Ratepayers to chip in for TAC damage bill

Andrew Mathieson
RATEPAYERS will foot some of the bill for repairs to roads damaged during construction of State Government’s $50 million Transport Accident Commission headquarters in Geelong, according to City Hall.
However, the City said ratepayers’ “minor contribution” would benefit from a “higher standard” of roads and footpaths than previously existed around the site.
The City did not reveal a percentage or ratio for ratepayers’ share of the cost to fix crumbling road surfaces and footpaths in Brougham, Corio, Clare and Gore streets.
Major projects general manager Stephen Wright said the City had an agreement with the TAC about sharing the cost of road repairs.
The TAC would also contribute to repairs for footpaths and kerbs, he said.
Council was seeking additional funding from State Government.
Mr Wright said construction company Hickory Life Built would not pay a cent for damage to roads from its heavy machinery.
“The reinstatement of the road surfaces will be coordinated by the City and the cost shared by the City and the TAC, with some additional funding drawn from State Government’s Transit Cities program,” Mr Wright said.
Workers have been constantly patching roads around the site since work began last year.
Mr Wright said the City would include final repairs around the TAC building in proposed works for a central Geelong streetscape project.
“When we learned of the TAC project, it made sense to coordinate the next phase of streetscape works with the construction of the TAC building so we could minimise the costs and create an inviting environment conducive to increased pedestrian activity. Once the heavy construction work at the TAC premises is complete, the streetscape and road works will commence.”
More than 600 TAC jobs will move to Geelong next year.