Greens candidates call on Tim Overall to halt Ellerton Drive Extension at Jerrabomberra candidate event

After a fairly uneventful procession of introductions by the lead candidates things heated up as the event was opened for questions from the floor.

Greens candidate Sheila Norman asked administrator Tim Overall about the Ellerton Drive Extension and if he would consider stopping progress until after the election. Ms Norman received applause from the assembled residents.

Mr Overall said that it was no longer within his power to stop the EDE progressing.

“It’s out of council’s hands,” he said.

“The whole tendering process, the contract process is with the Roads and Maritime Services.”

Mr Overall went on to explain that the council felt confident the project had broader public approval due to a series of studies and assessments.

As he spoke there were calls of “yes or no Tim” and “answer the question” from an audience clearly unimpressed with his response.

Katrina Willis, who is running number two on the Greens ticket and had spoken on behalf of the party earlier, stood and yelled ““It’s in the hands of RMS because council put it there”.

Fairfax approached RMS for comment on whether the council still had the ability to stop the project. An RMS spokesperson provided the following response: “The Ellerton Drive Extension is a combined project of the Australian and NSW governments as well as Queanbeyan-Palerang Council”.

“Tenders to carry out the Ellerton Drive Extension closed in May this year and Roads and Maritime Services expects to award the contract in coming months.”

Mr Overall, however, suggested that the EDE tender would be awarded in the coming days.

“The project was determined in June last year, the RMS have called tenders, it has a preferred tenderer and the RMS is expected to award the tender in the coming days,” he said.

“The decision has been made, it has the support of all three levels of government and the community. It’s proceeding.”