Campaspe Shire Council has been successful in its nomination of the Axedale-Toolleen Road Widening and Safety Enhancement project to be fully funded through the Australian Government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program.
The LRCI Program supports all Australian councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects in their region, creating jobs and long-lasting benefits for communities.
Senator for Victoria, Jana Stewart, said the works are yet another example of the Albanese Labor Government working with local councils to deliver much-needed upgrades to rural, regional and outer-urban communities.
"The Australian Government is investing more than $3.25 billion dollars to upgrade regional roads nationwide under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.
"Local governments play a vital role in delivering critical infrastructure for our communities, and I'm proud we are working with Campaspe Shire Council to deliver safer roads for drivers travelling on Axedale-Toolleen Road," Ms Stewart said.
The project aims to widen and reconstruct the road pavement, renew the underground drainage system as well as for the installation of safety barriers along extended lengths of Axedale-Toolleen Road, Toolleen between Northern Highway, and the Campaspe Shire boundary.
Campaspe Shire Council Director Infrastructure, Kate Lemon, said that while this project would be a welcome enhancement to community safety and connectivity across the district, that there were also environmental considerations required.
"The construction works require the removal of a significant number of trees so we have arranged for an ecologist to relocate fauna before the trees are removed and an arborist is supervising the removal of the trees prior to road works starting.
"We will also be working with the North Central Catchment Management Authority to reuse a number of the larger trees on a river snagging project within the municipality.
"Council is committed to mitigating the environmental impact of tree removal, so we have already we've purchased native vegetation offsets to compensate for the tree removal, ensuring we maintain our commitment to a sustainable community," Ms Lemon said.
The contract is planned to be awarded towards the end of 2023 with construction works likely start in the new year.
For updates on this and any other Council projects, click here.
