Baw Baw Shire Council has demonstrated its commitment to delivering on community priorities, investing $11 million in a wide-reaching road works program for 2019/20.
Across two public consultation phases to inform this year's Annual Budget, Council received 248 community submissions identifying the services and infrastructure that matter most to Baw Baw residents.
Roads featured as a clear priority and Baw Baw Shire Council has responded with an $11 million targeted program to maintain, renew and reconstruct significant portions of the vast network.
The investment accounts for more than 1/7th of the total budgeted Council expenditure for the coming year.
Major works planned for 2019/20 include (but are not limited to):
- 235,000 square metres of resealing across 80 sealed roads
- 100,000 square metres resheeting across more than 25 unsealed roads
- Localised road pavement works on more than 90 roads.
- Works to close unsealed gaps on Shillinglaw Road, Drouin
- The reconstruction of (or sections of):
- Waterloo Road, Trafalgar
- North Canal Road, Trafalgar
- Burke Street, Warragul
- Phoenix Street, Warragul
- Bennett Street, Drouin
- Kerb and channel renewals for:
- Waterloo Road, Trafalgar
- Rollo Street, Yarragon
- Ramsden Street, Drouin
- Beverly Street, Drouin East
- Phoenix Street, Warragul
- Improved road safety along:
- Graham Street, Darnum
- Steward Street, Warragul
- Bennett Street, Longwarry
- Additional safety and amenity improvement works include:
- Linemarking renewal
- Renewal of damaged guardrails
- Replacement of missing and damaged road signs, guideposts, fixtures, fittings (e.g. bicycle hoops)
Additionally, Council will be seeking part funding through the State Government's Fixing Country Road's program to reconstruct 1km of Yarragon-Shady Creek Road, and to reconstruct and widen three sections of Neerim North Road.
To view details of this year's full program of road works and other major infrastructure projects please visit Council's Capital Works Program webpage.
As noted by Mayor Cr Mikaela Power
"With a total annual budget of under $100 million, Baw Baw Shire Council is responsible for the maintenance of more than $615 million in existing infrastructure and the delivery of more than 100 vital community services.
"Sound financial management, strategic prioritisation of projects and responsible allocation of resources is crucial if we are to meet our community's needs now while simultaneously paving a smooth way for future generations in Baw Baw.
"Our residents have told us that the quality of roads is a major priority and we've listened. This year's roadworks program really demonstrates Council's commitment to investing in the areas that matter most to our residents and will set us off on the right path for years to come."
As noted by Deputy Mayor, Cr Danny Goss
"Programming works to maintain, renew and expand the more than half a billion dollars of infrastructure in our care is complex and requires a lot of forward thinking. Roads is one very important component of that infrastructure and one that is highly visible to our community.
"We're tasked with maintaining a network of roads totaling nearly 1,800km. For context, the drive from Melbourne to Brisbane is under 1,700km. Add in the fact that 82% of our network is comprised of rural roads with many of them unsealed, and the challenges are obvious - especially given the amount of rain our region experiences each winter.
"But these challenges are not something we're shying away from. We're tackling them head on, and in line with our community's priorities.
"A prime example is Waterloo Road in Trafalgar. We know residents are unhappy with it and want it addressed. So we're putting budget there to fix it. That's emblematic of this year's roadworks program as a whole – it's all about strategic deployment of resources to meet community expectations."
