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40 Business View Australia - March-April 2016
PUBLIC WORKS &
been tremendous growth in the
area of community and recreation
projects in Port Stephens. This has
been necessitated by the growing
population and demand for such
facilities.
Shoal Bay
Greg Kable, Capital Works Section
Manager of Port Stephens Council
says,”This year we have a budget of
$23million. One of themore important
projects we have been working on
is the rejuvenation of the Shoal Bay
foreshore, a very well-known tourist
destination.
“We have just completed the first
stage of works to the value of about
$2 million, which included a new
recreational wharf, boat ramp and car
parking. We also developed a shared
pathway network in addition to a road
upgrade and landscaping projects
with particular focus on the foreshore
area.”
This project has had a big impact
on Shoal Bay. A commercial precinct
opposite the foreshore area has
benefitted immensely from the Shoal
Bay rejuvenation.
A number of issues were addressed
at the time of executing the project.
There is a seagrass area where the
wharf is located, so the wharf had to
be designed with this in mind. The work
was carried out in coordination with
Maritime Services and National Parks
to ensure that the seagrass bedwas not
compromised during the construction
of the wharf or ongoing use.
Care to manage the dunes was done
in consultation with the community
groups that maintain them. It was
ensured that the works carried out
could be subsequently maintained by
local volunteers.