Business plans for disruption period

COUNCILLOR Carol Taylor says the council will be doing all it can to keep Russell St buzzing.

The infrastructure services committee chairwoman said there would be close communications with a business working group throughout the six-month period in which the West St crossing area was closed to traffic.

The OCR stakeholder working group includes 12 affected business owners, chaired by outgoing Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Greg Johnson.

Cr Taylor said OCR contractor Probuild Civil had to make the closure to install new drainage, bridge and road structures for the project.

“It will be business as usual for retailers within the Russell St precinct,” she said.

“This working group is playing a vital role in enabling council to work closely with the local community during construction.

“Council invited all businesses and residents within the Russell St precinct to nominate their interest in participating in this group and a dozen business owners and operators jumped at the opportunity.

“The working group will be meeting regularly to discuss construction activities and how these activities may affect the local community. They will also help to identify strategies to attract visitors to the precinct.”