PUSHBIKE riders, pedestrians and people with prams in Raymond Terrace will soon be able to traverse an uninterrupted 1.4-kilometre waterfront shared pathway along the river’s levee bank.
The latest round of Get NSW Active funding includes a $360,000 allocation for a project that will construct a 120-metre “missing link” to complete the pathway, and add a new connection to Raymond Terrace’s King Street.
“Completing this path’s missing link is a win for local families, visitors and particularly Parkrun participants,” said Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington.
For Terrace Parkrun event director and volunteer Paul Tooney, the upgrade will solve a problem participants have been dealing with for years.
“The name Parkrun is kind of misleading,” Mr Tooney said.
“It’s all about inclusion and providing a safe course for anyone, of any ability, to come along and walk, jog, run 5km or volunteer.”
Floods have affected the Parkrun course several times since 2020 and low-lying grass sections have become difficult to use.
A section along the levee bank is currently unpaved and showing bare earth. This can become slippery after rain.
Mr Tooney said volunteers regularly warned participants about the unpaved section and provided assistance when required.
The new path will also make a difference to residents who use the waterfront for exercise and to access the community.
Port Stephens Mayor Leah Anderson said the new pathway would provide more than a place to walk.
“Pathways are more than just walkways, they’re vital public spaces that facilitate social interaction, enhance community connection and contribute to the overall character of a place,” Cr Anderson said.
Local resident Lisha Derrick, who regularly walks in the area, said having a continuous path would be particularly helpful for people with mobility difficulties.
The waterfront is also popular with families, sporting groups, scouts and locals who meet for a walk or a chat.
One resident said she was frustrated that previous pathway works had stopped short of completing the route, saying projects should be finished rather than left in “bits and pieces”.
Locals have also suggested bringing back markets that were once held in the area, while concerns have been raised about nearby heritage buildings that have been left in need of attention.
Transport for NSW received 244 grant applications from 101 councils across NSW this year.
Of these, 79 projects received funding for a range of upgrades including shared paths, active transport links, and “quietways”, where busy roads are turned into peaceful pedestrian and cycle friendly precincts.
The statewide Get NSW Active funding allocation is $60 million.
By Althea GUINSBERG
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