Karuah Place Plan met with scepticism from residents

And while the comprehensive and colourful document received unanimous support from the councillors, many of the locals want to know what projects and when will they be achieved, and how will they be funded.

A report to the councillors said that the actions identified within the Karuah Place Plan would be funded via a combination of sources, including existing budgets, local infrastructure contributions, grant funds, sponsorships and partnerships in line with existing work programs.

However, questions put to the council revealed that the Karuah community would have to wait until at least next year to see projects realised.

Brock Lamont, strategy and environment manager, told the Examiner that the Karuah Place Plan had identified a number of larger capital projects that were listed and funded within the council's Strategic Assets Management Plan (SAMP).

"These projects will be delivered by the council in collaboration with the Karuah community over the coming years," he said.

"They include a new playground in Aliceton Reserve - 2023; a new public amenities building in Aliceton Reserve - 2023; and upgrades to Mustons Road - 2024."

Jean Keeley, secretary manager of the Karuah Progress Association, said that the time for talking was over and the time for action to begin.

"We have seen these plans before, there was a similar document back in 2011 [the Karuah Growth Strategy], but nothing ever come of it," she said.

"We are constantly reading in the Examiner how other areas like Nelson Bay and Medowie are getting projects done, but nothing gets done here. The main road has shocking potholes and we have been asking the council for five years to fix the guttering on this building [the council-owned Karuah Centre]. It's not good enough."

Longtime association and Karuah Centre president Fred McInerney said that the community deserved better.

"We have had nothing done before so let's hope we see some action this time. Karuah has a growing population with a number of new housing developments under construction."

"I believe the money from the developers should be put back into this community, into footpaths, bus shelters, parks and road maintenance," Mr McInerney said.

"This town was never planned right in the first place, in some areas the footpaths are too narrow to support bus shelters. Along Engel Road pedestrians walking to the pre-school or tennis courts have to walk on the road because there's no footpath."

The council amended the original draft Place Plan after receiving 26 submissions from residents.

Another major concern to residents included the condition of roads in Karuah, particularly Tarean Road, and lack of parking in the town centre.

"An action has been added that commits council to undertaking a traffic and transport study of Tarean Road to determine road infrastructure requirements," the council responded.

Mr Lamont said that the place plan was a new way of planning for growth of Karuah.

"The plan provides a local filter on the Port Stephens Local Strategic Planning Statement and other strategic documents to create actions which improve the livability and wellbeing of the Karuah community," he said.

"It has been developed with a shared responsibility for the improvements to the area. Some of these initiatives are led by Council, others local community groups and business.

"The plan also identifies short term projects and council staff are working with a number of community groups to provide assistance with grant applications to start progressing some of these actions.

"Some examples of these community projects are a landcare based 'Mentor and Makeover Karuah' revegetation project as well as a public art/wall mural project and highway signage."

He said no funding had been allocated toward a 7-Day Makeover style event in Karuah, "however staff will continue to support volunteer involvement and working bees in the area".

A networking event to launch the Karuah Place Plan is being planned for April, to give the Karuah community, local businesses and the council the opportunity to make new connections and support each other to realise the vision of the plan.

Meanwhile, volunteers from the Karuah Centre have collected six carloads of items from local residents to be distributed to the victims of the northern rivers floods.

Ms Keeley said that the generous Karuah community had donated blankets, towels, clothing, food, cleaning and school items which were delivered by Jenny and Jim Semple to the flood victims in and around Lismore.

"We had one couple donate $200 worth of food," she said.