The problem-plagued pavers in the Cessnock CBD will be back on the agenda at the council's first ordinary meeting of the new term.
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Independent councillor Ian Olsen will put forward a notice of motion at Wednesday's meeting, requesting a report on the reasons for the "major failure" of the intersection works.
The pavers were installed at the intersection of Cooper and Charlton Streets in 2019 as part of the Cessnock Civic Precinct Revitalisation project.
More than 100 pavers had broken by late 2020, and have been tarred over, but in recent months another section has started to crack.
Cr Olsen will ask the general manager to investigate if the project was built to council specifications, if there is any pipe work under the road that may have caused the issues, and what council plans to do to rectify it, with an estimated cost and timeframe.
"This is a legacy left by the previous council and look at it - we can't leave it like this," Cr Olsen said.
"It's a bad legacy. We can't just walk away from it.
"We need it fixed and we need answers."
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Cr Olsen suggested concreting over the pavers and using a stencil (using Port Macquarie as an example) may be a solution.
Council's 2021-22 operational plan, which was passed at its June meeting, did not include any money for repairs to the CBD project.
Director of works and infrastructure David Moloney explained at that meeting that council was still trying to determine the cause of the issues.
Council received grants from the state and federal governments for the project, which was carried out by a contractor.
Cr Olsen will also put forward a notice of motion regarding the Frame Drive and Gingers Lane upgrade, questioning why parts of these projects have already had to be repaired.
Wednesday's meeting will also address two deferred items from the last meeting of the previous council - an application by McDonald's Cessnock to extend its trading hours, and a proposed new cemetery at Nulkaba.
The meeting will start at 6.30pm and is open to the public, and will be broadcast live on council's Facebook page.
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Krystal Sellars
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
Krystal Sellars is the Senior Journalist at the Cessnock Advertiser. Born and raised in Cessnock, she started her journalism career at the Advertiser in 2006 after completing a Bachelor of Communication at the University of Newcastle. Contact her on krystal.sellars@cessnockadvertiser.com.au.
