RATEPAYERS will help foot a bill of ‘‘several thousands’’ of dollars for a failed paving experiment in Launceston’s Centreway Lane.
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About 200 cracked pavers, damaged by heavy vehicle movements, will be replaced by the Launceston City Council and an unnamed utility provider.
Alderman Ted Sands raised concern with the aesthetic of the lane that may become subject to weight restrictions to prevent damage in the future.
Council infrastructure services director Harry Galea said the incident was caused by two waste disposal providers that had been using large trucks to access the lane.
‘‘That wasn’t anticipated for the type of strain that will be put on them, the frequent heavier load wasn’t expected,’’ Mr Galea said.
‘‘What was constructed was in accordance to the design brief ... I don’t see it as a contractor issue, I see it as a design fault.’’
The pavers are an initial part of the Launceston City Heart Project.
Although works in the lane were regarded as a trial by the council, Launceston general manager Robert Dobrzynski said they were determined to get the process correct.
‘‘The Launceston City Heart Project is a vital initiative for our city,’’ Mr Dobrzynski said.
‘‘The Centreway Lane upgrade was a trial project to allow our designers an opportunity to test their designs and materials in a real-life environment, and to identify future issues that may arise in larger scale redevelopment projects.
‘‘We will also be replacing the Centreway Lane pavement sign in coming months with a more aesthetically pleasing version.’’