Project streets ahead – at last

By Jim Mynard
BERWICK Village Chamber of Commerce has accepted another guarantee from the City of Casey that the council will start stage one of the longawaited Berwick streetscape development.
Newly appointed Casey director planning and development Peter Fitchett and manager of city development Richard Amon told this month’s chamber meeting that despite false starts and delays in getting the streetscape project under way the council was now ready to go with the work.
Mr Amos assured the chamber that the work had been signed off and official tender documents were out.
“The project now has legs,” he said.
Mr Fitchett said the council had developed an internal team that brought several sections together and which would provide a focus on the work.
“We need to get the contractor in and out of the town as quickly as possible,” he said.
Chamber president Michael Hall said he was concerned about whether the council could get the work started by end of March and completed by the end of September, as the officers said it would.
“I can’t see how they can get tenders out and be started by March when most contractors would have their program set,” he said.
Mr Hall warned against having works in the village during the preChristmas shopping period.
“This work will cost more than $1 million and is significant,” he said. “We will be happy if it can be achieved by the end of September, but the contractor also has to work with service companies and it’s a big ask.”
Chamber member and solicitor Peter Liakopoulos told the meeting he’d heard the talk before about getting the job done.
“Side issues and mismanagement has meant the project was not followed through,” he said. “We’ve always heard a good reason for the delays and there has been no certainty. How can we be assured that this conversation will not happen again in six months?”
Mr Hall said Berwick businesspeople had put up the money for the work through a special rate scheme years ago and there were delays in getting the work done.
“The chamber wants the work done and wants it finished as quickly as possible,” he said. “We want a guarantee that this work will be finished by the end of September.”
Mr Amos said the project was locked in to be completed within five months.