Building new parks and roads and improving existing ones will be the focus of Camden Council over the next 12 months.
Council has now given the green light to a $305 million budget it says will “fund the community services, infrastructure and environmental protection to support the fastest growing population in Australia’’.
“While we are managing the rapid expansion and development of new suburbs and towns we are equally focussed on enhancing our established areas,” said Mayor Lara Symkowiak.
“The projects and initiatives funded under this budget will support the health and wellbeing of our residents into the long term,” Cr Symkowiak said.
“This budget includes an intensive capital works program that will progress the connectivity of our road and pedestrian networks and improve existing infrastructure,” she said.
This is the second year into the 2017/18-2020/21 Delivery Program that contains plans for $177.9 million for capital works such as roads, footpaths, community and recreational facilities to be delivered by Council as well as by developers as part of voluntary planning agreements.
A total of $35.8 million will be spent on drainage infrastructure to protect the environment in Catherine Field, Oran Park, Gregory Hills and Gledswood.
This financial year, $57.7 million will be spent on upgrading and developing recreation facilities, parks and playgrounds.
These include:
- Construction of new Kirkham Park BMX facilities and skate park;
- New park at Arcadian Hills;
- New parks and recreation areas at Emerald Hills, Catherine Park, Gregory Hills, Oran Park and Catherine Field;
- New playground at Gledswood Hills;
- Open space embellishment at Herberts Hill Reserve in Elderslie;
- Construction of water play space at Elderslie;
- Construction of youth play spaces at Harrington Park and Currans Hill;
- New playground equipment at six parks in Camden South, Camden, Narellan and Harrington Park;
- Building renewal at Narellan Sports Hub rugby league grounds.
A total of $69.6 million is planned for roads, footpaths and kerbs.
Some of the major projects are:
- Upgrade of Macquarie Grove Road from Cobbitty Road to The Lanes, Cobbitty;
- Graham Hills Road/Richardson Road intersection upgrade;
- Camden Valley Way/Macarthur Road intersection upgrade;
- Stages 3 and 4 of Argyle Street improvement works, Camden;
- Planning and design of the upgrade of Raby Road, Leppington;
- New roads in Oran Park and Catherine Field;
- Upgrade of Werombi Road, Grasmere;
- Cowpasture Bridge, Camden renewal;
- Upgrade of 11 roads in Camden and Camden South.
Whilst the program set out is impressive there is a notable omission from the works. The fastest growing activity and sport in the country is cycling. More bikes are sold each year that cars and there does not appear to be any developments in this plans to cater for this sport. As the opportunity to exercise at home has gone with all building sites being only 3-400 sq m and obesity the biggest health problem, Councils must plan their parks and sports areas to cater for this growing form of exercise but I see no evidence of this in this program great as it may be. A small widening of the bitumen on Connecting roads would allow safe riding and encourage workers to ride to local jobs and shops and have a great health benefit to the community