{"id":306249,"date":"2021-09-22T21:36:44","date_gmt":"2021-09-22T11:36:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=306249"},"modified":"2021-09-22T21:36:44","modified_gmt":"2021-09-22T11:36:44","slug":"full-steam-ahead-for-kumbia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2021\/09\/22\/full-steam-ahead-for-kumbia\/","title":{"rendered":"Full Steam Ahead For Kumbia"},"content":{"rendered":"
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How Bell Street looking west would appear if residents approve the SBRC’s latest plans for Kumbia’s CBD upgrade … works will be prioritised for completion by Christmas 2022 (Graphic: SBRC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Deputy Mayor Gavin Jones<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

September 22, 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kumbia’s CBD upgrade will be completed by Christmas next year, even if it winds up costing more than originally planned.<\/p>\n

At Wednesday’s monthly General Meeting, South Burnett councillors voted to give the project priority status in the Council’s 2022-23 capital works program.<\/p>\n

Cr Gavin Jones told the meeting he fully supported the upgrade.<\/p>\n

However, he thought it was likely the project would cost more than originally planned due to labour and materials shortages caused by the pandemic.<\/p>\n

He moved the budget be expanded from $250,000 to $300,000 to cover this, but warned it could cost even more.<\/p>\n

And he added the same could apply to upgrades planned for Murgon’s QEII Park.<\/p>\n

Cr Scott Henschen said he would support a budget expansion if it was necessary.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He said the project had been “a long time coming” and was much more than had been originally proposed several years ago.<\/p>\n

Even so, he believed it was what residents wanted and he thought it was better to “do it once and do it properly” than try to cut corners.<\/p>\n

Cr Kirstie Schumacher said she also fully supported the upgrade and understood the project’s budget might increase.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Kumbia is a pretty town and it’s an important gateway to the South Burnett and the Bunya Mountains,” she said.<\/p>\n

She was keen to see the project built in time for the town’s 2022 Christmas celebrations.<\/p>\n

She was also particularly keen to see Apex Park in Bell Street refreshed and refurbished.<\/p>\n

Cr Kathy Duff agreed with Cr Jones that pandemic shortages and other factors could affect the project’s budget.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Things can change during a community consultation process,” she said.<\/p>\n

“But Kumbia has been waiting a very, very long time for this.”<\/p>\n

Councillors then voted to prioritise the project and the motion was carried unanimously.<\/p>\n

Community consultations on the final design of the upgrade will begin in the near future.<\/p>\n

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