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WITH more than 40 members in the Old Bar Chamber of Commerce, it's safe to say the group is in touch with what the wider Old Bar community needs.
Earlier this year the chamber received a $10,000 grant from the State government, with the help of member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead, to enable them to begin work on projects in their beautification program and the results are starting to appear.
Locals will have noticed the colourful community seats that have been installed in the last couple of weeks around the town centre, with just over half the grant being spent already.
The seating has been a combined effort between the chamber, local tradespeople and with the generous assistance of Pacific Palms Transport and Mick's Paint Place in Taree, Mark Woods and the 'work for the dole' program.
"We wanted to create a talking point that will get people's attention, is practical and will brighten up the CBD," said chamber member, Adam Stevenson.
The beautification program has been in the works for about 10 years and has been an ongoing project between local businesses, residents and Greater Taree City Council, with overall plans and design having been passed by council.
The CBD seating is the first in a range of linked projects from the Chamber that will flow on down to the town's 'greatest asset' the beach.
The next project will be the renovation of the bus shelter outside Bi-Lo, as well as having the tables around the park at the beach painted similar, bright colours to the CBD chairs.
The chamber is also hoping to have approval to paint the power poles that lead down to the beach in the same colour scheme, tying all projects together.
Other future projects that the chamber is hoping to see come to fruition include a larger community notice board outside the local butchers, having a mural painted on the retaining wall outside Bi-Lo, by local school children and the construction of a footpath leading all the way to the beach.
Currently the CBD footpath stops at the Davis Street/Old Bar Road intersection, just opposite the tennis courts.
An application to council was rejected at their most recent meeting with a response email stating 'Completion from Davis Street to Old Bar Beach is not considered a high priority in terms when considering highly trafficable areas'.
Chamber representatives vowed to continue pushing for the footpath extension as the present condition means those commuting to the park with their animals, prams, scooters and bikes, now walk on the road.
"It's really dangerous, especially when you have cars parked on the side of the road and there's so many people who walk to the beach that way, we can't understand how it's not considered to be a highly trafficable area," said Carole Isaacs.