Nelson Bay residents have made an approach to both mayor Ryan Parker and the state government in an eleventh hour bid to save from demolition, by Port Stephens Council, a boardwalk that is located in an award-winning community.
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The residents are furious that the council will go ahead with plans to demolish the timber structure and fencing which is part of the Pirralea Gardens, designed and constructed in the early 2000s by the government's Landcom agency on the site where the former Nelson Bay Public School once stood.
The garden won a Landcom Hunter Civic Design Award in 2004-5.
Defending its actions, the council insists that "the boardwalk has deteriorated beyond repair and will be removed due to public safety issues".
A council spokesperson said that the structure's removal, estimated to cost $40,000, was planned to begin on June 24.
On Tuesday residents were informed that Mayor Palmer would meet with residents on Friday.
"Pirralea Gardens is categorised as a local park... this council cannot justify spending above what is necessary on projects that do not have wider community benefit," the spokesperson said.
"Approximately 60 metres of boardwalk will be replaced along the length of Primary Crescent."
Neighbouring residents including Harry and Jenny Parker, Steve and Lina Wasson and Elizabeth and Jane Edgar say they were "angry and frustrated" to learn through a newsletter of council's intention to replace the boardwalk with a garden bed without community consultation.
"Many of the residents along Primary Crescent and surrounding streets are extremely disappointed with this proposition. It's our view that the structure has not 'deteriorated beyond repair' and in fact is structurally sound," Mr Parker said.
"If the council cannot maintain the structure then we are prepared to approach Landcom, the original designers of the gardens, for some funding.
"We offered the council to maintain the structure ourselves but were told this was not an option due to insurance purposes."
The residents believe that the works, if carried out, in fact would pose a higher risk of danger to child safety in regard to passing motor vehicles.
The park is adjacent to St Michael's Primary School, with parent vehicles using Primary Crescent for carparking.
"I have witnessed on many occasions small children making use of the boardwalk with their scooters, tricycles and bikes," Mr Parker said. "On any given school afternoon, there are numerous cars parked along the road with children entering and exiting vehicles."
Residents are also concerned that the proposed replacement fill and retaining wall had the potential over time to kill off eight mature spotted gum trees along the boardwalk.
The council spokesperson said that all projects required an environmental assessment.
"Our natural resources team and arborist have reviewed the planned works and determined that there is no anticipated impact on the existing trees," the spokesperson said.
A newsletter sent to neighbouring residents stated that the boardwalk and supporting structure would be replaced with a garden bed and that the trees growing through the old bed would be planted with native grasses.
On the issue of community consultation, the spokesperson said that council did not have the resources to undertake community consultation on all projects.
"As this is categorised as minor works, our standard approach is to notify nearby residents before construction begins."