Pittwater Life January 2018 Issue

News
Bayview Heights foreshore link
Bayview Heights residents will
no longer need to ‘bush-bash’
down steep terrain to the Pittwater
foreshore following a $130,000
funds injection from the State
Government that will see a sleek,
environmentally sensitive community
walkway constructed in 2018.
The funds were allocated after a
submission from Bayview Church
Point Residents Association President
Roberta Conroy, lodged in
August, was given the green light
in December.
A delighted Ms Conroy told Pittwater
Life the track would be integrated
into the Pittwater Trails network,
connecting all community members and
visitors to the area, including school
children, families and seniors, enabling
access to public transport, water, facilities
and businesses in the Church Point
‘hub’.
“It will reduce motor vehicle use,
promote fitness and healthy outdoor
activity, environmental appreciation and
social inclusion and benefit all residents
and visitors,” she said.
“Presently it is only possible to
navigate through this bushland by bushbashing
and rock climbing, making it
STEEP TERRAIN, DENSE BUSHLAND: Bayview Heights
unsafe for most community members,
depriving Bayview Heights residents access
to Church Point and making escape
during fires dangerous and almost
impossible.
“Healthy lifestyle is paramount to
the broad community – this bush track
construction will encourage exploration
of our local area; there are many retirement
village residents nearby needing
accessible stable infrastructure for safe
exercising, as do children and all of the
community.
“And the bush track fits well with the
current Church Point Precinct major redevelopment
with the new carpark, road
widening and boardwalk, enabling
increased visitation to our area.”
Local MP Rob Stokes said the
track would complement a range
of ongoing infrastructure improvements
around the Church Point
community precinct.
“Access between Bayview Heights
and Church Point is heavily
restricted due to the terrain and
bushland, which effectively divides
the two areas," he said.
“Providing a formal pedestrian
pathway will better enable residents
to traverse between the two
areas and help address a number
of concerns regarding access during
emergency situations."
He added other initiatives currently
being progressed at Church Point with
financial support from the NSW Government
included extensive car parking
and pedestrian upgrades, boardwalk
and foreshore improvements around the
historic General Store and heritage enhancements
around the original church
and cemetery site.
“Congratulations to the Bayview
Church Point Residents Association for
successfully advocating for this important
initiative.”
– Nigel Wall
8 JANUARY 2018
The Local Voice Since 1991