Published on Thursday, 1 July 2021 at 3:19:48 PM
Council has approved the Sutherland Street shared path extension, which intends to provide better pedestrian and cyclist connections for the whole Hedland community.
The path will connect Port Hedland’s West End to the Spoilbank Marina precinct, providing a number of social, economic and environmental benefits.
The Town has invested a significant amount of capital into the recreation amenity along the foreshore, including Marapikurrinya Park, Cemetery Beach Park, the Richardson St Boat Ramp, and the Spoil Bank Recreation Reserve.
At its March’s Ordinary Council Meeting, Council deferred any action on the proposed path until officers had undertaken further community consultation.
Extensive consultation activities were undertaken in April and May, including focus groups, an online owner survey, a community-wide online survey, video, web page, media release and a letter to homeowners, inviting all stakeholders to submit their feedback on the proposed path.
As part of the project planning, the Town conducted a third party independent design review by Coastal Engineers MP Rogers. The report concluded that the proposed Path option has a low initial investment compared to alternative options and minimal ongoing maintenance.
The landward location of the proposed Path design provides maximum protection and minimal dune impact. The design is supported from a coastal engineering standpoint and permits future protection options such as sea wall construction without removal or significant alteration to the proposed path.
Mayor Peter Carter said the aesthetic, economic, social and erosion control impacts that will be the outcome of the delivery of the shared path are overwhelmingly positive.
“I understand many residents had concerns about the proposed Sutherland Street Shared Path Extension, which is why Council decided to defer any decision on the future of the proposed path until further community consultation had been undertaken.
“It’s essential for Council decisions to reflect the community’s views, especially when it comes to changes to the built environment around properties and coastal risks.
“We ran a mixture of in-person focus groups and online surveys to gauge a cross-section of views on the proposal, which has given Council an accurate perspective on how we should move forward.
“Generally, people who support the footpath believe the whole community should have access to the foreshore, not just those who live in the vicinity. 83% of the community-wide survey respondents indicated support for better connectivity between the West End and the future Spoilbank Marina precinct.
“The proposed design will feature a 3 metre wide concrete shared path, path lighting, and bollards at either end of the path link. Additional features will include an exposed finish featuring photo luminescent aggregate, beach access stairs, and rest shade structures to increase community amenity.
“I’d like to thank the community for their patience on this issue, and Council and I look forward to delivering on a Shared Path Network, improving free movement between the West End of Port Hedland and the upcoming Marina Foreshore project.”
For media information:
Laura Hawes
Manager Corporate Affairs
(08) 9158 9365 | lhawes@porthedland.wa.gov.au
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