It’s installed no fewer than nine seats/benches — yes, nine — in close proximity to the intersection of Melbourne and Sydney Sts.
At about $7500 plus GST, per seat, that’s about $67,500, plus GST, for a project that’s already blown its budget.
Inexplicably, there are back-to-back seats at one point, and also a bench directly facing a private property’s hedge and low concrete wall.
"It’s gone mad," nearby resident Sue Knowles says.
"There doesn’t seem to be any reason for it other than if the [traffic] light phases are going to be so slow everyone has to sit down.
"It just seems bizarre."
Councillor Gavin Bartlett comments: "Obviously the intention is people will walk more and the benches are to provide, I guess, places for people to seat when they’re walking, but nine does seem like a lot around one intersection."
An Alliance spokesperson confirms the benches have been placed as rest points along what’s been developed as a pedestrian walking corridor.
"This intersection is being upgraded to a signal-controlled crosswalk and provides access for both pedestrians and motorists to/from all directions, in contrast to the other side roads.
"As there is access from all directions — and the gradients are flatter than the other side roads and more accessible — additional benches have been placed around this perimeter to promote the use of this intersection as a key access point to Queenstown Hill."
The arterial road’s due to open January 28, after which the Alliance will shut Stanley St to connect the piped stormwater network in upper and lower Ballarat St, meaning all traffic will have to use the arterial.
That project’s expected to run from February till April next year.
