Mayor and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces cut ribbon and unveil plaque
The stunning new Reddall Reserve promenade has been officially opened in time for spring.
Mayor of Shellharbour City Chris Homer cut the ribbon and unveiled a plaque alongside Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully, and Department of Planning and Environment Commissioner of Open Space Fiona Morrison.
The new promenade provides new and improved foreshore seating, increased pedestrian accessibility, improved stormwater provisions, reduced maintenance and greater connection to the wider reserve.
It also incorporates an environmentally friendly seawall design which increases the environmental value of the area by providing an intertidal habit for marine life.
The design incorporated feedback from the community identified in the Reddall Reserve Masterplan.
Work on the Reddall Reserve Promenade Renewal Project began last December, with Council engaging Dynamic Civil to construct the facility.
Council received a $3M contribution for delivery of the project as part of the NSW Government Public Open Spaces Legacy Program.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully, said the new promenade would undoubtedly be welcomed by locals as a revitalisation was overdue.
"I'm so pleased to be able to join the opening as I know how important this renewed space is for the Shellharbour community," Minister Scully said.
More than 100 public open-space projects across NSW were approved as part of a $250 million legacy program launched in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim was to keep the broader economy moving and bolster the construction industry.
To access the funding, Shellharbour City Council was required to demonstrate improvements in development assessment timeframes and enhanced processes to help reduce 'red tape' when processing Development Applications.
Eligibility criteria included finalisation of Council's Local Strategic Planning Statement and long-standing rezoning planning proposal applications.
Shellharbour City Council Mayor Chris Homer said he was thrilled with the new promenade and congratulated Council staff on its delivery.
"The new promenade is absolutely stunning. It's a beautiful outdoor space that will benefit Shellharbour City residents as well as visitors to the area," Mayor Homer said.
"The old promenade was very popular with locals and tourists but had unfortunately reached the end of its life. Over time, it had experienced storm and weather damage. Many sections were at beach level and became covered by sand, making it inaccessible.
"The new promenade creates a safe, accessible space and continuous walking area along the foreshore," he said.
"The renewal of the promenade was identified during community consultation for Council's Reddall Reserve Masterplan, with staff working to secure NSW State Government funding.
"Getting the funding was a collaborative effort by many teams across Council and I thank them for their hard work and expertise.
"I also want to sincerely thank the NSW Government for its significant contribution and support. The new promenade will significantly improve one of the city's most popular outdoor spaces for the benefit of our whole community," Mayor Homer said.
