THE prolonged upgrade of Gymea shopping village is still at least six months away from completion.
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Costing $6.5 million, the project started in March 2011 and was due to be finished by August last year.
Sutherland Shire Council revised the completion date to May this year, and recently put it back to October.
Even then, some parts on the northern side of the railway line which require electrical work may not be finished.
Gymea Chamber of Commerce president Kevin Jeffree said monthly meetings were held with the council to discuss progress.
‘‘I believe the situation is you always have to feel a bit of pain to get some gain,’’ he said.
‘‘The finished result will be something that will be admired and respected by visitors to the shopping village and enjoyed by the patrons as well as the shopkeepers.’’
While shopkeepers say that they appreciate the long-term benefits, many are continuing to complain about businesses suffering, and some closing, because of the amount of disruption and loss of parking.
The project was designed to enhance the shopping strip’s village atmosphere and improve economic viability through improved parking, and wider, more attractive footpaths with new street furniture and added scope for outdoor dining.
Ugly power poles and overhead cables are being removed, footpaths repaved in granite and new trees planted.
Sutherland Shire Council has blamed elecetricty network operator, Ausgrid, for much of the delay.
A council spokeswoman said electrical works on the southern side of the rail line were finally completed this month with the removal of overhead cables and poles.
‘‘Due to the unpredictable nature of delays in obtaining Ausgrid approval to complete various items of electrical works, council’s civil contractor has not been able to schedule the completion of works between Supabarn and South Street,’’ she said.
‘‘‘Now that the electrical work has been completed, the civil contractor has been requested to apply additional resources...’’
The spokeswoman said the southern end was due for completion by October.
Modifications had been made to include more parking and a ‘‘kiss and ride’’ bay on the rail bridge.
‘‘This requires road widening which in turn requires the construction of a suspended footpath projecting over the side of the ramp embankment,’’ she said.
The spokeswoman said, on the northern side, a completion date for electrical works could not be predicted because progress was subject to Ausgrid approval.
‘‘Civil works are proceeding where possible,’’ she said.
‘‘However, it will not be possible to pave areas subject to later disturbance during final stage electrical works.
‘‘All works in areas not subject to later disturbance for electrical works are scheduled to be completed by October.’’
Do you think the gain will be worth the pain?