Lake Macquarie City Council hopes work will start soon on the Munibung Road extension from Boolaroo to Cardiff after it announced it had broken a long impasse over the road's construction.
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The council has agreed on the terms for an access licence with KPMG, the new administrator of the former Pasminco lead smelter land, to allow construction of the 700-metre road. KPMG merged last month with Ferrier Hodgson, which was administering the site.
"Our focus now is to deliver the project for the community as soon as possible, which will immediately provide faster, smoother and safer journeys for residents and road users, while benefiting local business and laying a foundation for future growth," the council's deputy chief executive, Tony Farrell, said.
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The Newcastle Herald revealed in October a memo from staff to mayor Kay Fraser and councillors noting that Ferrier Hodgson would not allow site access to start the project until it gained approval to subdivide the Pasminco site.
The NSW Department of Planning had told the administrator it would not approve the subdivision until it established a trust to fund future maintenance of an underground cell containing toxic material.
Mr Farrell confirmed on Wednesday that the absence of an access agreement had delayed the road.
"We are now working with the previous tenderers for the project to update their tenders, finalise arrangements with other affected parties and seek to have the tender awarded and construction under way as soon as possible," he said.
The road is being funded by the federal government and the council.
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