By MEGAN OGLE
A LOCAL jetty-owner has slammed Noosa Council for a lack of consultation on potential repairs to be carried out on a damaged footpath which borders his privately owned jetty.
Kevin Driscoll staged a protest against claims to demolish the jetty located on Williams Street last year after he claimed a faulty footpath caused damage to his private property.
More than a year on and Mr Driscoll is still in limbo as to council’s plans regarding the repair of the footpath which, he says, restricts his ability to repair his jetty.
“I know Noosa Council has plans for the footpath which will change the wall in front of my jetty, but no-one has consulted with me,” Mr Driscoll said.
“I have plans for my jetty ready to go, but I haven’t been able to build anything as council would not tell me their plans for the footpath which directly affects my jetty.
“Council has been very arrogant; they should have consulted with me and not hindered me for so long.”
Mr Driscoll, who has owned the jetty for over 23 years, said he believed the council was planning to turn the area into a shared zone, which, he said, was potentially dangerous, as well as change the face of the wall adjacent to his jetty which would mean a “substantial increase” to rebuilding costs.
In a statement released last week, council confirmed repair works were to begin on the footpath next month and included a new shared zone as well as repairs to the Noosa River revetment wall.
Noosa Council Infrastructure planning and design manager Nick Wellwood said council was in the final stages of appointing a contractor after tenders closed in February.
“All going well, we intend to commence work in early April,” Mr Wellwood said.
“As the road and footpath are beside Noosa River we’re working with the state on the project.
Each of the agencies with an interest in the project has given us the go-ahead and we look forward to appointing a contractor to start construction and repair work in the next few weeks.
“There will be some traffic diversions in place, and we will work with residents to minimise those impacts,” Mr Wellwood said.
