Cessnock Council - Questions Without Notice - Majors Lane / Cuneens Bridge

Date: 21-Jun-08
Author: CCC Minutes
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INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Councillor Ryan

MAJORS LANE ROAD WORKS

Question:

Councillor Ryan enquired regarding works issues relating to Majors Lane, the budget for the works, the budget to repair the substandard work and what impact that will have on the Cunneens Bridge program. He felt that Councillors would have had a report by now on those questions from the last meeting because it is such a serious issue; he wasn't of the understanding that a report would come back in the next quarterly review of the management plan. Could he be advised when Council would receive this information.

Answer:

The Director Infrastructure & Services advised that the information would not be finalised until the ledgers are finalised and all invoices received and paid in detail that is why he had suggested it come back in the August review. This will not affect the Cunneens Bridge work as it is unrelated to that work and the component of the road that failed is the upper surface course which is a minor part of the total $0.5M works. He did not believe it would affect the works program in its entirety.

Question:

Councillor Ryan advised that one of the questions was, what was the budget for that works - obviously Council had a budget for the works. Another question being what has Council budgeted to repair the road. He thought a fortnight would have been sufficient time to obtain a figure on how much was to be budgeted to assess the work and develop a budget for repair.

Answer:

The Director Infrastructure & Services advised it takes longer to do that assessment. Council has carried out some road testing on the entire length of the road to determine the extent of repair that needs to be undertaken; that was only completed yesterday. The Director Infrastructure & Services advised that this week he may have an idea of the total work required to be undertaken and an analyses of costs once the contract is complete.

Question:

Councillor Ryan asked when Council could expect this information.

Answer:

The Director Infrastructure & Services advised that the information would be best provided in the August review of the budget because at that time Council finalises all the accounts. He advised that Council has made some savings on this work and it may come out at the budgeted amount.

Question:

Councillor Ryan asked when in August this would be provided.

Answer:

The Director Infrastructure & Services advised it would be late August.

Question:

Councillor Ryan stated that it would then take three months to obtain this information and expressed his displeasure with the situation.

Answer:

The General Manager advised that perhaps the Director Infrastructure & Services could provide to Councillors what information we are able to in the short term and consult with Accounts staff in the next couple of day to determine when the other information might be available and advise Councillors accordingly.

Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Cessnock City Council held on 18 June 2008 (379kb PDF)