NEWCASTLE council CEO Jeremy Bath says $650,000 of "increased resourcing" will help bring planned cycleways projects to reality, while some councillors hope it will also help address an historical works underspend.
The council adopted a budget for 2021/22 at its ordinary meeting this week that allocated only $1.5 million towards cycleways.
The amount was criticised in public submissions and by Crs John Mackenzie (GRN) and John Church (IND). Cr Mackenzie also questioned the council's "internal capacity" to deliver cycleways initiatives "identified by this chamber" in dedicated plans.
"The work that happens ... at a strategic level is very high calibre ... and then for whatever reason we don't see that carried through," he said.
The Newcastle Herald revealed in January how the council spent almost $6 million less than it budgeted to on cycleways over the past five years. It is also unlikely to spend the $5 million allocated this year, with only $1.1 million spent before April.
Newcastle Cycleways Movement president Sam Reich said in January the underspend was, at least partially, a result of the service unit responsible for delivering cycleways being "under-resourced" for "years".
In response to Cr Mackenzie's comments at Tuesday's meeting, Mr Bath said next year's budget featured "increased resourcing".
"We would all like to see us spending more money on cycleways but, as always, it's a matter of competing priorities while continuing to live within our means," he said. "There's $650,000 for increased resourcing in order to deliver on the cycling action plan. Under-resourcing in our organisation for the delivery of cycleways ... is an issue we're looking to solve."
Mr Bath said on Wednesday the funds would enable two transport planners to be recruited to help deliver the cycling and parking strategies. Technical positions would also support specific initiatives.
Meanwhile, the council and Transport for NSW have planned infrastructure improvements for cyclists along the section of the Newcastle light rail line where a cyclist died in 2019.
"The entirety of that work, which has been designed and will be delivered by the City of Newcastle, is actually being funded by the NSW government," Mr Bath said.
An existing shared path on the northern side of Scott Street, between Watt and Pacific Streets, will be resurfaced and a new shared path built on the southern side between Pacific and Telford Streets. The works also include kerb extensions, line marking and landscaping.
