Report from John James, TRRA Inc. Research
AUSGRID Access Track Update 08/02/2013
Early in 2012 Ausgrid as part of their line upgrade program for Nelson Bay constructed a heavy duty access track running alongside Nelson Bay Road between Frost Road and Salamander Way to allow trucks and work crew to install the new concrete power poles and cabling. In addition to the track the infamous tyre wall near Salamander Way was constructed, which gained a lot of negative comments from residents and a number of letters to the local newspaper and Council. TRRA became concerned in March 2012 about the visual impact of the track particularly along Tomaree National Park at the gateway to the peninsula.
Ausgrid informed TRRA that on completion a small part of the track would be removed but most would be covered with mulch and landscaped. At the eastern end of the project links had already been established with the Christmas Bush Garden Club for the restoration of vegetation which has almost been completed with the help of a few dedicated volunteers and plants donated by Ausgrid.
TRRA saw the opportunity to use the heavy duty access track for a possible cycle track which would provide a valuable link between Nelson Bay (near schools and the sporting fields/ swimming pool) to Frost Road then through to One Mile Beach and Anna Bay.
A letter was sent to Ausgrid on 30/05/2012 suggesting that it may in fact be cheaper to construct the cycle way using the access track than to remove/restore it back to original condition.
Ausgrid saw the proposal as a worthwhile community project and called a meeting on the 12/10/2012 between Port Stephens Council engineering staff, Ausgrid, RMS and TRRA onsite.
A second meeting was held with all parties on the 8/2/2013.
PSC had previously been considering a link either along Gan Gan Road (narrow and through national park) or Nelson Bay Road and Frost Road (which services residents and tourist accommodation). It was seen by all as too good an opportunity to not use the existing road base which will only require a top coating of a suitable material to provide a smooth safe surface for cyclists.
A safe crossing will need to be designed and constructed at the Frost Road involving RMS and PSC with some support from Ausgrid around their existing substation.
Ausgrid announced that as PSC didn’t require the tyre wall for the construction of the cycle way that they would start to remove it on the 11/2/2013.
PSC have done some preliminary planning on the crossing at Salamander Way, particularly connecting in with the missing link of the cycle way from the council depot through the sports field to the school and shopping centre. Money has been rolled over for this link project which is expected to be spent this financial year. Some informal consultation has already occurred with cyclist groups but it is intended a full community consultation will occur about the best route, either on the lower ground through the sports fields or adjacent to Nelson Bay Road which appears to be the favoured route at this point in time.
As no money has been budgeted for the Ausgrid section this financial year, it may be some time before the project can be completed. It is considered unsafe to just surface the track without a safe crossing at both ends.
PSC have agreed to inform Ausgrid by the end of February on how best to close off the line upgrade project and hand over the track to Council for a cycleway.
08/02/2013 Comments, sugestions welcome.
