$4.7 Million Munibung Road Extension Now Open

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Drivers will experience a smoother journey through north-west Lake Macquarie with the extension to Munibung Road now complete.

The completion of the $4.7 million project and 820 metre extension, jointly funded by the Australian Government and Lake Macquarie City Council,  is set to significantly improve connectivity around the northern suburbs of Lake Macquarie.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Cr Kay Fraser said this project is another step forward in the growth of Lake Macquarie City. 

“This is a regionally significant infrastructure project that will unlock business investment, commercial development and housing opportunities, and it was vital this work continued despite COVID-19,” Cr Fraser said.

“It has taken a significant amount of work to deliver this project and we acknowledge the Australian Government’s patience and the support of the NSW Government to gain access to the site, allowing the project to proceed.

“I look forward to when things return to normal, and our residents can use this extension to have faster, easier access through northern Lake Macquarie.”

Council’s CEO Morven Cameron said ensuring infrastructure projects like the construction of Munibung Road continue through the COVID-19 pandemic is essential to the City’s economy.

“I am pleased Council and Daracon were able to continue with the design and delivery of this project, on schedule and on budget, considering the extenuating circumstances of COVID-19 towards the end of the project,” Ms Cameron said.

“Infrastructure projects, such as this help our City continue to move forward, while providing both short-term and long-term jobs at this uncertain time for many people in our community.”

The project was funded by the Australian Government through the Building Better Regions Fund and Lake Macquarie City Council.

Project by numbers

• 820m of new road, footpath and street lighting
• 66 trees and associated landscaping
• 14m road width with cycle-safe lane
• Estimated nine-month construction duration
• 28 construction jobs and 41 long-term jobs generated
• Former Pasminco site comprises 210ha, including 132ha of developable area

Munibung Extension Map

                                                       Munibung Road Extension Looking Towards Boolaroo

L-R: Adam Wakeman Lake Macquarie City Council Manager City Projects, Bryce Neely Daracon Project Manager, Chris Gray Lake Macquarie City Council Project Officer, Paul Orrock Daracon Project Engineer, Tony Farrell Lake Macquarie City Council Deputy CEO

The Missing Link For Munibung Road

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The missing link on Munibung Road is right around the corner with construction on the 820 metre stretch of the road set to start in the new year.

Lake Macquarie Council has called for tender submissions to find a contractor for the job which will greatly improve the link between Boolaroo and Cardiff.

Mayor Kay Fraser says it's time the area went back to the boom it once was.

Mayor Kay Fraser, Adam Wakeman and Tony Farrell from the council.

"Obviously it was a huge employment generating area so we're wanting to put back what was there so hence the reason to built the road so we can have the employment generating businesses back in there,"

"We've set the money aside and we actually got some money from the government and that's to open up the old Pasminco land so that will release all of that land and great opportunities for residential and also for economic development," said Mayor Fraser.

The extension runs through the former Pasminco smelter site, and the council hopes the former site will again become a booming economic area like it once was.

The link is also crucial to the development of the Lake Macquarie Transport interchange linking the suburbs.

"Residents travelling in that area, that will cut down on their travel time and it's also another new access for business using that route so tenders will close and we'll probably assess them early in the year and then start building that road," said Mayor Fraser.

Tender applications are open until January 23 next year.

Missing link between Boolaroo and Cardiff

BY DANIELLE REIS and JESSICA ROUSE

The extension of Munibung Road has been a long time coming and now the missing link is finally a reality.

Lake Macquarie City Council is welcoming $2.2 million from the Federal Government to extend Munibung Road and connect Boolaroo to Cardiff, cutting around 11 minutes off the current round trip.

Lake Mayor Kay Fraser says new 700 metre extension will provide an important transport link for motorists.

"We're very excited for the council to receive this from the federal government - we have already set aside the other half of the money that's needed so what we will be able to do now is connect Munnibung Road which will run into Cardiff and connect to Boolaroo."

Earlier this year council set aside $2.9 million towards the extension.

"We've already started the planning of the new road, I'm hopeful that we will continue with that planning and we'll start very soon. It's very exciting that we can finally deliver this important infrastructure to Lake Macquarie and to the residents in the area," said Kay Fraser.