Bulls Hill improvements 'not likely'

The Bays Community Group has been told by a council officer that funding for improvements to Bulls Hill is "not likely in my lifetime".

The officer, Mr David Medcalf, presented information at the Bays Community Hall in Woy Woy Bay on Wednesday, September 12, about the planned upgrades to Rawson Rd and Woy Woy Rd.

Bays Community Group president Mr Bob Puffett introduced Mr Medcalf as project manager.

Around 40 local residents attended the meeting.

Mr Puffett welcomed Council's support of local community input to the development.

The $30 million allocation of funding to the project would allow work on a new roundabout and underpass which would link Railway St with Woy Woy Rd, as well as work on an under-road pedestrian crossing at Rawson Rd and Railway St.

However, a number of projects remain unfunded including the improvement of Bulls Hill and Woy Woy Rd, the removal of the hairpin bend at the top of Bulls Hill and the proposed on ramp at Banyo Close.

Mr Medcalf said funding for these upgrades were "not likely in my lifetime".

The meeting was the first in a series of planned updates and community input on the upgrade project by the Council.

Mr Medcalf said that although initial planning included "four lanes with cycleway and footpath" and improvements to Woy Woy Rd, that the realistic scope of the project was "the roundabout, underpass and some remedial work along Rawson Rd" which would take at least a year.

The meeting was told the major work phase would take at least a year which would mean primary access to the Peninsula would be along the Broadwater during part of the work.

Concerns were raised during the meeting about the concurrent upgrade to the West Gosford intersection but Mr Medcalf said this was unlikely as the intersection project was expected to begin next year while the Rawson Rd Project may not begin until much later.

Mr Medcalf advised that it would take 10 years to negotiate a route through the National Park and it would be unlikely succeed.

This meant plans for a road upgrade had to stay within the current road boundaries.

Mr Puffett said that without lobbying local politicians the project could be overshadowed by competing Council projects.

Email, 20 Sep 2012

Jeffrey Cook, Woy Woy Bay