Lithgow’s Main Street revitalisation project has been delayed after tenders for stage one of the project came in well above the budget outlined by council.
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Deputy Mayor Wayne McAndrew presented the findings to council at the meeting on Monday, June 26.
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In response to this development council agreed to “not accept any of the tenders received” and “negotiate with the four tenderers with a view to reducing the scope of the works to ensure that the tenders can be adjusted to match the funds available”.
The negotiations will delay the start of construction for stage one, the upgrading of Cook Street Plaza and Eskbank Street.
In April councillors unanimously voted to ask the federal government if it was possible to re-allocate the $1.3 million of federal grant money from the revitalisation project to replacing the pavers on Main Street.
The pavers were described as “dangerous” and a “major problem” that should be prioritised over stage one of the revitalisation.
However no response was received from the federal government.
“On that basis now, we've got no choice but to continue with the Cook Street Plaza and Eskbank Street corner process, if we didn't... there could be the possibility we could lose the grant," Cr McAndrew said.
“Grants are hard to come by and it's certainly not in anyone’s interest to give back $1.3 million back to the government.”
Lithgow Council is also providing $1.59 million towards the project.
Cr McAndrew was frustrated with the recent problems.
“Not only didn’t we get the $1.3 million to do most needed work with the pavers we’re now having to revisit the whole process to make sure it comes within budget,” Cr McAndrew said.
“It's extremely disappointing and as a councillor I apologise to all of the business owners, which I know many of them have raised the issue of the pavers with me and other councillors as well.”
“At this given time there’s not a great deal we can do based on our constraints with funding.”
Councillor Steve Ring said there was little to be achieved with replacing the pavers in the short term as they would be dug up to install the NBN within the next 12 months.
However he suggested exploring options such as sandblasting the pavers to reduce the slip hazard in the short term.
