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Hutchinson Builders have, ostensibly, made a start to the construction of the Argyle Street Carpark, which will service the proposed IGA supermarket in Cameron Park. An application to demolish buildings at the site is yet to be approved; the development application is on exhibition until Monday February 6. A separate development application has been approved for the demolition of asbestos containing buildings on the site. Image: Geoff Helisma

Supermarket car park’s construction one step closer

Hutchinson Builders have, ostensibly, made a start to the construction of the Argyle Street Carpark, which will service the proposed IGA supermarket in Cameron Park. An application to demolish buildings at the site is yet to be approved; the development application is on exhibition until Monday February 6. A separate development application has been approved for the demolition of asbestos containing buildings on the site. Image: Geoff Helisma
Clarence Valley’s councillors have “noted the appointment of Hutchinson Builders by Chums’ Investment Pty Ltd for the construction of the ‘Argyle Street Carpark’” on the corner of Clyde, Argyle and Morven streets. The car park will service the proposed supermarket in Cameron Park. At the December Clarence Valley Council (CVC) meeting, councillors voted unanimously, without debate, to transfer $485,416 from the Maclean & District Improvements Reserve to the Maclean Carpark construction account for the $836,473 (ex GST) project. The car park construction account’s previous balance was $351,057, which was made up of “funds … originally allocated from the sale of the Centenary Drive Carpark”. “The balance of the carpark sale proceeds were transferred to [the] Maclean & District Improvements Reserve, which at 30 June 2016 had a balance of $1,448,198,” the report to council states. In July 2015, CVC agreed to a land swap with Chums’ Investments Pty Ltd that was accepted on the basis that “the independent valuations of the proposed land swap … ensure[d] Council achieves ‘value for money’.” The land was valued based on existing zonings in the 2011 Local Environment Plan (LEP). The deal incorporated the exchange of parcels of land owned by Chums, valued at $1.324million, and CVC-owned land valued at $837,500. Hutchinson Builders’ tendered total cost was “$713,058 (ex GST) plus a contingency of $38,415 (ex GST)”, the report to council states – “Chums’ Investment Pty Ltd have issued a ‘Letter of Intent’ to Hutchinson Builders.” The council, as per its land-swap agreement with Chums, is responsible for the cost of the car park’s construction, while Chums is responsible for the car park’s construction. Once the car park is completed (before any works begin on the supermarket in Cameron Park) and reclassification of the land involved is finalised, Chum’s will transfer the car park’s ownership to CVC. At the December council meeting, Cr Debrah Novak asked if the Maclean community would decide how the balance of the Maclean & District Improvements Reserve would be used. Director Ashley Lindsay answered: “No, it’s a council decision; but how councillors choose to make that decision is up to them.”