STRONGER COMMUNITY FUND - QUARTERLY UPDATE - MARCH 2018
Resolved unanimously.
This is an update on how the monies tied to the delivery of projects from the Stronger Communities Fund is being spent.
Northern Beaches Council received $36.1 million from the NSW Government’s Stronger Communities Fund (SCF) to provide funding to kick start the delivery of improved infrastructure and services to the community.
A condition of the SCF is progress reporting quarterly to Council.
The Community Grants Program supports 53 community projects across a variety of focus areas including disability, art and culture, the environment, sporting, supporting people at risk and volunteer organisations.
By 31 March 2018, 28 projects have been completed. The Connecting Communities Program is a $32.6 million multi-year program of works is partially funded by SCF ($14 million). It will deliver a spectacular world class coastal walkway and cycleway stretching from Manly to Palm Beach and west into the Frenchs Forest hospital precinct. It will also deliver a network of inclusive playgrounds and improvements to sporting and surf lifesaving facilities.
Progress has been made with cycleway connections and shared paths and works have commenced on playgrounds. Significant elements of the program are still in planning and design.
The Tied Grants Program commenced in October 2017 with Council accepting the funding.
Early stages of planning have commenced on the 11 projects identified by the NSW Government:
1. Church Point Community Park (Pasadena)
2. Wakehurst Parkway flood mitigation
3. Mona Vale Public School – Regional Performing Arts Centre
4. Mona Vale Surf Club refurbishment
5. Long Reef Surf Club refurbishment
6. Currawong Beach heritage refurbishment
7. Foreshore improvements
8. Scotland Island wastewater feasibility study
9. Permanent netball courts
10. Newport Surf Club refurbishment (planning)
11. Barrenjoey Community Performance Space.
COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM
The Community Grants Program of $1 million has been fully allocated with successful applications announced at Council meetings on 16 December 2016 and 25 July 2017.
These projects have been progressing well with a total of 28 projects completed, six this quarter.
The projects successfully completed in the current quarter are:
