A Ballina Shire councillor wants to close and sell the road running through the Lake Ainsworth Holiday Park.
Cr Keith Williams then wants to use any money raised from the sale to upgrade the road on the southern side of Lake Ainsworth.
The motion comes as the council is in the process of implementing its controversial Lake Ainsworth South Eastern Master Plan, which was recently adopted.
Cr Williams said some residents were concerned the Southern Road would be closed as part of the upgrades, and while this is not the case, there is no funding to carry out the improvements mooted for the road.
He said residents at a recent Lennox Head Residents Association meeting were concerned that the closure of the Eastern Road would also result in the closure of the Southern Road.
This is not the case.
The master plan would see the Southern Road continue as a through road, with a modified alignment, formalized parking and grassed swale to improve storm water quality.
Those improvements however, remain unfunded, which is why Cr Williams is pushing to sell the Holiday Park road.
‘I believe the road through the Holiday Park is fundamentally impractical and it should be ruled out as an option,’ he said.
‘If this road is ruled out the corridor has no useful function and the land could be sold.
‘The proceeds could then help fund the remaining Southern Road upgrade work.’
Cr Williams wants a report on closing the road corridor through the Holiday Park and selling the land.
The closure of the eastern road along the Lake was endorsed by the council at its January meeting despite a petition signed by 1300 residents.
The council is redeveloping the area alongside the lake as a passive recreation area with no cars or parking.
To compensate for the loss of around 60 car parking spaces along the eastern side of the lake, the council is constructing car parks near the surf club.
The new car park will include disabled parking, and access ramps will be installed near the lake to improve access for those in wheelchairs.
Whether the council will back Cr Williams motion will be determined at Thursday’s general meeting at the council chambers in Cherry Street.
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