$2.7 million capital works planned

The Peninsula is likely to receive about $2.7 million, or about one sixth, of Gosford Council's $17.2 million capital works budget next financial year.

The April 2000 draft of the capital works program, which covers financial years from 2000/01 to 2002/03, was released with the Council's draft city management plan.

Just two projects on the Peninsula account for $1 million.

"Umina Regional Park" will cost $500,000 this next financial year. A further $100,000 will be spent the following year. The money comes from "section 94" contributions.

A roundabout will be built at the Ocean Beach-Dunban Rd intersection at a cost of $500,000 next financial year. A total of $450,000 will be spent on Dunban Rd itself over the following two years.

The intersection of Maitland Bay Drive and Picnic Parade will have $300,000 spent on it, jointly funded by the RTA and the Federal Local Roads program.

Work on Bourke Rd, between Barrenjoey Rd and Memorial Av, will amount to $200,000 next financial year with a further $177,000 expenditure planned for two years' time.

Work on Osborne Av will also amount to $200,000, while Brisbane Av will receive $230,000 from Federal Local Roads funding.

Another $200,000 will be spent in South St and $80,000 in Melbourne Av.

Burrawang St and Onslow Av will be sealed at a cost of $105,000.

Developer contributions under a "section 94" plan will fund Woy Woy Peninsula trunk drainage costing a total of $215,300 over the next two years.

Drainage levies will cover $130,000 of drainage work on the Peninsula next year. The money will be spent on acquisition in Garnet and Diamond Rds, Pearl Beach ($45,000), and for stage two of the Veron and Dulkara Rds drainage, Umina ($50,000), as well as for channel works in Cowper Rd, Umina ($35,000).

Construction of stage two of the Veron and Dulkara Rds drainage, as well as drainage of the Patonga area, is scheduled for future years.

More than $530,000 will be spent on flood mitigation in Middle Creek, Pearl Beach, over the next three years. Of this, $150,000 will be spent in 2000/01. The Department of Lands and Water Conservation will fund two-thirds of the total project cost.

Woy Woy tip will receive $35,000 for amenities and a water tank and $100,000 for capping from the Waste Fund Reserve. Stage three implementation of the council's Landfill Management Plan throughout the municipality will cost $68,800.

The council is planning to spend $95,000 per year over the next three years on its "urban design framework". A good proportion of next year's allocation will be spent on the Peninsula.

Patonga Caravan Park's amenities building will receive $50,000 next financial year and a similar amount the following year.

Projects scheduled for future years include refurbishment of Woy Woy library ($43,000), Patonga area drainage ($125,000), Patonga Fire Boat Shed renovation ($15,000), work on Ryans Rd ($150,000), Berith St ($100,000) and Bapaume Av ($60,000).

Work on Woy Woy Rd from "Camp Kariong to Staples Lookout" is not scheduled until the 2001/02 financial year, with the RTA and the Federal Local Roads program each contributing $200,000.

A roundabout at the corner of Ocean Beach Rd and Railway St, costing $300,000, is scheduled for 2002/03.

A cycleway from the Rip Bridge to Barrenjoey Rd costing $600,000 has also been planned for future years.

Mark Snell, May 17