Corowa Council has agreed to a 50-50 split with developer Bob Kay on the $40,000 required to build the road infrastructure to enable traffic to exit off-street carparking from a soon to be expanded retail development.

Traffic entering and exiting from Melbourne Street into the off-street parking behind the nine shops has created conflicts between cars and pedestrians.

Talks between the council and Mr Kay have resulted in a deal whereby vehicles will exit the off-street carparking onto Inglis Street.

Mr Kay has lodged a development application with the council to build another three shops and storage shed adjoining the existing nine shops between Inglis and Dunmore streets.

The initial nine shops are fully occupied after only being approved two years ago.

Corowa Council’s environmental and planning services director Bob Parr said a rear lane would need to be developed as the exit point onto Inglis Street.

“By directing the traffic to Inglis Street vehicles would have the option of turning left into the Mulwala urban area or right to the existing roundabout at the corner of Melbourne and Inglis streets,” he said.

“This in turn would remove the current and increasing conflict between vehicles and pedestrians when the vehicles exit the site.

“As all the shop fronts are located on the property boundary there is no opportunity for pedestrians to see vehicles approaching the exit point.

“For this change in exit location to be functional it would be necessary for approximately 80 metres of the rear land to be upgraded.

“The proposal for both the council and the developer to meet 50 per cent of the cost associated with upgrading the rear land to function as an exit only for the off-street carparking will result in a better and safer outcome for the community.”

Council’s engineering and infrastructure department has estimated the upgrade of the rear land and junction with Inglis Street would incur a maximum cost of $40,000.