A TRACK Soldiers Point residents lobbied the Port Stephens Council to have reopened will be permanently closed in favour of a new walkway being constructed down the road.
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Behind closed doors at last Tuesday's ordinary meeting councillors discussed to close a walkway between Ash Street and Soldiers Point Bowling Club.
Legal advice was considered with councillors resolving to release the easement, which was accessed by crossing onto the private property of 3 Oasis Close.
The walkway, known as The Track, was blocked off by the owners of 3 Oasis Close in September due to public liability concerns.
About 25 Soldiers Point residents put out by the walkway's closure attended Tuesday's meeting armed with yellow signs which read The Track, hoping the council would reopen it.
Instead, the council general manager, Peter Gesling, announced the council would engage the owners of 3 Oasis Close and the Soldiers Point Bowling Club to contribute to the design and construction of a new walkway at 7 Oasis Close.
"Should the owners of 3 Oasis Close not agree to the terms ... then council [will] immediately undertake actions," Mr Gesling said.
If the homeowners did not agree to contribute 50 per cent to a new walkway, the council would remove the fences and reopen the original track.
Concerned Soldiers Point resident Robyn Shaw, who attended the council meeting, said it was now a waiting game.
