Close to $1M is to be spent on road projects at Kincumber, Holgate and on the Peninsula in round one funding of a Central Coast local roads package designed to turbocharge the economy in the wake of COVID-19.
They are four of nine projects region-wide which will see a total of $2.7M allocated to Central Coast Council, which will deliver the roadworks.
Wattle Tree Rd, Holgate, will see a $421,500 upgrade, while The Scenic Rd, Kincumber, will have a $255,750 facelift.
On the Peninsula, $186,750 has been set aside for works on North Burge Rd, Woy Woy while a further $81,000 will be spent on Hillview St, Woy Woy.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the funding was targeted at small projects that can make a big difference to the community in a short amount of time.
“It’s all about delivering a bigger outcome in the short term,” Crouch said.
The projects, all nominated for funding by Council, have been fast-tracked to provide jobs and maintain confidence in the wake of the pandemic.
Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, said all levels of government were working together to get the economy back on track.
“These projects will need to be delivered within two years of receiving funding, to ensure that local communities like the Central Coast are benefiting sooner,” she said.
“I don’t think things will return to normal for quite some time, but it is important for the Government to be seen getting on with the job.
“It also means smoother, safer trips along a number of roads our community use every day.”
Wicks said the package was in addition to a $70M Central Coast roads package pledged in the lead up to the last Federal election.
Central Coast Mayor Lisa Matthews said maintaining and developing the region’s significant road network of some 2,200 kilometres was always at the top of Council’s priority list.
Other projects in the region to be funded are: Gorokan Dr, Lake Haven ($783,750); Gregory St, Berkeley Vale ($329,250); Cornwall Ave, Gorokan ($259,500); Donaldson St, Wyong ($228,000); and Lakeview Ave, Gorokan ($212,250).
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President, Linda Scott, strongly welcomed the funding, for which she said LGNSW had vigorously advocated as part of efforts to help communities recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19.
“This is a major win for our councils who are on the frontline in driving a locally led economic recovery,” Scott said.
“Councils will be able to use the funding to invest in everything from fixing potholes to desperately needed road reconstruction projects on local and regional roads across the state.
“This vital funding comes on top of the more than $150M delivered to NSW councils on July 1 as part of our state’s share of the $500M Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.”
Applications for round two of the program – funded with $500M from the NSW Government and $191M from the Federal Government – will open later this year.
Terry Collins