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2002 (c) Peninsula Community Access Newspaper Inc
Group forms to protect waterfront
The Peninsula Community Waterfront Reserve Preservation Committee has been formed by a group of residents to "protect our natural waterfront reserves from concrete".
The group is opposing plans for a 2.4 metre wide combined cycleway and footpath to run through the Woy Woy Waterfront Reserve from Anderson Park to Lions Park and from there to Blackwall Mountain as well as the Ettalong beachfront Webb Reserve.
The plan arose from the recent Gosford City Cycleway Review.
The path would run beside the water's edge for its length, including a section beside the Woy Woy War Memorial Park, according to committee spokesperson Mr Norbert Solondz.
He said that such a path would "endanger both cyclists and pedestrians" and "such environmental vandalism of our reserves cannot be supported".
"If cycling is promoted as an alternative means of transport, then placing paths along our arterial roads to provide direct access to the railway station, shopping centre and other well visited areas, makes more sense.
"Recreational cycling is already engaged in on all waterfront reserves.
"Despoliation of waterfront reserves simply to use available RTA multi-million dollar funding is unreasonable," he said.
"Alternatively, cycleways along roads adjacent to the waterfront reserves allow access and avoid concreting our reserves.
"The community feels hijacked by the Gosford Council which is bent on using RTA money at any price," Mr Solondz said.
Mr Solondz says the remaining unspoiled natural wildlife-rich reserves must be preserved.
More than 1600 signatures objecting to the proposed cycleway on the waterfront reserves have been presented to council.
The community had voiced concerns against concreting of waterfront reserves at council meetings and on-site inspection, through letters, a photo presentation and petitions, he said.
Photo - June Mitchell, deputy mayor Cr Geoff Preece, Gosford Council director of works Stephen Glen, Eileen Stewart, and mayor Cr Robert Bell at a recent site inspection in Woy Woy
Press release, March 13