THE long awaited Yacaaba Street extension, which has been the focus of long-term Nelson Bay visionaries, has finally received the green light.

Funds for the project will be borrowed from Port Stephens Council with plans to commence in the coming financial year.

The new plans will connect the CBD of Nelson Bay from the north end of Yacaaba Street to the roundabout on Victoria Parade.

The extension will be one way, heading north towards the waterfront, and will allow an area for community space in the short term.

This space could be an ideal spot for local produce markets, community art projects or to showcase some of our local history.

Council has advised that planning, geotechnical and engineering detail is almost complete which should allow the road extension to proceed through expeditiously.

“This is a win for the community,  they have pushed and pushed for this to go ahead for years and finally the CBD will have a second connection to the waterfront,” Ryan Palmer, President of The Tomaree Business Chamber, told Bay News Of The Area.

“This will be a huge boost for businesses both in the CBD and on the waterfront,” Mr Palmer said.

Ryan Palmer and the Tomaree Business Chamber said: “This is just the start of the revitalisation of Nelson Bay, we don’t want to see a 21 storey building but we want to see a village-style atmosphere.”

“We are in the early stages, but we would love to see investment in long-term parking projects, a transport interchange, the APEX Park Master Plan and investment in the streetscape and landscaping of the whole CBD,” Mr Palmer added.

 

By Jewell DRURY