GOOGONG co-developer CIC Australia has confirmed it's had to compensate some buyers following several months of construction delays at the new township.
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An official opening of the town is now only weeks away but will come around four months after the original September launch date due to a number of logistical issues, including delays in connecting the water network and liquidity issues experienced by civil engineering contractor Cleary Brothers.
CIC assistant project director Malcolm Leslie confirmed this week that the developers had compensated some frustrated buyers who had been planning on living in their new homes by now.
"I don't want to go into detail, but we have been in discussion with them [the buyers]," Mr Leslie said.
"It's probably fair to say that the people who have paid for their land, we have compensated them for the delays, and we're working through all the issues with all the buyers.
"There's been a number of issues beyond our control: the civil contractor issues, getting the water supply and the water network finished. These are just challenges you might expect with such a big project. But we're quite happy now with where we're at, the quality of the infrastructure, the homes and the overall amenity," he said.
With the initial road network now in place, the developers removed fences on Saturday, allowing the general public to visit the site for the first time.
The $6 million community hub Club Googong, featuring an indoor pool, gym, cafe and general store is now all but complete, as is the central green space Beltana Park. Around 30 new homes are also nearing completion. Mr Leslie said an official launch would be held "in the next few weeks," with the first residents expected in February/March.
He said civil works contractor Cleary Brothers had since resolved its liquidity issues and said the water network would be operational within days.
"It's been very frustrating for everybody, and the delays have been outside our control, but it's going to be worth the wait," Mr Leslie said.
"One of the things we've done because of the delays and because of the frustrations of everybody concerned, we've actually run some special tours for our buyers out to Googong, even before the roads were open.
"And the feedback from the buyers- while everyone's frustrated with the delays- they're absolutely delighted with what they see out there. Many of them are just blown away with the quality of the infrastructure, in particular Club Googong," he said.
And CIC Australia is expecting construction to race ahead following the official opening as buyers and builders get access to their blocks.
"When we open in the next month or so, building activity of other homes will go berserk as people get access to their blocks, and the water's there and they can start building," Mr Leslie said.
So far over 440 blocks have been sold at the town, worth over $108 million. Googong will eventually house some 16,000 people in 5550 homes.
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