Oceanway back on track

Planning set to begin for Tallebudgera section

THE Palm Beach Oceanway has resurfaced, with planning and design work about to start on a section of pathway near the Tallebudgera Surf Life Saving Club.

This follows completion in January of a $4 million section that provided a missing link between Bilinga and Tugun, taking the southern pathway from Tugun to Coolangatta that has become a big hit among cyclists and walkers since it was opened.

Palm Beach-based councillor Daphne McDonald has updated residents on her Facebook page about plans for a section that extends along the existing road reserve at The Esplanade between the Tallebudgera Surf Life Saving Club and Twenty Third Ave.

“A concept plan for the preferred alignment should be ready soon and interested parties will be given a chance to view the plans once available,’’ Cr McDonald said.

Further design was programmed for 2019-20, but it would depend on the outcome of the planning phase. Construction scheduled for 2020-21 would depend on funding approval.

Councillors believe the Jefferson Lane section will prove an obstacle in a future continuous Oceanway.

“Some of the property boundaries extend now into the ocean due to erosion over the years,” a council source said.

The post by Cr McDonald received strong online support, but many residents wanted other “missing links” completed in the Oceanway – planned eventually to run the entire length of the Gold Coast.

“Great news, needs to go all the way along Palm Beach and connect to existing path south, it is a beautiful ride or walk, should be shared by everyone,” a female resident told Cr McDonald.

Others wanted it “all along the beachfront” and looked forward to seeing it “the whole length of Palm Beach”.

Many believed it would reduce cycling accidents, particularly along congested Jefferson Ave.

But anti-light rail campaigner Karen Rowles, who had strong support for her petition against running trams through Palm Beach, wrote in a post to Cr McDonald: “I hope it (the pathway) doesn’t go any further south.”

The council has flagged the Palm Beach pathway as one of its major transport initiatives and part of the 36km Gold Coast Oceanway between the Gold Coast Seaway and the NSW border.

“This section of new infrastructure will provide a vital Oceanway link between Burleigh Heads to the north and Currumbin and Tugun to Bilinga in the south,” the council said, in an update to residents.

“Surveying has been completed to inform a concept plan for the preferred alignment. Information will be provided as the project progresses.”

In July 2008 the Palm Beach Oceanway was stalled and a month later scrapped after the council spent three years and $104,000 planning the walkway.

At the time, Cr McDonald said council officers had tried to enforce turning bays in beach-end streets from Tallebudgera Surf Life Saving Club to Twenty Third Ave to accommodate trucks, but strong resident opposition forced her to stop.

“This project has two years of community consultation – it was the most I have ever seen for a project,’’ she said.

“It was at times controversial and residents had several concerns, but I felt we had addressed them.”