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A Brisbane gym owner says a timeline blowout on a council road construction project has robbed him of income, but he is not owed a cent of compensation.
Tudor Vasile's Snap Fitness franchise is located at Indooroopilly Central next to Moggill Road, which has been under heavy construction since January 2022.
Since then, the project's costs have more than doubled, and the completion date has been repeatedly pushed back.
The Moggill Road upgrade was supposed to be finished in early 2024. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato)
Brisbane City Council told 612 ABC Brisbane the project was currently due for "practical completion" in early 2025, which would make it more than a year late.
The road is fenced off for several kilometres, funnelling cars in different directions through various detours.
Drivers coming from one side must go around the block and choose the correct detour in order to reach Indooroopilly Central.
Mr Vasile said his gym had been running at a significant loss during construction, upwards of $5,000 per month.
"We're on our knees here scrambling for help and support and nobody seems to be giving us that support," he said.
He said businesses were losing customers because it was too difficult to reach their stores.
"It's absolutely obliterated the businesses here, and some of the stories you'll hear will really bring a tear to your eye," he said.
Tudor Vasile says the council has let the shopkeepers down. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato)
Mr Vasile said he had repeatedly asked the council for financial compensation, but was told the business was not owed anything under the Queensland Acquisition of Land Act 1967.
The 57-year-old law stipulates that councils are not legally obliged to compensate home owners or businesses unless they are on compulsorily acquired land.
Mr Vasile thought his loss of profits would be compensated but he wasn't eligible because none of his land was acquired.
According to the law, a small number of businesses on Lot 10 of Indooroopilly Central could be eligible for compensation, but the rest of the shopkeepers like Mr Vasile are not owed a dollar.
A council spokesperson told the ABC all businesses were still encouraged to make a submission requesting financial compensation.
Andrew Wines says the upgrade will reduce congestion and road fatalities. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato)
Civic Cabinet Infrastructure chairman Andrew Wines said the construction project would reduce congestion and road deaths along the busy intersection.
"We are committed to keeping Brisbane moving and the Moggill Road Corridor Upgrade Project is the biggest congestion-busting project we're delivering right now," Councillor Wines said.
"There were 44 crashes at this intersection in seven years and if we don't do this work now there will be more crashes and more congestion in the future.
"The team delivering this project have done amazing work supporting the local businesses throughout the delivery of this upgrade and I thank the businesses for being incredibly patient and resilient."
A council spokesperson said the project had faced bad weather, rising expenses, and other "complexities".
They said the project now cost $257 million as the cost of bitumen had increased by more than 50 per cent, steel beams by 90 per cent, and construction labour by 60 per cent.
'I've lost everything'
Roy Meng says he often apologises to his children for being unable to spend time with them. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato)
NightOwl franchisee Roy Meng said he was forced to withdraw his two children from private school because he could no longer afford the tuition.
He said he could no longer spend time with his three children because he was working around the clock to keep his business alive.
Mr Meng said despite all his efforts, the shop was running at a loss and he was struggling to provide for his family.
"I am proud that my business survived through the floods, survived through the COVID period, but we are dead because of this construction," Mr Meng said.
"At the moment I work 80 hours per week, I lost family time with the kids, and they need the parents to be with them.
Business focused on survival
Freddie Wang has been working without paying himself a wage to keep his cafe alive. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato)
Horizon & Grind cafe owner Freddie Wang said the ever-changing construction site made it slow and confusing to drive into Indooroopilly Central, and even worse to walk.
Mr Wang said he was currently not paying himself a wage, because there was only enough money to pay his staff.
"I'm just trying to keep it going, because I can't just let it die," Mr Wang said.
"I need it to survive this period and hopefully it will get better in the future."
ABC Brisbane asked the new Queensland government if it had any intention to amend the Acquisition of Land Act 1967, but received no answer.