What improvements are planned?

    The project aims to upgrade the footpath, put in new kerb ramps, driveway crossings, replace some kerb and guttering, upgrade service pit lids, refurbish the existing seating and replace old rubbish bins. Some garden beds on the Council verge will be removed or reshaped, and some trees will be planted along the street. The upgrade will improve the appearance of the footpaths and sightlines, making it safer and more accessible for pedestrians and traffic. Works would be in line with Wollongong City Councils’ Business Centres Public Domain Technical Manual, which guides the design of business areas in the region.

    How long will the work take and when will it start?

    Works are proposed to take place in two stages:

    Stage1: Five Islands Road to Birmingham Street, eastern side of Lake Ave. Construction is planned to start in mid-2017 and may take approximately 16 weeks, weather permitting.

    Stage 2: Five Islands Road to Gorrell Street, western side of Lake Ave. The construction schedule is still to be determined, but may start late in 2017.

    How will I be affected?

    Hours of construction will be 7am till 6pm Monday to Friday, and 7am to 2pm on Saturdays. 

    During each stage, some on-street parking may be temporarily unavailable, with any affected pedestrian routes safely detoured. Traffic management will also be in place. 

    The bus zone may be impacted by the works for a short time. Council will contact the bus company to arrange for a temporary bus stop to be in place nearby, if required. 

    Property occupants will be notified again prior to construction commencing, and we will work with affected businesses to minimise the impact of works as much as possible.

    Will any driveways or car parks be closed to public access during the work?

    Driveways made of red asphalt and vehicle crossings between Merrett and Gorrell St, like the ones shown in the photos below, are being upgraded.

    This means that some properties or car parks that have driveways on Lake Ave may be temporarily inaccessible for a short time. Upgrades to crossings take approximately 48 hours to complete, but before any work is done, we will speak to people in affected properties to make sure we understand if they have any concerns.

    Can people still access my business while the footpath is being upgraded?

    Council understands that businesses require access to their premises to be maintained throughout the works. Temporary access, such as wooden ramps, will be in place so that customers can still access shops and deliveries can still take place. 

    Council staff are available to meet with affected business owners or tenants to discuss the proposed works and ways we can help to minimise possible disruption. Information about delivery times and business scheduling given to us by 28 November will help us to plan works around your needs. Please contact us by 5pm on Friday 4 November 2016 if you would like to arrange a meeting with Council staff.

    Will the new asphalt on the footpath be dry before people can walk on it?

    Freshly-laid asphalt takes 2 hours to dry. A barrier will be in place around the footpath to allow the asphalt to dry completely before people can walk on it. This will help to prevent any asphalt getting on people’s shoes and marking the floor of nearby residences or businesses.

    Will any services be interrupted during construction? e.g. water, electricity, gas, phone, NBN

    There will be no interruption to services during construction.

    Why aren’t you doing the whole of Lake Ave? Are there plans to upgrade the rest of the footpath along the street at a later time?

    The current program of works has budgeted for upgrades to the town centre, where a significant number of businesses are located. These are the busiest areas and the footpaths are in urgent need of upgrading in some sections, so Council has made it a priority to fix this section first. Council plans to apply for funding to do further upgrades to the rest of the street and will update the community about this if successful.

    Does Council offer assistance for people who do not speak English and need help to understand these plans?

    Council has language aide officers available to assist community members who have difficulty communicating in English. Language aides are available for the following languages: Arabic, Greek, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Indonesian, Italian, Macedonian, Mandarin, Polish, Serbian, Spanish, Turkish, Croatian and AUSLAN. If you require assistance from a language aide officer, please call Council’s Customer Service Centre on 4227 7111 and ask to speak with a language aide.

    Council also uses the Australian Government's Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS). The telephone service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is accessible from anywhere in Australia for the cost of a local call. TIS can be used to call us if you need an interpreter to help you with Council information. To use the service, please call the TIS on 13 14 50 and ask them to put you through to Wollongong City Council on (02) 4227 7111.

    More information is available on Council's website.

    How can I comment on the planned work?

    Council will talk to the community about the proposed works before they are carried out. You can have your say about the plans at the community engagement kiosk:

    Date: Saturday, 19 November 2016 
    Time: Drop by between 9am and 11am 
    Location: Cringila Community Hall, 32-40 Lake Avenue, Cringila

    You can also have your say via the online feedback form during the exhibition period.

    Phone: 4227 7111

    Feedback forms are also available at Council’s Customer Service Centre, Warrawong Library and Cringila Community Centre.

    Council will consider all feedback submitted during the exhibition, before finalising the plan.