Wednesday, 19 February 2025

 Bridget VALLENCE (Evelyn) (19:19): (1019) Montrose is a fantastic community, and residents and small businesses are hopeful that the disruption as a result of the major roadworks and intersection upgrade in Montrose will be completed soon so that life can get back on track. Sadly for all the local shop traders, life has been very hard as the government’s Department of Transport and Planning has failed to provide them any financial compensation, despite these businesses demonstrating significant financial loss as a result of more than 12 months of disruption from the roadworks. Unfortunately, a number of much-loved local shops made the hard decision to close altogether, which has impacted local jobs. It is why I would like to see the government now commit to supporting Montrose shop traders to financially recover once the works are fully completed, the machinery has moved on and the construction works are all gone. I am appealing to the transport department: do not just move on, make good and help Montrose recover.

At a recent Montrose intersection upgrade stakeholder reference group meeting, on behalf of the community I did ask the transport department if they could add a new final phase of the project, that being an advertising and marketing campaign, including store vouchers to help entice people back to shopping in Montrose and help Montrose shop traders to recover and rebuild their businesses and employ more staff again. The action I seek is for the Minister for Roads and Road Safety to outline a detailed plan that includes funding for a marketing and advertising campaign and a voucher program to support Montrose shop traders to recover and rebuild once the Montrose intersection project works are fully completed. It would provide the much-needed economic boost that these small businesses need. After more than 12 months of significant disruption as a result of the government’s road project here, these small family business operators, their workers and our community deserve at least that, especially now that the government’s department of transport has disappointingly stopped face-to-face stakeholder reference group meetings for the Montrose intersection upgrade project, which is really limiting community engagement in these final stages of the project. I look forward to a positive response from the minister for the Montrose community.