The future of the Lake Conjola boardwalk hangs in the balance after an application for State Government funding was rejected last week.
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Earlier this year Shoalhaven City Councillors voted to replace the 25-year-old timber boardwalk to the tune of $840,000 and applied for a loan to cover part of the cost.
Council was last week notified that its application for $640,000 was unsuccessful.
Natural Resources and Floodplain manager Isabelle Ghetti told the Times council was investigating a range of funding options.
She said the boardwalk was an important asset for local residents as well as visitors to the area and, because of “significant structural issues”,needed to be replaced as soon as possible.
“We will do the necessary maintenance to ensure the boardwalk can remain open over summer,” she said.
Mrs Ghetti said, while there had been previous plans to close the boardwalk, maintenance had recently been carried out to bring it up to safety standards.
“This is not a long term solution,” she added, “and we are looking at other funding options to deliver the project as soon as possible”.
Council has set aside $200,000 for the new boardwalk and Lake Conjola Community Association president Robyn Kerves is concerned the money will now be spent on temporary maintenance, leaving a reduced budget for the project.
She said the community was looking forward to seeing the project come to fruition after lobbying council and sending a petition to the State Government.
“This is a significant asset for tourism and local residents in Lake Conjola,” Mrs Kerves said.
“The boardwalk is in a state of disrepair and we fear that it will be closed if something isn’t done.”
The proposed new boardwalk will provide improved disabled access to the beach and lookouts.
Mrs Kerves said, with the erosion of the southern sand hill, there was no alternate access to the beach.
She has called for profits from council’s Holiday Haven Caravan Park at Lake Conjola to be injected into the project.
Councillor Patricia White said was “very angry” that funds were not available for the boardwalk and said she will be encouraging council to look at other funding options, including using Holiday haven profits.
She said there was a proposal to construct a swimming pool at the Lake Conjola holiday park and has questioned council’s priorities.
“Why spend millions on a pool in a caravan park right next to the lake, when the boardwalk is falling apart,” she said.
“I think council needs to consider its priorities and look at putting that money towards replacing the boardwalk that will last between 50 and 100 years.”
“Two years ago council was going to condemn and close the boardwalk and the community fought to keep it open.
“We need to get the northern councillors down here and look at the situation and see how much it is used by tourists as well as locals.”
“If tourists can’t get access to the beach, tourist numbers will drop,” Cr White added.
Resident Nicky Goozee uses the boardwalk on a regular basis and said it provided the only beach access for her wheelchair.
She said a new, wider boardwalk would allow wheelchairs and scooters to pass on the walkway and would also provide beach access for rescue quad bikes.
Mrs Goozee said the walkway was also often used by elderly people who struggle with walking on loose sand.
