Leisure centre receives bulk of open space funds

Beaches, foreshore and waterway, bushland, sports grounds, regional parks and local parks are all listed to benefit from the Peninsula Open Space and Recreation Plan adopted by Gosford Council last Tuesday.

However, the leisure centre will receive $11.5 million from the Section 94 Contributions Plan, or 40 per cent of the expenditure of the $28.8 million plan.

This comprises $8.5 million for its development, plus an extra $2 million for its indoor basketball and netball courts and an extra $1 million for additions in 2012.

Of the rest of the money, over $2 million is allocated to beaches at Umina Beach, Ocean Beach and Ettalong to improve beach access, signage, observation decks, dune stabilisation, park facilities and to implement the Ettalong Beach Plan of Management.

For foreshore and waterways improvements, $3.2 million has been put towards Woy Woy-Ettalong cycleway, foreshore improvements at Woy Woy, a fishing platform at Woy Woy bridge, Kourung St boatramp and parking at Ettalong, Blackwall boatramp, landscaping on the Woy Woy waterfront and public amenities at Woy Woy and Ettalong.

Local bushland has been allocated funding with $600, 000 for picnic access and a lookout at Blackwall Mountain and Mt Ettalong.

Additional courts and resurfacing of Lemon Grove netball courts has been allocated $300,000.

There is over $8 million dollars allocated to the improvement of Umina oval, McEvoy oval, Rogers Park, Woy Woy oval no.1, Austin Butler oval and James Brown oval with an upgrade of amenities, car parking and lighting planned.

There is $1 million put towards development and an upgrade for regional parks such as Kitchener Park and Umina recreation reserve.

Lions Park at Woy Woy is earmarked for development, as are playgrounds in Trafalgar Ave and Florida Ave, Woy Woy.

The Council has also earmarked Woy Woy Landfill as a future recreation site, but its recent extension will mean it may not become available for nearly 20 years.

Alison Branley, June 9 Council Agenda, EP 026 June 1