“How can Old Bar and its needs not be heard?”
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That is the question posed by president of the Old Bar Business Chamber, Carole Isaacs after MidCoast Council knocked back funding for a footpath from the CBD to the beach in the Stronger Communities Grants Program.
It is the third time in the past three years the funding application for $30,000 to purchase concrete and other materials for the footpath has been unsuccessful.
“It’s distressing, people were crying,” she said.
Community members gathered yesterday morning (Thursday, December 8) in protest of the decision, chanting while holding placards and then walking the 540 metres from town to the beach.
“The community has been asking for this footpath for 20 years,” said Carole.
“We’re a tourist town. More than 30,000 people visit Old Bar every year. We need the facilities and infrastructure for the people who come here.”
She said it comes down to an issue of community safety.
“People end up walking on the road if they have any disability or their not mobile enough, or if they have a pram because it’s so uneven and dangerous, but it’s not just for people with disabilities.
“We don’t want people pushing prams, in wheelchairs or walking on the main road of Old Bar.”
The health impact was part of the submission. “We don’t want more cars in the CBD, we want people walking.”
Carole said the chamber has been working with council staff on the project for the past 18 months and that plans are already drawn up.
An arrangement had also been made under Work for the Dole to construct the footpath, but without money for the concrete it can’t go ahead.
“We plan to donate $1000 towards the tools needed to do the job, but their budget doesn’t extend to $30,000 for the concrete.”
She said MP Stephen Bromhead has given the project his support.
She said the chamber will continue to fight for the funding and apply for it once more in the second round of Stronger Communities Grants Program next year.