Council to buy paint shop for intersection upgrade
Central Coast Council will buy the "paint shop" building at the corner of Ocean Beach Rd and Rawson Rd, Woy Woy, as a "works compound" for its construction of a new $32.6 million intersection.
Last week's council meeting also decided to compulsorily acquire parts of 14 other allotments fronting Ocean Beach Rd, Rawson Rd and Mutu St to accommodate an expanded intersection.
The building which has housed a paint store and a cabinet-maker for many years is pictured.
Just 140.6 square metres will be taken for the intersection.
The remaining 1672.8 square metres will be sold after the intersection is completed.
The work will also require relocation of the Shell service station awning and bowsers.
The council adopted a five-lane signalised design, which is expected to reduce "traffic wait time" by two-thirds and queue length by 360 metres.
It is expected to reduce the risk of traffic accidents and improve pedestrian and cyclist safety.
Previously, budgeted as a four-year project, a report to the council now anticipates expenditure over five years with construction expected to commence mid-2024 and the project completed in 2026.
A total of $930,000 is expected to be spent this financial year, with $5.28 million, $8.38 million, $7.1 million and $10.87 million being spent in each of the four following years.
The report said "the infamously congested road intersection" with its single-lane roundabout was inadequate.
"The intersection is the main entrance to the Peninsula and coastal suburbs for commuters coming from the M1 motorway.
"Upgrade of the intersection is identified in the Woy Woy Development Contribution Plan as being essential to growth and development in the region."
The council is still waiting for the release of funding by the Federal Government.
The council resolved: "That subject to the approval of the grant funding, Council resolve to acquire all or some of the portions comprising the land by compulsory process in accordance with the requirements of the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991, in the event that negotiations for the acquisition of all or some of the portions comprising the Land with the relevant property owner or owners cannot be satisfactorily resolved at the end of the minimum statutory requirement of six-month negotiation period to meet grant funding time commitments."
It also resolved: "That comprehensive engagement be undertaken with affected property owners and to the broader community to investigate concerns, noting this may result in some alteration to the proposed concept design."
The report noted: "The project is anticipated to generate widespread interest given the critical impact the intersection has on congestion on the Peninsula."
SOURCE:
Central Coast Council agenda 2.14, 23 Nov 2021