Sydney's iconic Northern Beaches will be connected by a spectacular coastal walkway and cycleway stretching from Manly to Palm Beach, now made possible with the formation of the Northern Beaches Council.
The newly amalgamated Council will deliver this once in a lifetime project as part of a $32.6 million infrastructure investment partnership with the NSW Government.
Connecting Northern Beaches will deliver two major programs. The first is a $22.3 million program focused on integrating active walking paths and cycleways that link to B-Line transport hubs and services.
The second is a $10.3 million inclusive and active play program featuring the creation of two new major all-abilities playgrounds, upgrades to play areas across the Northern Beaches to make them more inclusive, and $4 million for sporting facilities and Surf Lifesaving Clubs to promote the Northern Beaches as an active, social and inclusive community.
Connecting Northern Beaches has been made possible by the formation of the new Northern Beaches Council and will be delivered in partnership with the NSW Government. Funding is through the NSW Government's Stronger Communities Fund, B-Line Project, Walking & Cycling Program and savings made as a result of the Northern Beaches Council amalgamation.
Information on Connecting the Northern Beaches Programs
Connecting Through Walking and Cycling
The project features 36km of continuous, all-weather coastal walkways from Palm Beach to Manly, including:
- 14km of new off-road shared paths
- New Palm Beach Walkway from the Palm Beach Ferry to Beach Road
- New shared pathway behind Mona Vale golf course
- Dee Why headland to North Curl Curl improvements
It also features 36km of new cycleways and shared paths connecting north-south an east-west, including:
- 14km of new off-road shared paths
- 22km designated as on-road routes, connecting to the existing network
- New shared path around Bilgola Bends
- New shared path from Collaroy to Narrabeen
- Designated route from Dee Why to Northern Beaches Hospital
Connecting All Through Play
The Northern Beaches has three all-abilities playgrounds located at Collaroy, Manly and Newport. The program will deliver a regional network of inclusive accessible playgrounds by:
- Creating two major new all-abilities playgrounds at Manly Dam and Lionel Watts Reserve
- Upgrading 50 playgrounds to create fun, safe and accessible playgrounds for everyone
- Piloting an innovative local neighbourhood inclusive playground program to bring communities together
These works will be designed to not only create exciting and vibrant play spaces but to connect the community, in particular, children of all abilities to natural areas. The greater accessibility of these major play spaces will enable people of all-abilities to participate in play and reap the benefits of increased physical activity, social interaction and mental stimulation.
Council is committed to encouraging the well-being of all the community. The program will:
- Invest $2 million in sporting facilities to improve and increase capacity of our existing facilities
- Invest $2 million for in Surf Life Saving Cubs for priority upgrades to improve accessibility, inclusivity and the critical role of surf lifesavers in our community