Central Coast Council is seeking community feedback on location options for a new shared pathway between Mannering Park and Kingfisher Shores at Chain Valley Bay.
Two options for the shared pathway, either along the foreshore or along the road, are now on public exhibition for community feedback.
Council Director, Infrastructure Services, Boris Bolgoff, said this community advocated project would deliver an array of benefits for both locals and visitors.
“This project will improve pedestrian safety, connectivity between local destinations, and provide an additional recreational facility,” he said.
“This pathway will achieve multiple important objectives in that it will complete a missing link, loop around a scenic waterway, improve connectivity and offer a healthy and environmentally friendly transport option.
“Our community has flagged this project as a priority and it is identified in Council’s Bike Plan and s7.12 Developer Contributions Plan.
“The project is not currently fully funded and completion is dependent on securing grant funding and completion in stages,” Bolgoff said.
It is currently partially funded by $3.6M allocated from the Developer Contributions Plan, however, Council says it is imperative to continue the plans, as a “shovel-ready” project had a better chance to secure grant funds.
During 2020-21, work will involve initial investigation only and commencement of a concept design.
The project will then proceed into a detail design phase in 2022-22, subject to approval by Council.
Option 1 is a 2.9km stretch along the foreshore from the existing shared pathway at Griffith St, Mannering Park, crossing the inlet channel and along Delta Electricity land to connect with the existing path at Kingfisher Shores, Chain Valley Bay.
This option will include bridges and a boardwalk, at an estimated cost of $6.5M.
Some of the foreshore parcels of land required for Option 1 are owned by Sunset Power International (Delta) and the Crown.
Council has liaised with both of them and obtained legal advice to confirm the viability of the proposed route and there will be further negotiations if this is the community’s preferred route.
Option 2 is the less scenic, more costly and longer route, at $7.8M and 6.1km, from Griffith St, Mannering Park via Ruttleys Rd and the Pacific Highway to join the existing shared path at Tall Timbers Rd, Lake Munmorah, near the shopping centre.
This option will require three short bridges over existing pipelines and stormwater channels.
Option 2 stays within the road reserve for most of the pathway’s length, with one section going through Crown Land where Council is already the land manager.
Council will hold a community drop-in information session to allow people to discuss the options at Mannering Park Community Hall, 2 Dunvegan St, on Tuesday, March 2.
Each session will run for 15 minutes and because of Covid restrictions, the number of people at each session will be limited, so sessions will only be open to those who have registered to attend.
The sessions will run every 15 minutes from 3.30pm and the last will start at 7.30pm.
For people unable to attend a drop-in session, they can have their say on their preferred option via Council’s online site.
Community consultation will be open until 5pm on Monday, March 8.
Administrator Dick Persson said a shared pathway connecting Mannering Park and Chain Valley Bay was an important amenity, particularly for people living in the area.
“Consider the two options and let Council know which one you think will deliver the best results for locals and visitors,” he said.
Sue Murray