It is clear Maitland City Council’s multi million dollar Levee project has created a great divide between the council and city traders.
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A rally/protest this week held at The Hatch on The Levee attracted around 20 angry business operators who fear stage two of the Levee development will cripple their livelihoods and sound the death knell for the central business district as a whole.
It was a brave move by Deputy Mayor Cr Bob Geoghegan to front the placard-waving protesters who were scathing in their attack on both him and council for approving the second stage.
Cr Geoghegan, the only council representative at the rally, came under fire and was accused of only attending for appearance sake because he wants to be the next mayor.
Traders claim they received little or no correspondence about the development application for stage two, which contains a 128-seat restaurant they say will sap the life out of their humble cafes. They are also furious that no public toilets have been included in the development and no parking spaces allocated.
Council has not done itself any favours this week by declining to comment when contacted by Fairfax Media. Earlier this month council’s Executive Manager Major Projects Wayne Cone confirmed stage two will not include any additional parking. He said the development application for the construction of the Riverlink Building was on public exhibition in October last year and during that period the application was advertised in Fairfax Media inviting the community to provide comment.
This is a project costing ratepayers millions of dollars and could make or break Maitland as a leading regional commercial hub. Peter Cooper from the Art Depot Cafe suggested a meeting between council representatives and traders so everyone’s cards are on the table and issues can be addressed in an open and transparent manner.
In June last year Mayor Peter Blackmore issued a plea to traders and property owners to change their attitude before the city’s catch cry swings from the “Can Do” to the “Can’t Do” city. He called on business operators to pick up their game and spark some positivity as the first stage of the mall refurbishment drew to a close. If that is still the case then surely the timing is right for a call to arms. To sit down and air the grievances, find some common ground and move forward for the sake of this fine city.
