A member of the Maloneys Beach community has pushed Mayoral candidates on their willingness to support a pathway connecting Maloneys Beach to the Batemans Bay CBD.
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The question was asked at a meet the candidates forum in Batemans Bay on Wednesday in light of the upcoming pathway that will link Maloneys Beach to Bawley Point upon completion.
The audience member said lots of people used a walk connecting Maloneys Beach to Long Beach, but also lamented the north side of the river felt 'left out' of council decisions in recent history.
Standing councillor Rob Pollock said the council had supported a plan for a pathway since it was first suggested almost 30 years ago.
"We have tried to activate that idea from about 30 years ago when the Long Beach Estate was first developed," he said.
"We're very keen on the idea, but there are a few problems like the Batemans Marine Park and getting permissions to build a pathway over the waterways."
Labor candidate David Grace stopped short of promising a pathway, but said he would support the idea.
"Pathways are really important to de-carbonise our communities," he said.
"We need to do it right the first time, and we need to make sure we put in a good strategy that is agreed to by the community.
"We also need to have a timeline where you know when these things will happen so you can actually hold us to account.
"I won't say yes it (this project) will happen, but I will say we're very interested in getting that strategy right and making sure the community is aware and has had input."
Greens candidate said the potential project was part of the greater pathways strategy.
"That sounds like an amazing eco-tourism infrastructure project," she said.
"Unfortunately, the way funding is sometimes done is highly inconvenient - we saw that with the Batemans Bay Coastal Walk being announced before anyone had applied for funding.
"We need to be on the front foot and have our plans and projects in place and budgeted so we can be ready to say 'not that stream (for funding), this one suits better'."
Advance Eurobodalla candidate Mat Hatcher said he would continue to support the project after his support with the Batemans Bay Business Chamber.
"As Chamber president we were fully supportive of a Cullendulla Creek path, and as a councillor I would be fully supportive as well," he said.
"That would bring eco-tourism to the area, and working with residents north of the bridge to make sure there's connectivity to their towns is really important."
Tubby Harrison said the proposal was a good example of the type of ideas council should be listening to.
"We have to have a council that is talking to the community," he said.
"They need to put these ideas up for us and we need to be open to listen to it.
"As councillors we should go through these ideas, budget for them, then actually get them done."
The Mayne Team's Karyn Starmer pictured any Maloneys Beach to Batemans Bay path being similar to pathways in Moruya.
"(This project) would start with council having a plan, and checking if the community is actually seeking that," she said.
"Look at Moruya with that beautiful walk, that's now a tourist place and the locals absolutely love it - it's always busy.
"We would listen to the community, have a pathways policy, and have a timeline for each project."