Council completes major Clyde Street car park upgrade
Published on 17 December 2021
Kempsey Shire Council has completed a series of major capital works on the Clyde Street car park and amenities in Kempsey allowing for safer pedestrian movements and easier traffic flow as well as improving the CBD sewer system.
The year long project to revitalise the car park, build new amenities and replace a large section of underground sewer infrastructure is now over after works wrapped up on the almost $1 million project, proudly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments as well as Council.
Kempsey Shire Council Mayor, Liz Campbell, said the completion of the upgrade marks the end of an essential project to renew Kempsey’s main shopping precinct.
“The new Clyde Street car park and amenities are a much-needed improvement for the CBD. As everyone will see, it has been well and truly worth the wait,” said Cr Campbell.
“The improved layout allows for safer movement through the area for both pedestrians and cars and the accessible amenities block is a huge improvement on the previous ageing facilities.”
Kempsey Shire Council Manager Infrastructure Delivery, Dylan Reeves, thanked residents for continuing to support local businesses in the area and using nearby car parks as the works were carried out.
“A major project like this takes a large amount of time, with lots of the work happening out of the public eye,” said Mr Reeves.
“The renewal has allowed Council to completely revitalise the area from the water mains up, which will benefit the community for years to come. Given the additional complications of the March flood and the obvious need to work safe through the COVID period, we are very proud of the work that we have done here.”
Pat Conaghan Federal Member for Cowper said the $350,000 of Federal Funding for the project formed part of the government’s Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program, specifically designed to support local jobs and businesses as our region recovers from COVID-19.
“Every single job we support makes a huge difference in our local community, and the funding of shovel-ready projects such as this goes directly towards the region’s economic growth while also improving road safety and bolstering the resilience of our local road networks,” Mr Conaghan said.
“The Federal Government’s $1.5 billion LRCI is making a huge difference in our local communities by supporting jobs, and economic growth but also improving road safety and bolstering the resilience of our local road networks.”
Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey said the Stronger Country Communities Fund makes a real difference to people in our region.
“The NSW Government is investing record amounts to deliver the infrastructure needed to stimulate our local economies through the support of the grassroots projects and I am delighted to see this local project now completed,” Ms Pavey said.
“The Clyde Street upgrade is exactly the kind of project the Stronger Country Communities Fund was designed to deliver - a more inclusive environment and better local amenities for all our community”.
Council contributed $350,000 to the project and received $350,000 from the Australia Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and $225,000 from the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Fund for the Clyde Street car park project.