Mayor of Great Lakes Jan McWilliams and Council staff hosts Bungwahl Public School at the Great Lakes Council Chambers.

Council’s Traffic Engineer, Mr Wade Holmes was in the hot seat as he led the students through a real community consultation on the Forster Waterside Renewal project which was on public exhibition.

The Project is aiming to open up the foreshore for recreational use and solve traffic problems around the Memorial Drive / Beach Street / Wallis Street intersections in Forster’s central area.

Students from years three to six were given the floor to ask Mr Holmes the hard questions on how to provide more CBD car parking spaces, while allowing for foreshore recreational use and a safe cycleway along Memorial Drive.

“The students quickly grasped the essential elements of the Plan from the proposal’s map, and the questions were very insightful adding greatly to those we have received from adults in our community” said Mr Holmes.

“It was remarkable that some students also spoke up and explored other options to try to solve the issues facing us in Forster’s CBD” he added.

The visit also included a talk from Environmental Officer, Ms Isabelle Strachan and a visit to the Council Chambers, where there were a lot of ‘hands up’ for a chance to sit in the Mayor’s chair.

Students from kinder to year two had a tour of the Forster Library – behind the scenes and undertook some activities in the Library.

Great Lakes Council welcomes school visits and also provides the website “Study Mates” study guides to assist primary and secondary students in their research on Local Government, related services and local issues.

Photo:  Bungwahl Public School kindergarten students Beau Cadman-Byrne, Frankie Leahy and Bowen Crawley with the Mayor, Cr Jan McWilliams.