THIS Anzac day at Nelson Bay will be one of mixed emotions as it marks the last to be held at Apex Park's current war memorial.
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After more than a year's worth of work, Port Stephens Council will start the $240,000 relocation of the popular structure down near the visitors' centre, to help improve access to the site.
Nelson Bay RSL Sub-Branch vice president Tom Lupton told the Examiner the branch and other groups had been working closely with the council to help address the access issues associated with the war memorial's current location on a steep grassed slope.
"Over the years, some of our older blokes have had trouble [with the site]," he said. "There is wet slippery grass . . . and standing on the incline is too hard for some."
The council's community and recreation planning coordinator, Brendan Callander, said in a bid to combat the concerns and also to create a social domain linking the waterfront and CBD, the memorial would be moved to the eastern side of Apex Park, adjacent to the visitors' centre.
"This location will provide a level area for participants in the celebration as well as allowing a natural amphitheatre for spectators," he said.
But the proposal has not come without opposition, with the Tomaree Ratepayers and Residents Association (TRRA) frustrated at the council for not completing a master plan for the whole park.
TRRA vice president Dick Appleby said while the TRRA supported the need for the memorial's relocation, he believed the solution needed to be an overall concept plan for the area, not just a quick fix for the memorial.
"Without a master plan, this council has demonstrated many times in the past that it is capable of completely snookering itself with ad hoc decisions that just waste money on short-term solutions that have to be undone again and create further unnecessary expense later," he said.
Mr Callander said a final meeting with stakeholders took place on the April 3 and the design was being finalised to allow construction drawings to be developed.
As part of the design, both the RSL cenotaph and National Servicemen monument will be relocated in front of a wall, which has been reduced in height to ensure the water view corridor remains intact.
Next to the wall will be plantings of a lilly pilly hedge and adjacent this wall will be a planting of rosemary.
Mr Callander said the timeframe for the project would depend on contractor availability but the relocation would occur following Anzac Day, with the memorial to be in its new location before Remembrance Day.
For further Anzac Day coverage and a list of upcoming services, see page 5.
