A Labor Government will provide $8M over four years to Central Coast Council to fund vital footpath projects across the region if elected on March 25.
Central Coast Labor MPs and Shadow Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said the funding will be part of Labor’s commitment to active transport and will support Central Coast Council’s Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan (PAMP) and Bike Plan.
The PAMP contains a prioritised schedule of 1114 footpath projects at a total cost of $74.2M with schedule 1 priority works costed at $9M.
The report suggests a program budget of $2M per annum would allow one-third of the complete program to be delivered within 10 years including all priority works, the MPs said.
The $8M in funding would consist of four annual payments of $2M.
Residents Owen and Lucy Brasier, who navigate a pram with a young child, are often forced to walk on the roadway.
“This is a fantastic announcement for the whole community which is long overdue,” they said.
“It will particularly enable parents with prams, children and the elderly to safely navigate our streets.”
Shadow Minister Haylen said every community in NSW deserves safe walking and cycling infrastructure.
“Being able to easily walk to your local shops or your kids being able to ride to school shouldn’t be a privilege,” she said.
“It should be something everyone is able to enjoy.”
Shadow Minister for the Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said residents are constantly raising the issue of the need for footpaths, particularly connecting schools and transport.
“This funding will enable Council to better target ‘missing links’ in the Wyong electorate,” he said.
Member for The Entrance David Mehan said the funding would help ensure that essential footpath projects which would have been put on the backburner are completed sooner rather than later.
Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said families across the Coast have been crying out for pathways and active transport infrastructure for many years.
“This funding will finally put shovels in the ground and get footpaths built right across the Coast,” she said.
Source:
Media release, Feb 23
Central Coast Labor MPs