Fascine refurbs are in the money
Money has finally come through for finishing touches to the Carnarvon fascine and main street — but it’s $2 million less than initial figures, with funds redirected toward aged care.
Carnarvon Shire signed a Financial Assistance Agreement with the Department of Regional Development at last week’s special council meeting, which grants $3.8 million for the fascine and artwork for Robinson Street.
The new agreement is significantly different to the $5.8 million FAA reported on in The Northern Guardian late November 2013.
This agreement would have seen $4.8 million go towards building jetties at the fascine and beautification of the area, with $1 million spent on improvements to the main street, like relining parking bays to be perpendicular to the road.
Shire president Karl Brandenburg said these developments will all go ahead, albeit with some modification.
MLA Vince Catania said the savings will contribute to building up to 20 independent living units near the Senior Citizen’s Centre, which he said were expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Funding for the units will be a joint Federal and State initiative.
Mr Catania said the Gascoyne Advisory Committee will submit a business plan to the Minister for Regional Development by the end of the month.
Mr Catania said the units would attract seniors to Carnarvon.
“It’s fortunate that the Shire didn’t sign the FAA last year — we’ve got the best outcome, without compromising the fascine and main street, ” Mr Catania said.
Mr Brandenburg seconded this opinion. He said three or four jetties would still be built at the fascine and would likely be boardwalk jetties rather than initially planned finger jetties.
Beautification would include shelters, water fountains, seating, grassed areas, trees and possibly lighting.
Significantly, the $.5 million for the main street will now not go toward alterations, but only toward public artwork, including an ‘entry statement’ piece for visitors coming into town.
Disruptive works like relining parking bays and getting rid of speed humps will be paid for by the Shire.
Mr Brandenburg said this gave more control to the Shire to stagger the works over the course of the next two or three years.
“The revisit to the main street will be done in-house by the council and it’s staff — we won’t go to contractors, consultants, we’ll do it in our own right, ” he said.
“We won’t let it block off the main street again, we’ll do it in sections so we have the least amount of disruption.”
Mr Brandenburg said public consultation would be held for the final fascine works and public artwork, potentially starting in the next few weeks.
He said he expected fascine redevelopments to be completed within the next 15 months.
“Now we’ve got the money, we’re excited — we want to see it all done, ” Mr Brandenburg said.
