The GPT construction site on the corner of Keira and Crown Streets. Picture: DAVE TEASE
The arrival of a 40m crane to the GPT West Keira site this weekend signals two things - the start of the next phase of the development and the likelihood of lower noise levels.
This weekend the section of Keira St will be closed to traffic to allow a 40m crane with a 60m arm to be brought into the site and then put together. Pedestrian access will still be permitted.
‘‘It’s a fairly substantial crane so that gets transported in stages and in significant parts,'' Wollongong Central centre manager Dean Young said.
‘‘The bits of the crane will be placed into the site and over the next few days after that we’ll start putting it all together.’’
Mr Young said there was still some excavation work to complete but it was expected to be finished by December. And once that is complete Mr Young expects things to be a bit less noisy as well.
‘‘There will still be noise but I definitely don’t think it will be as consistent as what we’re currently experiencing,’’ he said.
‘‘Coming into December as the excavation draws to a halt we’re hoping that our neighbours certainly notice a change in the volume of the noise coming from the site.’’
It is the first of two cranes to be delivered to the site, the second is expected to arrive before the end of the year.
Mr Young said they are also encouraging people to come to the CBD and watch the arrival of the crane.
‘‘We think it will be quite interesting to watch,’’ he said.
‘‘We do have an access point on the terrace level of our car park where we encourage people to come and have a look if they do have an interest, because it will be quite interesting to see the crane put together over the next few days.
‘‘You also get a really great perspective of just how big the site is and how big the shopping centre’s going to be when it’s built.’’
The development this week also gained approval to move customer entry to the basement car park from Richardson Street to a yet-to-be-constructed tunnel on Market Street.
Mr Young said it meant that customer access could be separated from the loading dock.
‘‘This is a better option because it gives you a much easier, clean and direct access into the car park,’’ he said.
‘It also allows the loading dock to operate without the impact of customers driving in and out.’’
