Plan to improve Pound St
THE South Burnett Regional Council has big plans for Pound St.
The road has been closed since the 2010/11 floods but after consultation with the council's engineers Mayor Wayne Kratzmann believes he has the perfect solution.
A footbridge, barbecue areas, parking bays and a link to the Kingaroy TAFE bikeway are all on the cards.
Cr Kratzmann said the council had started work to fix drainage problems on Pound St, but recent rain had caused it to reconsider its plans.
He said the area was a collecting pond for water run-off from Tessmanns Rd and Somerset St.
"After about 20ml of rain there the road was flooded," he said.
"Because one side of the creek is higher than the other I fear if we try and fix it and we get more than three inches of rain it won't be enough to stop the road from flooding.
"The cost of the project is $200,000 but it will cost a lot more than that to do the work that's needed."
So instead Cr Kratzmann has proposed to close off the Avoca St end of Pound St to cars. Somerset St will be connected with Avoca St and the intersection between Pound St and Avoca St will be re-done.
"I see a lot of people walking along it especially mums and dads and people accessing the park," he said.
"And it's unusual to have two roads so close together.
"But if we link Somerset and Avoca Sts it will still give people access to the CBD from that end."
Cr Kratzmann said the State Government would remove the old railway track which divided the two roads and give the land to the council.
"We envisage the project being completed in three stages," he said.
"The first stage would include re-doing Pound St parking, putting in a new footpath and footbridge.
"The second stage would see the extension to link Avoca and Somerset Streets and the third stage we would like to put in a roundabout at the intersection between Somerset St and Knight St."
Cr Kratzmann said the cost of the proposed drainage improvements, road closure and pedestrian facilities wouldn't cost more than the $200,000 already in the bank in the initial stages.
He said the council had not made a final decision on the proposal and said it was open to public consultation.
"The plans will be at the council office for people to view," he said.
"We would like feedback from residents about the proposed changes.
"If enough people are interested I will hold a community meeting at Pound St and go through the plans."
The council hopes to begin work as early as February.
What do you think about the proposed Pound St plans? Let us know what you think about the plans at editorial@southburnetttimes.com.au or join the conversation online.
