MANNING STREET TAREE GETS A MAKEOVER

Manning Street in Taree is set for a makeover next year with funding announced today from the Australian Governments Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

Federal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie joined MidCoast Mayor David West to announce $200,000 for the streetscape upgrade, which will include new seating, garden planter boxes and street trees.

Dr Gillespie said Manning Street is quite wide and almost entirely, roadway, parking and footpaths, it’s a concrete jungle and this beautification is long overdue.

“This is another important project the local community identified in our Vision 2030 Plan Survey and I’m delighted to be able to contribute to the beautification.” Dr Gillespie said.

Mayor David West said the current streetscape is pretty hard. This is a great opportunity to soften the area and make it more appealing.”

“Other areas of the Taree CBD already have some great landscaping, seating and trees and we are hoping to extend this to now include Manning Street.”

A concept design will be prepared over the next three months for consultation with the key stakeholders and the broader community early next year. The work will be scheduled for completion next winter.

MidCoast Council Director Infrastructure & Engineering Services, Robert Scott said the base infrastructure like the road, footpaths and drainage is there, and now we have the opportunity to add some cost-effective improvements to make the street more appealing.

On 22 May 2020 the Australian Government announced a new $500 million Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI Program) with $3.4 million allocated to MidCoast Council. The Federal Budget extended the LCRI Program, with MidCoast Council benefiting from an additional $4.7 million being allocated.