LABOR COMMITS TO FINAL LEG OF BATHERS WAY - DELIVERING A CONTINUOUS 9KM SECTION OF ICONIC WIDENED FOOTPATH FROM MEREWETHER BEACH TO CARRINGTON

A re-elected Newcastle Labor-led Council would complete its extremely popular Bathers Way project delivering the final leg through King Edward Park.

In a major policy commitment, Labor has committed to completing the King Edward Park shared pathway, the final stage of the Bathers Way project, which has been overseen in its entirety under the leadership of Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes.

Labor Councillors have committed to delivering the final leg of Bathers Way

“The Heritage-listed King Edward Park offers amazing views over the coast and our City. Working with the community to deliver the final stage of Bathers Way will ensure that King Edward Park is open and accessible to even more Novocastrians,” the Lord Mayor said.

“The King Edward Park section is the most challenging section of the Bathers Way project. Work is underway on a concept and detailed design, to be informed by community engagement. Today I’m committing to seeing this final section delivered.

“I’m proud to have led the Bathers Way project since its inception in 2010. This has been a priority project of Council’s for many years, and Labor’s prudent financial decisions have ensured that it could be delivered over our rolling infrastructure works budget. It’s made an enormous difference to our city”.

Labor’s Ward 1 candidate, Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen, welcomed the policy commitment, reflecting on the enormous popularity of Bathers Way:

“As we come out of lockdowns and enter the warmer weather, Bathers Way is more popular than ever. It has been recognised as one of Australia’s most popular coastal walks, and is loved by people from across our region.

“Under Labor’s vision for our City we have delivered more $47 million in Coastal Revitalisation works. Completely transforming our coastal assets and opening up the natural beauty of Newcastle to thousand more residents and visitors”

“I’m am committed to delivering this stage of Bathers Way through King Edward Park, which will connect Merewether Beach to Nobbys, where the walk joins the Joy Cummings Promenade”

“Completion of this final stage will provide a continuous widened walkway all the way from Carrington to Merewether Beach, a distance of 9 kilometres.

Labor’s Ward 2 Councillor Carol Duncan said that community views would be critical to the final section:

“King Edward Park offers spectacular views over the coast and our City. It’s well loved, and heritage listed. Labor will ensure that community views inform the final stage of the project, bringing together our community to see this important final section delivered.

The final stage will complement the current works underway at Newcastle South Beach, and HCCDC’s work on the Honeysuckle foreshore, delivering a complete 9km widened footpath from Carrington to Merewether Beach.