FORMER Gawler deputy mayor Brian Thom is requesting council allocate an additional $100,000 to its 2019/20 budget to be spent sealing Murray Street’s eastern and western footpaths.
Mr Thom, who addressed elected members last Tuesday night regarding his submission, said the footpaths “look poorly, with many stains and hundreds of black chewing gum marks”, and had looked this way for a number of years.
“My enquiry with staff confirmed that 10 years ago when they were constructed, the footpaths were never sealed,” Mr Thom said.
“It was assumed at that time that such debris could be easily washed away with water or steam, but that has not proved correct.
“Our heritage ambience deserves easy to clean footpaths and I urge councillors to fix the ongoing problem once and for all.”
In a report responding to Mr Thom’s request, council’s finance manager, Paul Horwood, stated should the additional funds be committed, it would be at the expense of an existing ‘above the line’ budget bid.
“This is on the basis that council’s proposed net capital works program of $5.979 million…is only marginally within the recommended threshold of $6 million,” he wrote.
“The administration is of the view that an allocation of $100,000 would only allow for sealing of one side of the footpath.”
Mr Thom also submitted that council consider covering the cost of rental accommodation in Murray Street for the Gawler Community Gallery, “at an indicative cost of $30,000-$40,000”.
Council also received three submissions from residents requesting a Hard Waste Collection service be implemented, and for new footpaths to be laid in Bright Street, Willaston.
Mr Horwood stated council has already committed to trial a Hard Waste Collection Service in Gawler for all residents, at a cost of $120,000, this coming year, while Bright Street had not been  identified as needing new footpaths in the next 12 months.