Cessnock City Council has today appointed a new contractor for the Wollombi Road Upgrade Project.
Daracon has been engaged to deliver a single works program for the full length of the planned upgrade. The works are designed to increase road capacity, reduce traffic congestion and improve pedestrian access.
Once completed, this upgrade will also unlock the release and development of approximately 3,500 new homes in Bellbird North.
The project is funded through State and Federal grants for infrastructure and housing initiatives, developer contributions and contributions from Hunter Water.
To strengthen governance, Council has established a Wollombi Road Reference Group as an additional layer of oversight, which will receive ongoing project updates and support communication with the community.
Cessnock City Council Director of Works & Infrastructure Paul McLachlan said the engagement of Daracon marked a key milestone for recommencement of construction works.
"The engagement of Daracon to support delivery of this vital upgrade is an important step in rebuilding momentum on the project," Mr McLachlan said.
"The community can expect to see construction activity gearing up throughout April now that a contractor has been engaged, following recent enabling works."
"Cessnock City Council will be working closely with Daracon to ensure value, quality and delivery milestones are met."
Cessnock City Mayor Dan Watton welcomed the establishment of Wollombi Road Reference Group, of which he is a member.
"The establishment of the reference group provides an additional layer of assurance and transparency as Council leads the delivery of this major infrastructure project," said Mayor Watton.
The project is jointly funded through a combination of state, federal and local programs. This includes the NSW Accelerated Infrastructure Fund, the Commonwealth's Housing Support Program - Enabling Community Infrastructure, the State Voluntary Planning Agreement Funding Program, developer contributions and support from Hunter Water.
Council has approved a budget increase for the Wollombi Road Upgrade Project. The adjustment includes $8.7 million in allocated developer funds, $3.9 million in State VPA contributions, and an additional $3.5 million from Hunter Water for watermain works.
For more information about the project, visit www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/wollombiroad.
