Council has approved a final design concept for the Woolgoolga Whale Trail which will see the project move to construction. Australian Government grant funding of $1.1 million made up the original budget for the project, with $1.03 million remaining to complete the construction of the project.
Council adopted a final concept design allowing for 395 metres of concrete footpath (grant agreement requires at least 380 metres) and 126 metres elevated boardwalks (grant agreement requires at least 110 metres), at widths of 1.8 metres and 1.5 metres. The design also includes carparking, kerbing, seating and lookouts as required by the associated grant agreement. The different concept design options were all based on the Woolgoolga Beach Reserve Masterplan with different footpath widths and the cost implications.
Mayor Paul Amos said: "I am pleased that we are now in a position to promptly deliver the missing Whale Trail link section. The seating, raised decking, lookouts and footpath will combine with the widening of the Carrington Street and Pollack Esplanade corner to create a safe and supporting link to the headland walk."
"The adopted final concept design required extra funding, so Council also approved the reallocation of $132,112 from other new footpath budgets in the 2023/24 Operational Plan to complete the project", said Andrew Beswick, the City's Director City Infrastructure.
"Works outside the grant agreement, such as the widening of the corner of Carrington Street and Pollack Esplanade, are being funded by the City's ratepayers from the General Fund, with an amount of $325,000 included in the adopted 2023/24 Operational Plan."
The construction of the Woolgoolga Whale Trail will complete the missing pathway link between the Woolgoolga Beach Reserve and the Woolgoolga Headland walk. It also provides increased formal parking and makes the corner of Carrington Street and Pollack Esplanade safer for both pedestrians and road users. The adopted concept design provides much needed improvements which deliver on the Masterplan and the grant agreement requirements.
