Call for Councillors to Step Back from Controversial Foreshore Plan

BY KEELY JOHNSON AND MADELAINE MCNEILL

Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser is calling on her fellow councillors to consider postponing work on a controversial planning proposal for Toronto Foreshore.

Plans to construct a six-storey development at the Bath Street site have received a mixed community response since it was first proposed, with a large number of residents believing the land should stay open to the public.

Cr Fraser will ask councillors at Monday night's council meeting to stop work on the plan, saying the city's economic situation has changed since the development was first proposed almost two years ago.

"At the time we had a slower economy and there wasn't a lot of investment," said Cr Fraser.

"We have a lot of investment now in Lake Macquarie, we saw a billion dollars worth of investment over the last twelve months, we've just had the Pasminco announcement with the development there, and also out at Morisset,"

 "I think its time to reflect, take a step back and listen to the community."

Suzanne Pritchard from the Toronto Foreshore Protection Group said the Mayor's decision to stop further plans and re-evaluate the development is exactly what the group have been waiting for.

"The development was going to set a really dangerous precedent for multi-storey development, not only on Toronto's foreshore but all around the lake," said Ms Pritchard.

"We are hoping to see a foreshore park for all of the community to enjoy, not just a select few."

Councillor Jason Pauling said he was flabbergasted and felt "betrayed" by the mayor's decision, having worked together on the project for over 12 months.

"The debate tonight will be fierce and emotive because there are lots of us that still believe in the dream," said Cr Pauling.

"I agree with the mayor that the process has gone off the rails to a degree, I agree with the mayor that the timeframe blowout is hugely frustrating, but I don't agree that we should turn our backs on this opportunity."

Cr Pauling said the site has been in limbo since the mid-1980s and has been neglected for decades.

"There is an opportunity right now, albeit with a longer timeframe than we initially intended, to fix that and turn it into the showpiece for Lake Macquarie and I'm not prepared to put that on ice."

Council staff have designed a model version of the proposed development. Image: Jason Pauling

A facelift for Warners Bay foreshore

BY JESSICA ROUSE and GARY JON-LYSAGHT

Works are starting today on a major upgrade to Warners Bay foreshore, including new park benches, trees and even glow-in-the-dark pavers.

The works are all part of Lake Macquarie council's master plan for the foreshore, aiming to bring new life into the area which can see more than a thousand visitors every day.

Mayor Kay Fraser believes the upgrades will hugely benefit the area and bring even more people to the foreshore.

"There's a whole lot of works happening over the next year or two that's going to really activate the foreshore and bring people to the city and spend money. It will be good for business, and good for families wanting to go somewhere different and relax and enjoy the water."

Warners Bay foreshore plan.

The works will promote the beauty of the city with a blue pavement section in the plans, to represent the Lake, with a blue additive which will glow-in-the-dark.

"It's a dark blue and it'll be a real eye catcher," said Mayor Jay Fraser.

"We've also started that sandstone wall, so we're going to have 65m of that continuing along the foreshore. We will also have 500m2 of garden bed and because there's so many people using Warners Bay we're going to put an additional 30 new park benches in as well."

During construction, pedestrian access will be maintained along the foreshore, however there will be some sections closed off to the public throughout the construction.

To stay up to date head to www.lakemac.com.au 

Awareness Picnic for V8 Supercars Race

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

This weekend, the Newcastle East Resident's Group is holding an awareness picnic at Foreshore Park to spread the word about issues surrounding the V8 Supercars Race.

Many members are concerned the race will bring permanent damage to the local area, including the destruction of a large amount of parkland.

Member for Newcastle East Resident's Group, Karen Read says she hopes the picnic will bring attention to this issue.

"We just wanted to point out to people that a lot of the changes that are going into the park are actually permanent," she said.

"We're really just raising awareness that many of the (Foreshore) trees do have to go and that the pit area which has to be built will be a permanent fixture.

"It will be a very large permanent slab of concrete so we're losing in excess of 3 hectares of park."

Karen Read also says many of the group's questions are going unanswered and there is a lack of information for concerned residents.

"We can't get any information from the proponents. We don't really know what's going to happen," she said.

"We're not sure what's happening with the children's playgrounds. We think they might have to be moved. Some of the parkland at the bottom of Fort Scratchley will have to be resumed so that the roads are wide enough. But we can't get straight answers."

While those against the race are gathering this weekend, another picnic for pro-race resident's will also be held the following Saturday.

The picnic's organisers are hoping people will attend their event to show support for the race and learn more about motor sports.

Karen Read says she has nothing against people who support the race, but believes the local's deserve more insight into the event.

"We feel as though if it's (the race) so good for Newcastle, they need to be transparent about what they're doing."

Member of Newcastle East Resident's Group, Karen Read.
[Image: Newcastle Herald]