Miles business owners’ brunt effects of council’s $6m Miles CBD streetscape revitalisation
‘Bullied into acceptance’: Miles business owners have slammed the WDRC over a lack of communication around the multimillion-dollar redevelopment of the town’s centre.
Chinchilla
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Miles businesses owners are in an uproar over the councils $6.3m redevelopment project of the Western Downs town’s centre which will decrease the amount of parking available to customers and tourists.
Action Health Pharmacy owner Jenny Acton said she holds fears that the project will affect her business as people will be forced to find alternative parking.
Mrs Acton told councillors she was particularly concerned about elderly, infirm, and disabled community members not being able to safely and easily access shops along Murilla Street.
“Adequate and convenient parking close to essential services is critical to these members of the community,” she said.
Mrs Acton noted once the 38 northern car parks are cut to 12 and the southern 39 parks down to 16 that spaces will be diminished by 60 per cent.
The businesswoman said she had only found out about the project weeks before it commenced.
The issue of a lack of communication was reverberated by Miles property owner Rodney Rafter.
“The project started without effective community consultation, without the full support of the impacted property owners, (and) without the full support of impacted businesses,” he said.
“My (happenstance) discovery of the project has raised concerns for me as a landlord and for my tenants and has tempered my enthusiasm to build new and much needed innovative commercial businesses in the town centre.”
The council recently came under fire for a lack of community consultation in regards to the $6.2m Tara Memorial Pool upgrade.
Mr Rafter said the speed at which the council developed and implemented the project does not and will not meet the needs of the community.
“The community is not being heard... (just) absorbed into the ineffective WDRC consultation processes,” he said.
“I feel that I and others have been bullied into acceptance (and) bullied into compliance.
“I’m supportive of a project to enhance the town centre but not like this.”
Western Downs Mayor Paul McVeigh said the council had been working on the Miles CBD streetscape revitalisation project for three years.
“Council is aware the project may have an impact on businesses for six months during the construction period,” he said.
“There will be pain before gain.
“We are trying to get it done as quickly as possible.”
Mayor Paul McVeigh said the start of construction was an exciting milestone for the project which will boost economic growth in Miles and surrounding towns.
“This project will transform the Miles CBD into a vibrant, welcoming hub of activity which is designed to encourage new investment opportunities and entice more visitors to our beautiful town,” he said.
“What makes this project special is the way it will celebrate the area’s rich history, with the community working with us to create a design that pays tribute to Miles and its people, places, and industries.”
Despite community members’ pleas for the council to rethink and redesign the project’s plan, Mr McVeigh said no changes have been made.
Mr McVeigh said the council was not considering compensation to businesses who suffer financial loss during the construction period.
The project which officially commenced on October 5, is a 50/50 joint partnership between the council and Federal Government and is anticipated to be completed early 2022.
During construction, Murilla Street parking between Pine and Dawson Street will be impacted and the council arranged alternative parking on Pine and Dawson Streets.
Keep up to date with the construction project HERE.
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