the Sugar Valley Library Museum at Cameron Park; and
- Completing the town green as stage one of Toronto Foreshore Master Plan.
Total spending for the 2021-2022 financial year will be $365 million, 43% of which will be spent improving the lifestyle and wellbeing of the City.
Of that, almost $55 million will be invested in roads, drains, footpaths, shared pathways and associated infrastructure providing mobility and accessibility across Lake Macquarie.
Council’s CEO Morven Cameron said it remained important that sustainable investment into the City and community continued, despite the recent challenges of the pandemic.
“Our City will continue to change over the coming years and this Operational Plan accounts for this,” he stated.
“I am excited by many of the projects and initiatives that we are aiming to achieve in this plan and believe it strikes a good balance between making amazing things happen for our City while also managing our financial resources for the long term.”
Council’s revised Delivery Program 2017-2022 and Operational Plan 2021-2022 is available at lakemac.com.au.
