Both Juliette Moore, 19 years old, and Peter Middleton, on behalf of the Newport Residents Association, addressed Council on the design and construction of the Newport Beach to Bilgola Coast Walk, supporting the project and urging that it now go ahead.
This was first announced on December 16 2016 by the then installed Administrator of the newly forcibly amalgamated councils of Manly, Warringah and Pittwater.
The package was for ''this once in a lifetime project as part of a $32.6 million infrastructure investment partnership with the NSW Government.''
The ‘Connecting Northern Beaches’ was to deliver two major programs. The first was a $22.3 million program focused on integrating active walking paths and cycleways that link to B-Line transport hubs and services.
The second a $10.3 million inclusive and active play program 'featuring the creation of two new major all-abilities playgrounds, upgrades to play areas across the Northern Beaches to make them more inclusive, and $4 million for sporting facilities and Surf Life Saving Clubs'.
“This linkage brings together the three former council areas as one Northern Beaches community and is the direct result of the creation of the new Council,” said Dick Persson AM, Administrator, Northern Beaches Council
“By removing the administrative boundaries, it has unlocked the potential to interconnect our villages and towns via cycleways, walkways and transport hubs across the region.'' Mr. Persson stated via the media release
The bi-centennial coastwalk already existed from Barrenjoey to Manly, but this was going to be bigger, better, greater, would recondition sections that had deteriorated in the 30+ years since that first iteration and install sections that had never existed before.
As the narrative evolved art works were going to feature along its lengths. A few of these have since appeared, but funding to install the full concept has not been found to meet the rest dreamt up.
Then MP for Pittwater, the Hon. Rob Stokes, announced funding for the Newport to Bilgola, or Bilgola to Newport section. He then announced more grant funding for the same.
By 2018 drawings and plans were available for the community to look at.
Residents became concerned when banksia trees at Bilgola beach were removed in 2019 as part of the works, despite the final documents stating they would be retained. The Bilgola resident birds that had frequented these trees for food for generations have not been seen there since; there are no more trees present - none were replaced.
This had been preceded by a letter to the news service stating;
''Did you know the coastal path from Manly to Palm Beach is planned to be up to 3.5 metres and in concrete?''
''This is huge, and more the size of a road that a path. It will require significant removal of vegetation which will be replaced by a substantial concrete scar, disfiguring the natural landscape.
Removing greenery and replacing it with concrete is not progress.
I receive regularly the NB community information emails, so I knew about the pathway plans from Manly to Palm Beach. I thought this was a good idea but expected it would be a sensitive integrated coastal path, certainly not in concrete and certainly not as wide. ''
The plans and drawings were finessed and consulted on anew.
The EIS stated then:
Along with vegetation clearing for these components, buffer areas of 2 metres either side of all shared paths and footpaths will be required for the movement and storage of equipment during construction and will likely impose temporary impacts to local flora in the form of trampling.
Council states on its project webpage:
'Community engagement on this section of the Coast Walk ran from Friday 23 October to Sunday 6 December 2020.
'A key theme identified during consultation for this section was to minimise impact on vegetation where possible.
As a result, we revised the 2018 plans and reduced the width of the path to 3 metre (originally 3.5m) to reduce vegetation loss. The revised designs are available in the document links below. '
Barrenjoey Road at Neptune Road intersection - 2018 Concept Image, courtesy Northern Beaches Council
Since then the Council has been persisting in getting the job done.
The November 2024 pre-Council Meeting Update provides:
''The Northern Beaches Coast Walk is a spectacular 36km coastal journey connecting Manly to Palm Beach. Since 2018, we've been working closely with our community to enhance sections of this scenic pathway between Newport and Avalon.
After detailed investigations and community feedback, we're focusing on three priority sections based on available funding and safety considerations:
- Newport Beach to The Serpentine: New shared pathway
- Bilgola Foreshore Link: Enhanced pedestrian access from Bilgola carpark to Allen Avenue
- The Serpentine Safety Upgrade: Improved pedestrian connection at Allen Avenue stairs
Additional funding opportunities will be sought in order to complete the wider program of works in future years.
Tenders have now been received for the detailed design and construction of the Newport Beach to The Serpentine, Bilgola Beach shared user path. A comprehensive report, detailing the outcome of the tender evaluation and engagement activities since 2018, will be presented at an upcoming Council meeting in November 2024. Subject to Council approval to award a contract, we will share the detailed design with our community. A Review of Environmental Factors has been completed to assess and mitigate potential environmental impacts.''
The 2024 Review of Environmental Factors (REF) states the project will require the clearing of 'less than 0.03 ha of native vegetation across three Plant Community Types (PCTs), including less than 0.01 ha of Kangaroo Grass sod tussock grassland of coastal areas of the Sydney Basin Bioregion and South East Corner Bioregion (PCT 898), which corresponds to the Themeda grassland on seacliffs and coastal headlands in the NSW North Coast, Sydney Basin and South East Corner bioregions Threatened Ecological Community (TEC)'.
There will also be short term loss of access to the existing coastal walk and part of the Newport Beach carpark (during the works) and short-term traffic impacts to road users on Barrenjoey Road during the works.
Council's newer webpage for the project, with the tender to 'Design and Construct Newport Beach to Bilgola Beach Coast Walk for the sum of $2,489,406 excluding GST' now passed, advises the timeline now is:
- Early 2025: Open and listening - We will share the detailed design with our community
- Early 2025: Under review - We'll review the responses and feedback you provide
- Mid 2025: Construction commences - Expected start date (subject to approvals, contractor availability and weather)
- Late 2025: Construction completion - Expected project completion
Council's webpage should be updated with that detailed design imminently. To find out more, please visit:: yoursay.northernbeaches./ConnectingNorthernBeaches