Lake Macquarie budget places focus on lifestyle and wellbeing

Lake Macquarie City Council has advised that over the next 12 months, an investment of $365 million will be made through its Operational Plan 2021-2022 boosting lifestyle and wellbeing opportunities across the community.

The Plan contains 286 actions and $90 million of capital works projects that will provide an injection into the local economy. The plan also marks an unusual fifth year of the Delivery Program, and continues a commitment to the City’s ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said that while the City continues to feel the impacts of the pandemic, this plan and budget will be important and help keep the economy moving.

Mayor Fraser notes “we are all aware of the impact that COVID-19 has had on our community and local businesses, especially with this recent outbreak in Sydney. As a community, we need to work together to remain safe and support local businesses.

“Despite the pandemic, Council continues to look to the future. This plan and budget present a sustainable approach for growth and the economy, as well as provides further investment in the lifestyle we’re renowned for in Lake Macquarie.

“In the year ahead, we will be investing in new places to play, new paths to explore our City, making our roads safer, creating more to see and do, and making sure our lifestyle and community remains sustainable for the future.”

Total spending for the 2021-2022 financial year will be $365 million, 43% of which will be spent improving the lifestyle and wellbeing of the City.

Of that total, almost $55 million will be invested in roads, drains, footpaths, shared pathways and associated infrastructure providing mobility and accessibility across Lake Macquarie.

Council Chief Executive Morven Cameron said it remains important that sustainable investment into the City and community continues, despite the recent challenges of the pandemic and adds “our City will continue to change over the coming years and this Operational Plan accounts for this. I am excited by many of the projects and initiatives that we are aiming to achieve in this Plan and believe it strikes a good balance between making amazing things happen for our City while also managing our financial resources for the long term.”

Some of the highlights of the fifth and final year of Council’s Delivery Program 2017-2022 and Operational Plan 2021-2022 include:

• Construction continuing on the Fernleigh Awabakal Shared Track from Belmont to Blacksmiths

• Investing $12.7 million in parks and playgrounds across the City

• Completing $28.6 million worth of works on resealing, resurfacing and rehabilitating our local roads

• Construction commencing on a new bridge at the Weir Road in Barnsley

• Consultation beginning on Council’s Urban Greening Strategy to explore ways to increase tree canopy cover across the City

• Preparing a draft master plan for community and recreation facilities at Catherine Hill Bay

• Work continuing on the $4 million upgrade at Thomas H Halton Park in Croudace Bay, including new playground, off-leash dog park and path improvements

• Commencing construction on stage two of the Landcare Resource Centre upgrade in Teralba

• Preparing the Plan of Management and Master Plan for Morisset Showground

• Commencing the Sugar Valley Library Museum at Cameron Park

• Completing the town green as stage one of Toronto Foreshore Master Plan.

Council’s revised Delivery Program 2017-2022 and Operational Plan 2021-2022 is available at lakemac.com.au.