Council accepts tender for planning and preparation of tender documents for the Leeton CBD Enhancement Project (Wade Avenue)

28 Jun 2018 2:24 PM -

At its June Ordinary Council Meeting, Leeton Shire Council accepted the tender from GHD Woodhead for the planning and preparation of the tender documents for the Wade Avenue section of the CBD enhancement project.

Earlier this year a successful application was submitted under the State Government funded Stronger Country Regions Fund for funding to plan and complete the enhancement of Wade Avenue, from the Roxy Theatre to Mountford Park.

In 2017 Council adopted the Leeton CBD Enhancement Plan which contained a number of separate strategies to enhance the Pine Avenue, Wade Avenue, Chelmsford Place and Kurrajong Avenue areas of the Leeton CBD. Wade Avenue is the first section to receive funding.

Manager Planning, Building and Health Garry Stoll stated in his report to Council that Council does not have the internal resources to undertake work of this scale and complexity.

“The cost of detailed design and tendering for the works was factored into the successful Stronger Country Regions funding application. Professional management of this project will reduce the risk of the project running over time and exceeding the budget.”

Works recommended for Wade Avenue include enhancement to the Roxy Theatre frontage, road widening to permit nose in parking to increase the overall number of carparks in Wade Avenue, installation of a suitable number of pedestrian crossings especially in front of the Leeton Medical Centre and Multipurpose Community Centre, addressing the flooding issues at the junction of Wade Avenue and memorial roundabout as well as enhancing the existing taxi rank area to permit easier access into the Roxy Theatre during events.

Some of the important tasks that GHD will undertake as part of the planning process include:

• Review the Leeton CBD Enhancement concepts for Wade Avenue especially in respect to the incorporation of community art and possible historical artefacts, the potential to strengthen the focus on “art deco” as a theme and address constructability.

• Prepare a detailed construction programme directed to minimise disruption to commercial businesses and the community for agreement with the CBD Enhancement Project Committee and Council and as a basis for the construction contract(s).

• Prepare tender documents for the implementation of the works. Ideally this will
  provide for a single main contractor with responsibility for delivery of the project.

The final design will be put back out to community for consultation prior to the works being tendered.