Govt chips in $4.4M for roads and community projects

Almost $4.4M is coming the Central Coast’s way following the latest funding allocations announced in the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

Council has started putting together a list of potential projects but they can’t be confirmed until the criteria for eligible projects is released by the government.

The $4,370,781 allocated to Council will be available from July for projects to be completed by June 2025.

Of that amount $1,598,889 is to be used for road only projects.

Over the first three phases of the program Council has received $19.2M to finance 65 projects, with 27 still to be completed by June 2024.

Bluebell Park at Berkeley Vale to be completed by June next year

These include: a carpark upgrade at Charmhaven shops; Bateau Bay Library renovation; upgrades at Little Coast Kids in Toukley and Kanwal; a replacement shade sail at Kincumber Library; and playspace renewals at Blue Haven, Gurdon Reserve Woy Woy Bay, Koolewong foreshore, Wycombe Park Terrigal, Bluebell Park Berkeley Vale, Oakland Ave Tuggerawong foreshore, Osborne Park Toukley, Tonkiss St Tuggerah and Pioneer Park Killarney Vale.

Other renewal programs are park furniture and fencing, sportsground lighting, cricket wickets, boat ramps, jetties and swimming enclosures.

Road projects still to be completed are Bay Rd Blue Bay, Debenham Rd South, West Gosford, Davistown Rd, Ilya Ave Erina and Tuggerawong Rd as well as the bus stop improvement program

Also, the Albanese Government is delivering on an election promise by providing an extra $250M – on top of the $500M already allocated in Phase 4 for road projects in rural, regional and outer urban areas.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, said the extra money and extended construction timeline would help councils plan for larger or more complex projects that made a bigger impact on their communities.

“We know many councils across the country are struggling to maintain and improve their local road networks, especially following repeated flooding and other natural disasters in recent times,” she said.

Sue Murray

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