Blue Mountains City Council welcomes the recent funding awarded to the Treeline Lurline project in Katoomba, but has significant concerns.
When Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill, moved an Urgency Motion in January 2021 to endorse the project for funding from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, the motion sought $16.8 million for the project.
However, only $4 million has been allocated by the Federal Government, under the Black Summer Bushfires Recovery Grants scheme. Additionally, the latest known estimate of the cost of the project is about $25 million.
The project intends to place powerlines underground and upgrade the public domain along Lurline Street, to present the gateway to Echo Point as a people-focused boulevard shaded by large trees.
Council’s understanding is that the allocated $4 million would only enable an initial first stage of works from Waratah St to Merriwa St. However, the scope is yet to be confirmed and needs additional community consultation and engagement.
Mayor Greenhill said: “If Council starts this work in partnership with the Katoomba Chamber of Commerce and the Treeline Lurline committee, but additional funding is not committed by the Federal Government to the project, then there will be immense pressure for Council and Blue Mountains ratepayers to fund the rest of it.
“Council is currently at capacity in implementing the largest ever capital works program in its history and major projects such as Treeline Lurline require long lead times to plan, design and then deliver. Under the grant program, this project needs to be delivered by March 2024. This may not be enough time.
“Since January 2021, the City has faced massive impacts from La Nina and intense storms that have wreaked havoc on our road and drainage networks. Flooding has resulted in millions of dollars of damage across the Blue Mountains, including road damage and pot holes. Council is funding that remediation work.”
The grant has been allocated to the Katoomba Chamber of Commerce, but the project relates to Council assets, including the Lurline streetscape. The project will require extensive design, engineering, project management and engagement with community, as well as with energy providers given the proposal to put electricity wires underground.
“If Council, as owner of the asset, partners with the Chamber to commence this project with the limited funding provided, we would need assurance that the rest of the funding to complete the project was committed by the Federal Government,” Mayor Greenhill said.
“A project of this scale and complexity will also need a high level of additional and ongoing community consultation and engagement.
“When this project was first endorsed by Council, we agreed that it would make a significant contribution to the economic recovery of the Blue Mountains following the devastating impact of the 2019/2020 bushfires and the ongoing economic impact of the current pandemic. The completion of this project could also leave an intergenerational legacy for the local community and visitors to the Blue Mountains.
“We agree the vision is sound, but we need to ensure that the project is properly funded and has good levels of community engagement.”
Council is also currently engaging community in a Masterplan process for Katoomba and this project would need to align with that process.
Council is meeting with the Treeline Lurline project group on Monday, 28 February, to discuss the plans.
