Major rural roads upgraded
A combination of Horsham Rural City Council's operations team and contractors have completed two major rural road projects at opposite ends of the municipality.
At Bungalally, more than 2km of Green Lake Road has been reconstructed and widened after local residents reported unevenness and safety issues for the many agricultural vehicles that use the area.
The widening of the road to four metres with a two-metre-shoulder on both sides means it now has a consistent width and can support the safe passing of heavy vehicles.
HRCC invested $208,416 in the reconstruction while the Victorian Government matched the contribution.
In the north-west corner of the municipality, two sections of the Wail Kalkee Road have been significantly improved.
The road was rebuilt and widened from 3.7m to 6.2m with two-metre shoulders along separate sections near the Wail East School Road and the Wail-Dooen Road intersection.
Infrastructure Director John Martin said the Wail Kalkee Road was a key link for heavy vehicle traffic from the Western Highway near Dimboola through to the Wimmera Intermodal Freight Terminal.
"As a result, the Wail Kalkee Road experiences a greater proportion of heavy vehicle traffic than would normally be expected for a rural road of this type," Mr Martin said.
"This road also provides a key connection for many grain farmers in the north west of the municipality who use the Dimboola Grain Centre," he said.
Mr Martin said the $317,256 upgrade, jointly funded with the Victorian Government, was suggested as a priority at Council's Kalkee Community Conversation meeting held in 2018.
"The section of this road immediately west of the Katyil/Wail-Dooen Rd intersection also needed attention owing to the slight rise and crest, and a gentle curve, approaching a problematic five-way intersection."
"With the previously narrow road width, there was no centreline or delineation of traffic and this has now been rectified on this section of the road," he said.
Money to fix rural roads comes from a combination of HRCC revenue and funding through the Federal and State Governments.
This financial year HRCC budgeted to spend $2,551,490 which was a 10.1% increase on the 2018-19 allocation.
In 2020 HRCC is undertaking a detailed review of its rural road system to develop a Rural Road Network Plan.
A community steering committee consisting of representatives from across the municipality has been formed to support the development of the plan.
The committee held its first meeting during the Wimmera Machinery Field Days and opportunities for community input will be developed in the months ahead.
