LAKE Macquarie council is forging ahead with constructing a $4.3-million roundabout at a dangerous Cameron Park intersection, despite having hit a roadblock in land negotiations with one developer.
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Coal & Allied has donated 7956 square metres of land on the shoulder of Minmi Road to allow the roundabout to be built.
But the council faces an uphill battle with the McCloy Group over another crucial parcel of land, measuring 43 square metres.
The Minmi Road-Northlakes Drive T-intersection has been earmarked for an upgrade for several years. Last year police reported one crash a day on average at the intersection.
Motorists turning right from Northlakes Drive onto Minmi Road cannot see cars approaching because of the site’s topography.
A council report said the upgrade, including construction of a roundabout at the intersection, ‘‘has become a high priority for council’’.
Councillors voted unanimously on Monday night to begin compulsory acquisition of the second parcel of land after lengthy negotiations with the McCloy Group failed to reach an agreement.
A separate council report said the McCloy Group had tried to sell the land to the council for an undisclosed sum.
Lake Macquarie mayor Jodie Harrison said the landowner had ‘‘a different view on how much this parcel of land is worth’’.
‘‘The price that’s being asked is a little bit out of our league on this one,’’ she said.
Cr Brian Adamthwaite described the two land acquisitions as a ‘‘double act’’. He said it was disappointing that the McCloy Group had not come to the party on the matter.
‘‘On one hand Coal & Allied is generously donating more than 7000sq m of land so that this roundabout can be built,’’ he said.
‘‘On the other, there is a tiny little speck of approximately 43sq m – a couple of parking spots – and the council unfortunately is needing to look at compulsory acquisition for this piece of land.
‘‘Compulsory acquisition is not going to slow down the [construction] process, but it would seem sad that in this case the developer is standing in the way of progress.’’
The design plans for the roundabout were finalised earlier this month.
Construction is expected to start in September.
It should take about 42 weeks.
This article first appeared on The Herald website.
