A petition has been created by concerned community members asking for the Lintern Street Wharf in Davistown to be restored.
Created by a resident, Pamela Israel, the petition has garnered 186 signatures.
“The very popular boat ramp and public wharf at Lintern St Davistown require urgent restoration,” Israel said.
“They have both become extremely degraded due to many years of use and neglect, and the approach to the wharf for commuters and tourists who travel on the local commuter ferry is currently very unsafe.
“The surface is uneven and needs levelling with the concurrent restoration of the seawall to allow equity of access for all, including the elderly, families with strollers and others with mobility issues.”
Israel added that the boat ramp was also in poor condition requiring an upgrade to allow safe boat access to and from the Lintern Channel.
“The bitumen approach also needs resurfacing to ensure the safety of the many locals who use this important piece of community infrastructure,” Israel said.
“It is hoped that this area will be improved to match the standard of the recent wharf restorations at Central Wharf and Amy St Wharf at Davistown and the commuter wharf at Woy Woy.”
A Central Coast Council spokesperson said the upgrading of council wharves was generally funded by the Bridge and Wharf program via the Capital Works Program.
“Wharves considered for inclusion in the Bridge and Wharf Program are objectively assessed and prioritised via application of a range of technical criteria, which results in a priority ranking,” the spokesperson said.
“Projects with the highest priority are then considered for an allocation of funding in developing delivery programs … the Lintern Street Wharf has been assessed and listed for consideration of funding in line with this process.
“Based on its current ranking, the project is not currently the highest priority; however, it is likely to be upgraded within the 10-year capital works program, subject to future adoption by Council.”
The spokesperson said that future works would include a floating pontoon and improved accessibility, and grant funding opportunities would be considered.
“Until works are undertaken, the Lintern Street Wharf is being routinely inspected as part of the maintenance management program,” they said.
“Identification of any safety concerns result in the scheduling of maintenance works on a priority risk basis.”
Hayley McMahon