Shoalhaven City Council has recognised the contribution Ralph Lucas has made to the development of the Sussex Inlet village and community, with the official naming of the canal system at Sussex Inlet as Ralph Lucas Water Ways on Monday.
Ralph Lucas has had long-standing and deep connections with the town of Sussex Inlet and is the Founder and Managing Director of Lucas & Tait, established in 1964 and has since become the Lucas Property Group in 2003.
Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley, together with Ralph Lucas unveiled the new signage bearing Lucas's name on Monday.
"Mr Lucas has played a significant role in the development of the Sussex Inlet region and his community efforts have been acknowledged with the naming of the canals at Sussex Inlet as Ralph Lucas Water Ways." Clr Findley said.
Mr Lucas commenced his long-standing development and promotion of the Sussex Inlet area as an attractive place to buy and live through the Paradise Lagoon Estate over 50 years ago.
Since that initial development, Mr Lucas has developed a number of estates in Sussex Inlet which has resulted in the construction of hundreds of houses, bringing families and subsequent economic growth to the town.
Mr Lucas has always had a great affinity with Sussex Inlet.
"I am extremely honoured and very proud to have the Water Ways named after me, at the same time I feel very humbled in accepting Council's gesture, it is certainly greatly appreciated.
"As a developer, I first visited Sussex Inlet nearly 60 years ago and was impressed with the potential of the area, and that was the beginning of our development of over 300 water frontage home sites, several town house complex's and hundreds of home sites in the Badgee area, together with our latest Golf Course development, Sussex Inlet Golf Village, which will be home to over 700 residences.
"Once again, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Shoalhaven City Council for this great honour," Mr Lucas said.
Over the years Lucas & Tait have supported many Sussex Inlet communities, organisations and clubs, which included the free use of earthworks equipment to support the construction of the playing fields at the Thompson Street complex.
When the Sussex Inlet Golf Course was due to close, Mr Lucas negotiated to purchase the golf course to ensure Sussex Inlet did not lose this amenity. Mr Lucas met with the Golf Club committee and offered them the opportunity to lease the Golf Course for $1 per year, based on the club maintaining the course and the club retaining all revenue. The deal has been in existence for over 48 years with Lucas & Tait also providing grants from time to time for course improvements.
