Given the almost hour-long discussion that took place at the April council meeting over the Lake Street path, it is hardly surprising that council staff made the point that “a certain level of consultation with residents will be necessary” to help them understand.
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Councillor Liz Seckold may have said she didn’t like to look a gift horse in the mouth, but not for the first time council has been given funding which doesn’t cover the cost of what is needed, placing council and councillors in the unenviable position of having to make compromises and difficult decisions.
There was plenty of commendation for the community for bringing up the concept of the Lake Street pathway, which would link Rotary Park to the wharf, ultimately allowing locals and visitors to walk around much of Merimbula Lake.
The original idea had been to have an elevated platform that left the existing roadway untouched, but $2m funding won’t cut the mustard on a $5m project.
An elevated and cantilevered pathway going in places through the tree canopy would be, without doubt, a wonderful attraction.
But both councillor Sharon Tapscott and mayor Kristy McBain cautioned against its impost on council saying it would sit on the bottom line and have a significant impact on maintenance costs.
Much of the debate centred on whether public consultation should be on the recommended option by council staff (option A), or whether the entire suite of options should go out to consultation.
Some of it was not conducted in the most congenial of terms, even though the matter had been workshopped with councillors previously.
Clearly there is no money for anything other than option A right now.
The real question is whether there is, or will be, the money to support anything other than option A in the future. And that’s not just about the cost of construction, because if it costs a lot to build, more money has to be put aside for its maintenance and ultimate repair or replacement in later years.
As we have heard from the cash-strapped Sapphire Coast Tourism this week, tourism dollars make up 50 per cent of the economy of the shire. Keeping on top of that sometimes fickle market means ensuring we have the right infrastructure.
In the meantime the existing boardwalk along Merimbula’s Top Lake is in great need of maintenance and repair.
