The NSW Government promised last week to help the Tweed Shire Council upgrade Tweed Coast Road and sports fields on Depot Road.
The projects were listed under a $200 million allocation as part of the NSW Government’s Accelerated Infrastructure Fund, aimed at supporting new homes in the state’s regions.
Eight other key projects, including wastewater and road upgrades were listed across the state.
The government said the Tweed Shire road and sports field upgrades would help support more than 5,500 new homes in the area.
Land bankers to finally start work on new Tweed Shire housing estate
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully said via media release speeding up infrastructure like sewage treatment plants and adequate roads allowed for more new homes to be approved sooner.
Subsequent detail from the Tweed Shire Council showed Tweed Coast Road is to expand to four lanes between the Pacific Highway and the Cudgen Road intersection with $18.5 million in funding.
The expansion is to extend to the Casuarina Town Centre in staged works that could take up to twenty years to complete, the council said, in line with development of the Kings Forest estate.
Developers of the estate have long had permission to build some 4,500 houses but have waited until 2024 to start, a practice commonly referred to as land banking.
A website for the business project showed the estate would only start to welcome residents from this year.
Meanwhile, $6.3 million was announced last week for 8 hectares of sports fields at Depot Road next to the estate.
The council said the project was featured in its draft Sports and Active Recreation Strategy 2023 – 2033 currently on public exhibition.
Early indications suggested the fields would be used for Australian Football League games, the council said.
Developer fees to the Tweed Shire Council are to be used for both projects alongside the newly announced government funding.
Tweed mayor welcomes hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure funds
Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry said she welcomed the government’s funding announcements as ‘a significant step towards facilitating the burgeoning growth of the Tweed Coast’.
‘The Tweed Coast is a much sought after place to live and an increasingly popular destination for visitors so it’s crucial we manage this rapid growth carefully,’ Cr Cherry said via media release.
‘This funding will go a long way towards assisting development already planned for the area, such as the Gales-owned land at West Kingscliff and the major development of Kings Forest,’ she said.
The mayor said the council’s capital works program would average at more than $100 million per annum over the next two years thanks to the accelerated funding.
The council’s new annual capital works budget average came in addition to $385 million in flood restoration work already underway, she said.
Cr Cherry also used last week’s announcement to remind people of other council infrastructure projects in the works, including:
– $10 million for new a new council Works Depot on land off the floodplain at the new industrial estate at South Murwillumbah;
– $8.47 million for parks and structured open space projects including the new Uki Mountain Bike Park; upgraded playground areas at Jack Evans Boat Harbour; and Recreation Ground at Tweed Heads;
– $15.5 million for community assets and $9 million for a new animal rehoming facility.
‘These are strategic capital projects, which will leave a legacy for generations to come and I thank council staff for their vision and hard work to make these projects a reality,’ Cr Cherry said.
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