Improving the lifestyle and wellbeing of residents is a key focus area for Lake Macquarie City Council under its $367 million draft Operational Plan for the next financial year.
Council voted tonight to place the draft budget, which outlines 271 actions and $88 million in capital works spanning the entire City on exhibition
The capital works include $46 million spent replacing or upgrading existing assets, and $42 million on adding new assets.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Cr Kay Fraser said that once adopted, actions in the draft budget would inject money into the local economy and promote sustainable growth for the City.
"Confidence in the City is returning from what was a difficult time for our community and businesses following the pandemic. This draft Plan sets out many important projects we will endeavour to accomplish in this fifth and final year of our Delivery Program," Cr Fraser said.
"In the next year the focus will continue on enhancing our City's lifestyle and wellbeing by building 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 for the future."
The plan outlines a range of investments in roads, shared pathways, community buildings, swim centres, sports facilities, parks and playgrounds, and other public infrastructure throughout the City.
Highlights include:
- Construction continuing on the $12 million Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track from Belmont to Blacksmiths
- 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
- Completion of $4.5 million works at Thomas H Halton Park in Croudace Bay, including new playground, off-leash dog park and path improvements
- Preparing the Plan of Management and Master Plan for Morisset Showground
- Construction commencing on the Sugar Valley Library Museum at Cameron Park.
Total spending for the 2021-2022 financial year will be $367.5 million, 42 per cent of which will be spent improving the lifestyle and wellbeing of the City.
Of that total, almost $48 million will be invested in roads, drains, footpaths, shared pathways and associated infrastructure providing mobility and accessibility across Lake Mac.
Council's CEO Morven Cameron said that it remains important that our City's economy continues to keep moving, despite the recent challenges.
"Our City will continue to change over the coming years and this draft Operational Plan accounts for this, so that as an organisation, we can sustainably keep pace with this change and provide the services and facilities that a modern Lake Macquarie City needs," Ms Cameron said.
Learn more about what's planned and share your feedback before Monday 24 May by visiting shape.lakemac.com.au/lets-build-together.
We're also inviting the community to join us to provide feedback on the Plan and Budget at our three drop-in sessions on:
- Saturday 1 May – 8am to 10am at Pelican Markets, Pelican
- Thursday 6 May – 4pm to 6pm at Stockland Glendale (near Woolworths and Coles)
- Sunday 16 May – 9am to 11am at Farm to Fork Markets, Morisset Showground.
