Wollongong councillors gave the go-ahead for just under $7 million worth of projects this week, including the first stage of a long-awaited access road into West Dapto.
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At their meeting on Monday night, councillors voted unanimously to accept the tenders for six different projects, splashing out $6.74 million across the city.
Coming in at $5.17 million, excavation works for the major West Dapto bridge and rail crossing – Fowlers Road to Fairwater Drive link – will take up most of the spend.
The contract will allow the council – with Abergeldie Contractors – to soon begin earthworks and other preliminary works on the road link, which will provide flood reliable access for the current and future residents of West Dapto.
“The completed link road will see a new four-lane 1.3 kilometre road with a shared path as well as two bridges crossing the South Coast rail line, Mullet Creek and the flood plain,” Lord Mayor Gordon Bradnery said, noting the project would be the largest undertaken by the current council.
The rest of the contracts – worth more than $1.5 million – awarded on Monday night will go to projects in the northern suburbs.
They include more than $700,000 for to do structural repairs to the seawall of Coalcliff rock pool (pictured), and install new capping on existing concrete surfaces, now steps and do repairs to the pool floor.
The project will also include upgrading the footpath near the pool and stair access, as well as construction of a new shade structure.
Also up north, Helensburgh’s Rex Jackson Oval grandstand will get a $208,000 upgrade and the Coledale beach campground amenities building will have its roof, rafters, structural supports and asbestos walls upgraded for $221,000.
The retaining wall near the Stanwell Park Children’s Centrewill be replaced to address drainage issues and compliance with disability access, and just under $250,000 will be spent on relocatable ensuite blocks at the Bulli Beach tourist park.
At the meeting, councillors adopted the contracts without debate, except for a short presentation from Labor’s Janice Kershaw said it was important to highlight that the council was “going to spend a great deal of money in our local community”.
We're going to spend a great deal of money in our local community.
- Councillor Janice Kershaw
“We’re doing a lot of work, and I want that to be acknowledged,” she said.
Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
