GUNNEDAH has been dubbed the big winner in this week’s state budget, with the town’s “biggest infrastructure project in history” finally set to get off the ground.
A total of $8 million was allocated to commence the town’s second rail overpass in Tuesday’s state budget – but that’s still well shy of the $58 million needed to complete the overall project.
Despite the shortfall, Gunnedah Shire Council (GSC) has given the move a resounding thumbs up, after what started as a $16 million project in 2012 blew out to a multi-million dollar undertaking.
GSC mayor Jamie Chaffey and general manager Eric Groth attended a meeting with RMS on Wednesday morning that outlined an intention to call for tenders in early 2018, with an expected commencement date of July, 2018.
From award of the tender, the project is expected to take two years, with no changes to the previous budget.
“In the two-year construction phase, there will be many opportunities for local business,” Cr Chaffey said.
“We’re expecting a considerable boost to the local economy during that time - not only for contracting businesses, but also for retail and hospitality.
“Our community has told us that livability is high on their list of priorities, and this project will inevitably assist in ensuring Gunnedah, even with increasing population and transport needs, is more liveable into the future.”
Cr Chaffey thanked Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson and roads minister Melinda Pavey on “their efforts in ensuring that this project has been funded as a priority by the state government”.
Mr Anderson, who hailed the budget a success for Gunnedah with funding allocated for a raft of major infrastructure projects, was confident the $58 million project will be completed in the future because “the funding won’t dry up”.
“In my opinion, it’s the biggest infrastructure project in Gunnedah’s history,” he said. “If I could put on a hard hat and grab a shovel, I would have started work on it years ago.”
The budget will also fund the final $4.5 million of the $5.5 million new Gunnedah police station, a $9.9 million Lake Keepit safety upgrade, $15,000 for a Kamilaroi Highway corridor strategy and ongoing upgrades to the Gunnedah hospital.
