BUSINESS owners are enraged at how the roundabout construction is affecting profits.
Two weeks have passed since the Marshall and McLean Streets works to replace the traffic lights with a roundabout began.
The construction is supposed to continue for another six weeks, but business owners in the area are doubtful.
“We have had a rough time with the floods which heavily impacted on our business and now they (Council) do this.
“I don’t think a great deal of thought went into it,” said Patsy Sheppard from the Macintyre Motor Inn.
John Grutt from the Binalong Hotel is outraged.
“Business is pretty bad.
“We have rung up when they started but we didn’t gain anything,” said John.
But it’s not just the business owners that are being affected, customers are also finding it hard.
“We are getting less patrons.
“It’s hard enough for people to find us.
“The locals know what is happening but if they are from out of town they get lost.
And he’s concerned at just how long the roundabout construction will take.
“They told us they would be working seven days a week but last week they didn’t,” he said.
“We are the first to understand road works need to be done, but there are appropriate ways to do it.”
For owner of Davos Seafood and Snacks, Dianne Naismith, it’s not just profit being lost.
“It’s very bad; we are down by $300 a day and have had to put two staff members off because it has been so quiet.
“People can’t get a park out the front because the council workers are parking there.
“We rang the council and were told there is nothing they can do.
“They should reimburse us for the money we have lost,” Mrs Naismith said.
Goondiwindi Mayor, Cr Graeme Scheu explained the roundabout was part of the streetscaping project which was planned years ago.
“When the funding became available we just took it,” he said.
“It has disrupted businesses but the alternative was to do it in stages and close one side of the street down which would have taken two to three times longer than what we chose.
“I believe it is a short term pain for a long term gain.”
Business owners are waiting with more than just a little interest how the next six weeks pan out.
GOONDIWINDI Regional Council Mayor Graeme Scheu is satisfied with the progress being made on the roundabout works in Goondiwindi.
“Council made a conscious decision to completely close the roundabout and complete the works in a six-week timeframe and things are going according to plan,” Cr Scheu said.
“The alternative was to close lanes either way - one at a time, and operate a stop and go traffic control system for months, undoubtedly causing much more inconvenience.”
Although funded by the Department of Main Roads, Council is fully responsible for carrying out the works and is doing everything possible to minimise the inconvenience to businesses and their customers, he said.
Cr Scheu says staff are working six-days-a-week and extended hours every day. “You simply can’t expect staff to work seven days straight in a council of our size,” Cr Sheu said.
The traffic lights were installed in 1985 when the highway still passed though the centre of town.
Following the construction of the bypass the former (Goondiwindi) Town Council began planning for the adjusted traffic flows.
The installation of the two Herbert Street Roundabouts in Marshall and Callandoon Streets together with subsequent upgrades and design changes have now demonstrated how easily the traffic can travel along the streets.
Cr Scheu says that when the funding became available from the State Department of Main Roads it was time to include the Marshall and McLean Street intersection into the system.
“Who knows when the funds to carry out this work may become available again – it may have been left up to the ratepayer to fund eventually,” he said.
The roundabout will also play a major part in the Marshall Street upgrades.
New banners have already been erected, making Marshall Street an “even brighter place to shop and enjoy the friendly facilities and hospitality that Goondiwindi businesses offer.”
Planter islands in Marshall Street are also nearing completion. Trees will be planted in the spring.
“Improvements will always come with inconvenience but I firmly believe the short term inconvenience will be nothing compared to the long-term gain of the CBD and I ask that everyone is patient during the next month of upgrades,” he said. The work on the footpath near Target is a separate project.
It is expected to be completed within a week or 10 days, weather permitting. Rain experienced during the past week has caused delays at this particular site. “The footpath repairs are long overdue,” Cr Scheu added
“To my knowledge, nothing has been done in that area since McKenzie’s occupied the Target store.
“A number of falls have occurred and with the strengthening of business in the Herbert Street precinct, the upgrade was badly needed and will be much appreciated,” he said.
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