It has been the subject of ridicule and controversy, a development some traders said would never work and at times an inconvenience to city retailers.
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The Levee, and the jewel in its crown The Riverlink Building, are finally nearing completion and have certainly turned out to be head turners.
Maitand City Council announced this week that construction should be finished at the end of December with a handover in January.
Three High Street premises were demolished to make way for the Riverlink Building, which will link the shared pedestrian and vehicle zone to the bank of the Hunter River.
It will feature public open space, public art, new amenities and a café.
The Riverlink Building is a key part of council’s second stage of the Central Maitland upgrade and part of the overall $17 million Levee project.
Love it or loathe it The Levee project was recently given the thumbs up by the nation’s brightest architectural minds, after being named the best civic landscape in the country by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects.
In a flyer to traders this week Maitland City Council said recent works completed on the Riverlink Building include structural steel work, internal brick walls, external facing brick walls and the riverside porphyry stone surface, bluestone edging and street furniture.
Work scheduled for November and December include the completion of roofing elements, installation of timber ceilings and glazing, internal building fit out, installation of public art, completion of amenities building and audio visual room, installation of cafe kitchen equipment, commissioning of services including gas, water and electricity and completion of lighting and public domain feature.
Works on the east and west ends of High Street are also nearing completion. These upgrade works include drainage modifications, replacement of footpaths with concrete, replacement of kerb and gutters and asphalt resurfacing of the road pavement.
The Levee has now been open to traffic for two years with former Mayor of Maitland Peter Blackmore cutting the ribbon on October 15, 2015. The following month Fairfax Media reported how Maitland’s retail heart was beating once again as traders reported tills ringing and shoppers making their way back into the city centre. Patrick Lane, of Ken Lane’s Menswear, said at the time that High Street was vibrant once again.
The man who stole the show
The plan for The Levee opening called for mayor Peter Blackmore to cut the ribbon, climb in a hot rod and take the maiden drive through the new precinct.
But the plan never reckoned with Ted Ross and his mobility scooter.
“Hey, look at me,” Mr Ross said with a grin, as Cr Blackmore cut the ribbon.
“I’m the first motorised vehicle.”
And before the dignitary-loaded hot rods started rolling , the cheeky Maitland senior hit the scooter’s accelerator and cut ahead of the official parade.
Mr Ross had done more than just steal their thunder, he had whizzed into history as the first person to drive down the freshly minted road in 27 years.
The man dubbed Mr Cool told the Mercury : “You better put me in the paper for this one.”