Council budget lacks Peninsula road funding - Chamber
Peninsula Chamber of Commerce has criticised the lack of road funding for the Peninsula in Central Coast Council's draft budget, the draft 2024-2025 Operational Plan.
The draft budget had little or no funding for the reconstruction of Peninsula roads, said Chamber president Mr Matthew Wales.
"Despite over 80 per cent of our Peninsula roads being without kerb and gutter, no footpaths and inadequate stormwater drainage, the draft Plan makes no allocations for road reconstruction.
"The Council has no plans to reconstruct our key roads despite an increase in development and more people choosing to live on the Peninsula.
"Other than the promised Federal funding for the Ocean Beach Rd-Rawson Rd intersection, there are no Peninsula Roads listed for reconstruction works".
Mr Wales said: "What is apparent from the Works Program is the absence of Peninsula developer contributions for road works.
"At a time when we are seeing a resurgence in our Peninsula town centres, Council should be allocating more funding towards civil infrastructure in support of local businesses and residents."
He said road patching and resealing was "simply covering up the problem with bitumen without addressing the fundamental need to reconstruct our key roads with kerb and gutter, stormwater drainage and pedestrian footpaths".
"Frustratingly we see millions of dollars being poured into parks, reserves and community buildings across the city including a whopping $9.45M to refurbish the Wyong Council Chambers over the next four years.
"It would seem ironic that we are spending millions of ratepayers money on wonderful shiny assets but get lost in potholes trying to get there."
SOURCE:.
Media release, 15 May 2024.
Matthew Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce