MidCoast Council will receive over $7.5 million in funding to repair or replace public facilities damaged in the March 2021 flood event.
"This grant will go some way to covering our estimated flood repair bill for community facilities of $20 million," said Director of Liveable Communities, Paul De Szell.
"While some flood repairs have been completed, some sites required State Government funding before repair works could commence."
"We've been working with the State for some time to secure this funding. We are very pleased to have recently signed the funding acceptance letter."
The funding totalling $7,580,624 will come from the Regional NSW Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Program (CLIRP) and is to repair public assets that are not covered by insurance.
The funding will make it possible to repair or replace flood damaged infrastructure across the region, including:
$3,251,937 for repairs and replacement of aquatic infrastructure, including:
- Pontoon and wharf repair or replacement in Bohnock, Croki, Tinonee, Manning Point, Pampoolah, Old Bar, Wallis Lake, and Wingham.
- Replacement of pontoon and repair of wharf damage in Endeavor Reserve, Taree
- Repair of pontoon in Queen Elizabeth Park, Taree
- Replacement of Pontoon in River Street, Taree.
$414,312 for boat ramp repair and upgrade works, including:
- Boat ramp repair in Andrews Reserve in Taree, Bohnock Reserve, Croki, Horace Dean in Tinonee, Bulahdelah, Manning Point, Manning Waters in Taree, and Wingham.
$900,000 for recreation reserve and park repair and reconstruction works, including:
- Repair to parks landscaping, gardens, shelters, park furniture, BBQ's, fences, and playgrounds at Billabong Park and King George V Park in Gloucester, and Chrissy Gollan Park in Wingham.
$1,050,000 for repairs and replacement of recreation assets along Taree Riverside, including:
- Replacement and or repair of fencing, walkway, balustrade and river bank stabilising at Harry Bennet Park.
- Replacement and or repair of damaged BBQs, shelter, park furniture, planter boxes, pathways and landscaping at Queen Elizabeth Park.
- Demolition of the playground at Queen Elizabeth Park and construction of a new playground at a nearby site with better flood resilience.
$1,964,375 for repairs and reconstruction works at Wingham Riverside and tennis courts, including:
- Carpark reconstruction and landscaping at Wingham Riverside Reserve.
- Repairs to landslip, bank stabilisation and tennis court repair at Wingham Tennis courts.
"We know these places are important assets to our community, and repairs on some of these facilities are already in progress," added Mr De Szell.
