Bumper Six Months with Key Council Projects on the Move

Final design of the Wiigulga Sports Complex and the development of plans to upgrade Woolgoolga and Sawtell swimming pools are among the many highlights detailed in Coffs Harbour City Council’s latest ‘Six Monthly Progress Report’ which covers July to December 2020.

“This week has seen a huge number of positive announcements on new flights for Coffs Harbour Airport and the region, plus the return of a world-class rally event to the Coffs Coast, which suggests recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is really starting to get traction,” said Coffs Harbour Mayor Councillor Denise Knight. “But looking back at this latest six-monthly report card shows how much we accomplished for the community despite having to operate in such a difficult time.”

Council’s General Manager Steve McGrath said that local infrastructure and planning projects will continue to be key to supporting our local economy as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Major building projects have always proved to be the most effective way to help economies move on from a crisis – a truth borne out at all levels of government – as they provide employment, as well as injecting much-needed cash into a region. It’s good to see so much achieved on this front from July to December.”

The six months covered by the report saw many highlights including:

Approval by the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment of the Development Application for the Cultural and Civic Space; In December 2020, Council secured Palisade Investment Partners as its commercial operating partner for the long-term lease of Coffs Harbour Airport, with the value to the community forecast at almost $500 million over the term of the lease and option; Completion of detailed design of the Wiigulga Sports Complex; Designers ‘Complete Urban’ appointed to prepare plans and costings for both Sawtell and Woolgoolga Pools; Completion of a range of sport infrastructure works including lighting at Toormina Oval and Polwarth Drive; Winning the top prize for Cultural Planning in the Local Government NSW Leo Kelly OAM Arts and Culture Award; Progress on design work on the Coffs Harbour bypass preparedness project with water main relocation works scheduled for early 2021; Extensive water, sewer and transport maintenance works undertaken; Delivery of community, environmental and sustainability initiatives; Delivery of land management and environmental initiatives; Delivery of a range of community, economic and sporting programs; and The adoption of a COVID-19 Response Recovery Plan, articulating the steps Council will take continue to support the community through recovery from the pandemic.

Many more achievements can be viewed in the ‘Six-Monthly Report July – December 2020’, which can be found on Council’s website.