Call for council action on Umina CBD plan
Councillor Debra Wales has asked for the Umina CBD upgrade plans to be brought before council before any work commences with the view of council mediating on-going disagreement between interested parties.
Cr Wales said the Umina CBD committee has been divided on the best way to spend the $1.5 million allocated for the upgrade.
''The result has been a business centre opposed to the plans and meetings which are both unpleasant and unproductive," she said.
"Ultimately, the losers are the Umina shopkeepers and the community." Council has decided to postpone the works and hold a public meeting on the matter.
President of the Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, Mr Matthew Wales welcomed Council's decision.
"The Chamber applauds the decision to review the plan," he said.
"We will not stand by and watch financial strategy funds wasted on works that clearly do not have the backing of the business and wider community.
"At an on site meeting with Councillors in December, business operators made it clear that the proposed raised pedestrian crossings and kerb blisters were not acceptable and that significant traffic and parking problems would occur."
The public meeting will be chaired by Mayor Chris Holstein and representatives of each Umina Beach business together with representatives of the major community organisations.
Mr Wales said that the Chamber was not opposed to the bulk of the proposed Umina Beach CBD works.
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