The issue of tarring Point Plomer Road in Crescent Head was again brought to attention at the council meeting yesterday.
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The issue was not on the council agenda but, following a community group meeting in Crescent Head last week, two residents of the village addressed council on the issue.
Chris Dockrill and James Dungay both spoke against the re-surfacing of the road, which they say is the overall view of many residents at the meeting.
“60 residents attended the meeting in Crescent Head last Tuesday after only 48 hours notice, that shows you the support behind preserving Point Plomer Road,” Mr Dockrill said.
Three Kempsey Shire councillors were at the community meeting, Cr Leo Hauville, Cr Mark Baxter and Cr Bruce Morris.
The community meeting was held and the issue brought up in the council meeting due to council investigating sealing the road as part of their 2017-2021 Delivery Program.
Before applying for a grant application under the NSW Government’s Regional Growth Environment and Tourism Fund to seal the road, council appointed a consultant to help with collating data from businesses and residents along Point Plomer Road to gauge interest in the proposal of tarring the road. It is this questionnaire that led to Crescent Head residents holding the community meeting.
Related content: Kempsey Shire Council considers upgrades to unsealed roads
General manager Craig Milburn said at this stage they are collecting data to see the interest of possible tarring.
“The questionnaire was put to targeted areas along the road to gauge interest,” Mr Milburn said.
Mr Dockrill, who has lived on the road for 30 years and also leased and ran Big Holiday Cabins said sealing the road will remove the tourist attraction of the area.
“In one fell swoop, sealing the road will actually remove the very element that makes the Goolawah strip so appealing to city folk who want their annual soft adventure,” he said.
Mr Dungay also addressed council and asked the councillors to not consider sealing the road.
“The area has special significance to Dunghutti history. In 2003 council promised to look out for Dunghutti wishes, was that promise not meant to be kept?” he said.
“If you tar that road, it will be more dangerous for native animals because people will drive faster.”
Council wouldn’t expect to be advised on the status of the grant, if applied for, until possibly early in 2019.
There are further opportunities for councillors to consider a range of community opinions in context of the economic business case before any decision on whether to accept a potential grant for sealing Point Plomer Road.
The overall view of Crescent Head residents at the community meeting was to simply leave the road as it is.
“If it ain’t broke then don’t fix it,” Mr Dockrill said.
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