Just when you thought it couldn’t get much worse for the controversial Gallery Walk car park project another major issue has arisen and it could send a number of local businesses to the wall.
Just started major roadwork to facilitate traffic flow into the almost complete 100 bay car park has seen the road turned into a traffic nightmare.
A long section has been reduced to one-way only as graders tear up one side of the road.
It’s meant that driveways and parking spots for many Gallery Walk shops are now closed and the knock-on effect is crippling their businesses and causing them to shed staff.
Business Chamber Tamborine Mountain Secretary, Jools Bruhn, said she had spoken to many of the affected shop owners and all were bleeding customers.
“When I went to offer the Chamber’s support to key businesses I realised how big an issue this was in an area that resembled a war-zone,” she said.
Her comments were backed by German Cuckoo Clock shop owner, Stefanie Wernockinck, who said the roadworks had completely shut off her driveway entrance and in the first weekend after it started her business plummeted by 80 per cent.
“I employ 12 people and I have already had to start reducing numbers and cutting back shifts,” she said.
“We couldn’t even prepare for what might happen as council staff only told us on the Friday before the barriers went up three days later on Monday
“Our shop has a residence above which my 79 year-old father lives in and he now can’t park out the front and has to stumble down the street with his groceries
”They told me my gate access wouldn’t be opened up again for 20 working days, but I’m concerned they won’t make deadline, after all their record is far from perfect.”
Mirroring her comments was Gemma Risk from the Mumma Duck outlet located a few doors up the road.
“I have been working hard to build this business up since I bought it just three years ago and almost every day I am here behind the counter,” Gemma said.
“I am a local having a go trying to raise two young boys and this will be a body blow, how big I don’t know yet.
“I was told it was happening, but the full extent of it was never revealed to me.
“They told me that my driveway would be closed off for just a few days, but now a week later it’s still not open, it doesn’t make me confident they can finish the whole project on schedule,” she said.
Gemma said she was greatly concerned about losing her young staff who had been working with her since she started.
“I have five on the books and I’ve already had to drop some and cut the hours of others, it’s sad for them and also me.”
Across the road retailers who don’t have barriers in front of their shops are also feeling a major drop in trade and are also fearful for their futures.
Candice O’Rourke who bought Eighty-Eight Interior Design two years ago said she was perplexed why the council was doing the roadwork in the busiest months of the season.
“They gave many of us no notice and it was a major surprise to see the graders come in,” she said.
“This was a major investment in my life and I am now at the mercy of the council completing this one time. I am not confident.”
All shop owners Tamborine Mountain News spoke to said if council starts to fall behind on the roadworks they should immediately start doing night shifts.
While they all knew it would add to the cost they said council was obligated to look after local businesses, especially those on Gallery Walk who together were the lifeblood of local tourism.
