The Batemans Bay CBD Streetscaping Project will take a break for the school holidays, which start tomorrow.
The project is nearing completion and the major construction work has been finished before the holiday break as planned. This includes all of the underground work to provide new water mains and electrical and telecommunications conduits, as well as earthworks, new kerb and gutter, paving and concreting of footpaths, driveways, tree planting and landscaping works.
Additional car parks in Orient Street are now available, including two new accessible parking spaces, and the removal of Council’s construction compound at the southern end of Perry Street has freed up more CBD parking.
The final touches to the streetscaping project will take place after the school holidays, including the installation of fairy lights and specially-made public art, which Council is waiting delivery of.
Mayor Liz Innes said timber totem poles would be installed shortly after the holidays, each with matching interpretative words at their base representing different local themes.
She said the community and business-based Streetscape Advisory Committee worked with Council’s Aboriginal, Heritage, Disability and Public Arts advisory committees, as well as local schools, to determine the final wording.
“It’s been very positive to engage with representative groups from our community to help select words that encourage us to stop and think about our past, the people and activities that make this such a great place to live, work and invest. The themes chosen include Indigenous, history, inclusive, youth, tourism and future,” she said.
“Following discussions with our Streetscape Advisory Committee, we’ve also agreed to provide extra funding to rebuild a section of the road pavement at the southern end of Orient Street, roughly from the Commonwealth Bank to the second Mariners driveway. Once that’s done, we’ll resurface the entire street, giving Orient Street a big lift and tying all of the streetscape work together.”
Council’s Director of Infrastructure Services Warren Sharpe said the additional roadworks in Orient Street would be completed before December, with components of the work carried out after hours to minimise disruption.
“The extra road pavement works will repair failing sections of the road and remove the steep cross-falls in the southern end of the street, making it easier for cars coming in and out of the hotel driveways,” he said.
“Although this extra work will extend the time to complete the entire project, the end result will be far superior.”
Clr Innes thanked community members for their patience, particularly local business owners and operators in the Batemans Bay CBD.
“We understand it has been a challenging time while this transformation is carried out. We appreciate the community’s patience, particularly the cooperation of local businesses, which has really helped our staff and contractors on site,” she said.
“We’re seeing the whole project come together now and we’re grateful for the positive words of support from the community about the changes taking place.”
More information about the project, including photos and latest news, is on the project page on Council’s website,www.esc.nsw.gov.au under ‘Major Projects’.
