Riverside Park endorsed
At Tuesday night's council meeting we endorsed the plan for Stage 1 of Riverside Park in the Marys Mount area. $2.2m is allocated in the 2019/20 financial year for the project, which will include significant landscaping, two kilometres of an integrated walking and cycling pathway that will connect with the Wollondilly Walking Track, a new parking area and a fully equipped outdoor gym.
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Council received 10 submissions during the consultation period, with only four of these expressing concern about the walking track location. We certainly want to work with community members and property owners with concerns, and will do this as we move forward. The walkway location has been chosen due to the topography of the area and the need to ensure disability access; any changes to the footpath alignment would have led to a six figure increase in the construction costs.
When work begins we will look at measures to minimise impacts for these residents, such as vegetation being planted between the footpath and property boundaries for privacy.
Construction of stage one of Riverside Park is due to commence in the 2019/20 financial year, with earthworks, clearing, tree planting and weed control expected to begin prior to the end of this year.
Next stage of CBD Enhancement
Work on the implementation of the next stage of CBD enhancement projects will begin in the coming months, after we also prioritised these on Tuesday night.
$300,000 has been allocated within the 2019/20 budget for CBD enhancement work, and the councillors will now allocate an additional $50,000 as part of the September quarterly review.
Councillors prioritised subsidies for the painting of heritage building facades, replacement of the Auburn Street median strip between Montague and Clifford Streets, and removal of one bus stop and reduction in taxi stand size.
Next week work will also be starting on new paving at the southern entrance to our CBD. The paving will be laid in the same style as Auburn Street, running from the side of the Tattersalls Hotel, up to the new building development located on the former Marian College school grounds.
This will link up with the existing work already undertaken as part of the Marian College redevelopment, creating a brilliant entrance to Auburn Street. Work will commence on August 12, and traffic control measures will be in place throughout the project.
Mayoral Emergency Relief Fund
Finally, the council renamed the current Mayoral Drought Relief Fund to the Mayoral Emergency Relief Fund, and in the process transferred over all funds.
$38,174 will be transferred across, enabling the funds to be utilised for a wider range of events than just the drought.
This doesn't preclude us from utilising the funds for drought relief however, especially if tough conditions continue through spring and summer. Community members seeking assistance through this fund are invited to contact the council on 4823 4444.