The group was successful in its bid for a $20,000 Community Building Partnership grant in May 2013 to go towards a bike bridge on Kearsley Road, Abernethy.

Since AHLA received the $20,000, Cessnock City Council secured $27,000 from Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) to undertake a detailed survey of the area.

Due to the area containing Aboriginal archaeology, an ex-rail corridor, a flood-prone creek bed and fire safety factors, the bridge has to be steel and stretch across quite a long area, which has increased the cost from an anticipated $36,000 to $150,000 – a figure that AHLA is struggling to reach.

The idea for the bridge came about as bike riders in the area are either forced to battle with vehicles including trucks and buses travelling 80km/hr on a bend on Kearsley Road, or ride down through the creek bed when it is dry.

The bend reduces visibility of both motorists and cyclists, meaning they only have a few seconds to see what might be on the road in front of them with no way to veer off to the side.

“If there is a child on the road there’s no chance of stopping,” resident Scott Duggan said.

The road is the sole link between Abernethy and Kearsley, meaning children cannot ride up to Kearsley Public School without accessing the dangerous stretch.

This has meant that parents are choosing to drive their kids or put them on the bus to school rather than have them walk or ride their bikes.

Through grants, donations, raffles and barbecue stalls, AHLA has raised $46,000 towards the project. 

AHLA president Julianne Cripps Clark said the group currently has a grant application for $20,000 in progress under the Federal Government Stronger Communities Program that they hoped would bear fruit while they still retained a right to the Community Building Partnership grant.

At various stages through the grant year calendar AHLA has also had further grants totalling up to $60,000 under consideration with both    public and private investors, which would bring the total to over $100,000.

However, the group has already had two extensions on the Community Building Partnerships grant and must possess the entire required cost of the bridge and be ready to begin works in order to retain the grant.

This means they are at serious risk of having to hand the money back or utilise it for a different project that they do not want as much as the bridge.

AHLA says that both options carry risks to their reputation as a fiscally-responsible community group and may jeopardise future grant applications.

“[By using the money elsewhere] what are you saying about this project?” Ms Cripps Clark said.

“You’re compromising yourself.”

Ms Cripps Clark said delay in the release of Cessnock City Council’s cycling strategy has put a halt on applications for other state government grants.

RMS provides funding for cycleway projects through its Active Transport Program. Projects are scored on their ability to meet the funding criteria and projects that are identified within a cycling or bicycle plan attract a higher score than those that are not. 

The Cessnock cycling strategy is anticipated to go to the February 17 council meeting, seeking support to go on public exhibition.

The project is not identified within council’s capital works program, meaning no council funding is currently available.

Ms Cripps Clark said AHLA has also unsuccessfully applied for about 20 other grants.

“No one wants to open what they see as a can of worms,” she said.

“But we need it so badly.”

And while they are disappointed they might lose the $20,000, the group has not given up on their dream of attaining the bike bridge.

“The battle is done but the war’s not over,” Abernethy resident Bob Whitelaw said.

“It’s an investment into the future.”

“AHLA will continue to raise funds to make this bridge a reality,” Kearsley resident Bill Ingall said.

“The safety of kids doing healthy activities is paramount.”