Gunnedah council seeks new costings for plaza design of Chandos Street

The alternative design for Chandos Street, controversially changed to one-way in 2014, arose from council’s 2010 Shared Space Strategy and will be costed in consultation with infrastructure services.

Preliminary design indicate the dual-purpose street would be two-way traffic majority of the time but have the option to reduce to one-way traffic for specific events.

Quotes will also be sought to change Chandos’ traffic conditions to conventional two-way design, leaving current dual-parking arrangements in place on the western side and changing the eastern side to 45-degree reverse angle parking.

It formed part of an amended notice of motion raised at Wednesday’s council meeting by councillor Rob Hooke to investigate the financial viability of changing the street back to two-way. But money would play a big part in future decision-making.

“There is no way I would support [changes] if costs were too high,” Cr Hooke said.

“But I’m aware there is significant community pressure to have it reversed to two-way.”

Kelvin resident and active supporter of a two-way Chandos Street, Jeff King, considered the plaza option a waste of time.

He said affected residents and businesses were fast-becoming restless and further delay, potentially into next year when plaza option costings would be available, was not acceptable.

“If they keep pushing this back, the community is not going to put up with it,” Mr King said.

News that quotes were sought for a return to two-way traffic received plenty of feedback on social media.

Steve Weakley supported the move.

“I certainly would like a return to sanity there, it was one of the last main street loops and its closure has greatly increased main street congestion,” Mr Weakley posted.

Andrew Thibault said: “We need to fix this before a major accident occurs”.

Meanwhile another follower, Jim Drane, said he “never really saw the point of this in the first place”.