Goondoon Street businesses lose millions due to ongoing council works
A jeweller has estimated 20 businesses along Goondoon Street have lost a collective one million dollars in revenue due to ongoing council works.
Gladstone
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A jeweller estimates 20 businesses along Goondoon Street have lost a collective one million dollars in revenue due to ongoing construction work.
Goondoon Street retailer, Patrick Jewellers Gladstone, lashed out at Gladstone Regional Council after it was revealed construction along the footpath would be extended for another three months.
The retailer said it was estimated that over six months, 20 Goondoon Street businesses had lost more than one million dollars in revenue since construction began.
“Compensation so far is $100 gift voucher,” Patrick Jewellers said.
Gladstone Newsagency owner Sonya Sims said the newsagency had lost 75 per cent of its trade due to the construction.
“They are killing us all and they don't care,” she said.
“We have lost over 75 per cent of our trade but the council said since we have parking out the back, we aren’t affected.
“Funnily enough they have moved their own offices out of the area due to being affected adversely … so how are they affected but we aren’t?”
Council commenced footpath works as part of the $150,000 CBD Civic Precinct Footpath Renewal Project in March, and was expected to be completed on May 22.
Construction included a 2.5 metre wide footpath from Gladstone Yacht Club to the Lord Street roundabout, replacement of existing pavers and replacement of water main works, which was last installed in the 1930s.
In June, Council moved its own customer service centre to Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre due to the footpath’s construction
Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett said the works required major concrete excavation.
“During the process of replacing the water main, work crews identified high voltage electrical cables that were both in poor condition and non-compliant with current building legislation,” Mr Burnett said.
“This work was not in scope and had potential to interrupt power supply for the CBD traders for an unknown period.
“These unforeseen major infrastructure works placed additional time pressures on work crews and project timelines needed to be extended as a result.”
Mr Burnett said council had held various face-to-face meetings with affected Goondoon Street business owners, with many of those taking place outside of business hours.
“These meetings allowed business owners and council staff to openly communicate with each other, with any concerns of business owners heard,” Mr Burnett said.
He said arrangements were made with individual shops regarding the best time for works to occur and to ensure safe and direct access was available to individual premises.
In order to support CBD retailers, council launched a shopping competition in May as part of a marketing campaign to encourage the community to support retailers during construction.
Council purchased $100 worth of gift vouchers from each of the retailers to form the winning prize of a CBD shopping spree worth more than $1000.
Mr Burnett said the shopping spree competition did not form any sort of compensation payment.
“Council approached all business situated along Goondoon Street, between William and Roseberry Streets, to ask if they were interested in participating in this competition,” he said.
“Twenty-one businesses decided to participate in the competition which was an encouraging amount.”
Mr Burnett said once completed, the CBD Civic Precinct Footpath Renewal Project would attract more people to Gladstone’s main street.
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