THE period of public consultation for one of the biggest pieces of public infrastructure Queanbeyan Council has ever overseen will be held over the Christmas holiday period.
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The Ellerton Drive Extension (EDE), a link road connecting East Queanbeyan and Yass Road to Old Cooma Road south of Karabar, is currently estimated to cost somewhere between $60 and $80 million.
A council spokesman said this week that the public consultation period for the EDE had been extended to 60 days to account for the holiday period.
"Council has doubled the usual exhibition period from 30 days to 60 days to 9 February 2015, to account for Christmas and the New year holiday break," the spokesman said.
"Council encourages all the community to have their say during its extensive consultation for the Ellerton Drive Extension. "
Meanwhile, Council has also now lodged an application for $10 million in grant funding through the Federal National Stronger Regions Fund. The grant, if successful, would have to be matched dollar-for-dollar by Queanbeyan Council.
A Council spokesperson said this week that Council intended to meet its share of the funding via a bank loan, held by Council but paid back by the developers of Googong.
If successful in the application process, that would bring existing funding for the road up to $70 million, with the federal and state government's having already pledged $25 million apiece towards the cost of the road. A final cost for the EDE has yet to be finalised.
All the related documents for the EDE will be available for the public to view from 5pm this evening at Council and the Queanbeyan Library as well as online at www.qcc.nsw.gov.au.
Three information sessions will be held at the RB Smith Community Centre on December 16, January 20 and February 3 to encourage community participation. There will also be information sessions at the Jerrabomberra Community Centre on Thursday December 18, Wednesday January 21 and Thursday January 29.