When construction began to overhaul Queanbeyan’s main road in March, workers at affected businesses were skeptical about the project’s six-month time frame.
Now halfway through, the completion date and budget have blown out.
The Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) met this week to discuss several issues regarding the reconstruction of Monaro Street.
As a result of the major revitalisation project by civil engineering company Dale and Hitchcock Civil Pty Ltd, both lanes have been closed from Atkinson Street roundabout to Lowe Street, while pedestrians can still access shopfronts.
The works were expected to cost $17.25 million, with $10 million coming from the NSW government’s Drought Stimulus Package, $2 million from Transport NSW and a $5.25 million loan obtained by QPRC.
But the project will now cost about $20 million.
Kenrick Winchester says the council agreed to borrow additional funds to continue financing the works. (ABC News: Ruby Thomas)
“Council resolved that we will increase loan funding to make sure that work can continue on the main street,” QPRC Mayor Kenrick Winchester said.
“We need certainty. The community, the businesses need to know that we’re getting on with the job.
“It’s another $3 million increase. But we’re also going to be asking the NSW government to cover that cost or at least some of it considering that it is their road we are repairing.“
Mr Winchester said he also planned to ask the state government to support a load limit for heavy vehicles, a proposal he admitted might get shot down because the road is a state highway controlled by Transport NSW.
“Keeping trucks out of the main street is something a lot of people would like to see,” he said.
100-year-old pipe causes ‘major issue’
Monaro Street will now remain closed until at least November. (ABC News: Caitlin Maloney)
As the roadworks progressed, a huge hurdle in the project was the discovery of a 100-year-old pipe in the wrong spot.
Council documents show the existing stormwater drain “encroaches into the upper layers of the new pavement design” and would have to be relined.
“A major issue currently being addressed relates to the location of an existing 1,800mm diameter stormwater main,” the council wrote in its report.
Mr Winchester said engineers had first understood “from maps going back a long time” that the pipe was located under the parking lane.
“Once they dug it up and actually discovered where it is, it is underneath one of the eastbound travel lanes,”
he said.
“We didn’t think we would need to replace it. This thing was put in 100 years ago by a horse and cart. It’s that old, and unfortunately, it’s not up to scratch.”
And the cost blowout might not stop there, with the council’s report also mentioning higher fuel prices.
“The project team is addressing the impact of fuel price increases associated with global circumstances. The cost of this issue is still being finalised,” the document stated.
The project was due to be finished in September, but that has been revised until at least November.
Anthony McDonald says some businesses may close as a result of the road closure. (ABC News: Caitlin Maloney)
Businesses expected to close
The local chamber of commerce expects some businesses will close as a result of the ongoing road closure.
Queanbeyan Business Chamber president Anthony McDonald said there were already “plenty of vacancies” along the main street and he “unfortunately” expected more to come.
“I have no doubt that there will be some people that don’t survive,”
he said.
Mr McDonald, who owns the Royal Hotel on the corner of Crawford and Monaro streets, said the roadworks had been impacting small hospitality venues the most.
“If you’re a hospitality venue and you’ve only got one entrance off Monaro Street, some of them are reporting downturns of 50 to 60 per cent.”
Nishan Singh says he is concerned Monaro Street will not open before Christmas. (ABC News: Caitlin Maloney)
Urban Bar and Grill owner Nishan Singh said reduced foot traffic along Monaro Street, where his business is located, was significantly affecting his trade.
“It is impacting big time. You can see the empty seats,”
he said.
Mr Singh said he was “very nervous” about revenue in the months ahead and whether the road would open before Christmas as the council was promising.
“At the moment, we are not even breaking even. So it will definitely be a very hard time for us in the coming winter.”
