Committee members welcome upgrade works

Members of the Ettalong Beach Heritage Committee have welcomed works to upgrade the Ettalong beachfront as part of Gosford Council's foreshore management plan.

The committee was formed in 1996 from a public meeting organized by Fitness City Gym owner Mr John Moore.

Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Mainstreet coordinator Ms Debra Wales said the group had worked diligently for the past 12 years to see its plan come to fruition.

The work was funded by council's Financial Strategy funds and was part of the town centre Mainstreet Program funded by the Department of State and Regional Development.

Work started in 1996 with the main street receiving a facelift and shop front enhancements in an "old world" theme.

"The view is spectacular from the beachfront and with the removal of the old toilet block the entry to the town centre is just a picture postcard," Ms Wales said.

"We are seeing people returning to the beachfront for picnics and enjoying their walks.

"We look forward to next summer with families returning to what is now a safe beach."

Heritage committee president Ms Robyn Sullivan said there was still a lot of work to be done to make the foreshore reserve a more attractive picnic area and for council to construct a safer revetment wall along the shoreline where it had collapsed.

"I now feel proud to bring visitors to Ettalong to see the beautiful Brisbane Water and I feel very proud my husband and I were a part of this process," Ms Sullivan said.

Mr John Moore who is now retired said that, while the whole process should never have taken so long, he was pleased council had finally commenced the work.

"It's been a long road since our initial public meeting where over 100 people attended at the local club wanting their town rejuvenated and our beachfront maintained but after many extensive community meetings and environmental plans we see the fruits of our labour and it's just magnificent," Mr Moore said.

Ms Wales said the recent construction of the footpath-cycleway was funded by the State Government's Greenspace program thanks to Member for Gosford Ms Marie Andrew's representations.

Ms Wales said the next stage of works would be a viewing deck to be constructed over the old toilet block site funded from the CBD funds.

However, council is still waiting on the results of an application to the Federal Government's Regional Partnerships Program for further funding, she said.

Press release, 4 Jun 2008 Debra Wales, Peninsula Chamber of Commerce