Lake Macquarie Council's record $280 million spend

BY JARROD MELMETH

A record $280 million will be spent next financial year under a 2018/19 Operational Plan, Lake Macquarie Council has decided.

Roads and recreational facilities will benefit most from the strategy, which will see $31 million spent on road works and $4 million funnelled into parks and playgrounds.

Construction of Belmont Baths; Charlestown Skate Park; Pelican Boat Ramp and the completion of the Pasterfield Sports Complex at Cameron Park will all be achieved with a $100 million commitment.

Mayor Kay Fraser said the size of the budget reflects growth in the region, with 205,000 people now living in the LGA.

"We've had a large number of development applications in the city, " Mayor Fraser said, "we can see building works going everywhere...so with the developer contributions (our Section 94 money coming in) and Council contributing to that, it's giving us the capacity to deliver these important projects."

Kay Fraser believes the community will be pleased with the spending, given extensive consultation has been carried out.

"A budget was put out on public exhibition for people to have a look at and comment on it - so it's very much a community budget plan," she said. 

Charlestown Skate Park is one of the projects identified in the Operational Plan. 

Belmont Baths Design Milestone

BY MATT JOHNSTON

The re-establishment of the Belmont Baths is one step closer to becoming a reality, with Lake Macquarie City Council completing a new concept design for the swimming and recreation area. The former facility was destroyed during the superstorm in 2015.

In April, council voted to build a new jetty and protected swimming enclosure to replace the damaged infrastructure. Council's acting Manager of Community Planning, Wes Hain, says they've recently reached the "milestone" of approving a concept design for the new project.

The concept design will be used during consultation periods with the project's stakeholders, including members of the community and contractors.  The vision for the project includes a 70-metre-long swimming enclosure, an access ramp to deep water, a new jetty, and more accessible amenities.

"Accessibility was a key aspect of the design as we want the new Belmont Baths to be a space that all members of our community can use and enjoy," says Mr Hain.

Early cost estimates put the bill at approximately $700,000, some of which council hopes to have subsidised. Council project officer David Middleton says they're "seeking extra funds for the amenities work, which we're confident we'll be successful with those [applications]".

Work is expected to commence in the second half of 2018, with the project expected to be completed in time for Christmas.