Road maintenance and improvement is progressing across Mitchell Shire, with more than $20 million allocated as part of the 2024/2025 Council Budget.
This significant investment underscores Mitchell Shire Council's dedication to enhancing safety, connectivity, and accessibility for all residents, ensuring that the region's infrastructure keeps pace with its growth.
Council's approach to maintaining and upgrading its road network is part of a broader strategy aimed at delivering high-quality infrastructure that meets the diverse needs of both urban and rural communities.
As the Shire continues to expand, the focus remains on creating a robust road network that not only addresses current demands but is also resilient to future challenges.
Council is about to undertake major roads projects designed to improve safety, enhance traffic flow, and support future growth at Wellington Street and Darraweit Road in Wallan, thanks to Federal Government funding committed by Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell.
The $3 million upgrade to Wellington Street will see vital works completed on a critical thoroughfare connecting Watson Street to Duke Street. The upcoming works will bring this section of Wellington Street to an urban standard and include the installation of footpaths, street lighting, on-street parking, raised pedestrian crossings, asphalt surfacing, drainage and street trees. Intersection treatments at Duke Street and Watson Street will further enhance road safety, with work set to commence in September.
The $2.7 million upgrade to Darraweit Road will see the section between Acacia Way and Roulston Way will undergo an upgrade to urban standard, including the addition of underground drainage and kerbing. These works are expected to begin in early 2025, marking a significant step toward modernising Wallan's road infrastructure.
In this financial year, more than $4 million has also been allocated for the renewal of sealed roads throughout the Shire.
Key projects include pavement patching and resurfacing to significant sections of:
- Anderson Road, Kilmore - approximately 1km starting at Ryans Road
- Nannys Creek Road, Kilmore East - approximately 1.7km starting at Wandong Road
- Broadford-Glenaroua Road, Broadford - approximately 2km starting at Sugarloaf Creek Road
- Mia-Mia Road, Broadford - approximately 620m starting at Strath Creek Road
- Hawdon Street, Broadford - approximately 450m starting at First Street
- Burke and Wills Track, Mia Mia - approximately 10.7km starting at the Macedon Ranges/Mitchell Shire boundary and ending at McDonalds Lane (City of Greater Bendigo/Mitchell Shire boundary)
- Tantaraboo Road, Willowmavin - approximately 3.3km starting at Forbes-Moranding Road
Additionally, the 2024/2025 Budget has designated $1 million for resheeting of unsealed roads, with priority locations including sections of:
- Scanlons Road, Wandong
- Stotts Road, Wandong
The kerb and channel renewal program are also well underway to fix damaged and lifted sections of kerbing across the Shire.
Mitchell Shire Acting Mayor Nathan Clark said Council's roads team are working diligently to renew the Shire's expansive road network.
"Council's road renewal efforts are not just about maintaining the existing network but also about future-proofing it to support the Shire's ongoing development," he said.
"This includes strategic investments in both sealed and unsealed roads, ensuring that all parts of the Shire, from densely populated areas to more remote locations, benefit from improved road conditions.
"We're very grateful for government support to maintain and improve our extensive road network. This investment is vital to support the sustained growth we are seeing.
"Projects like Wellington Street and Darraweit Road in Wallan would not be possible without the extensive funding commited by Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell.
"You will continue to see our teams around the Shire working on the fundamentals like repairing potholes and grading, but you'll also see major projects beginning, like those in Wallan.
"We know roads are of utmost importance to our community and that they can be a source of frustration. Our teams are on the roads every day working to improve the conditions of local roads, and we greatly appreciate your patience while they do this."
Community members are encouraged to explore the "Whose Road Is It?" tool, an interactive map available on Council's website, which helps residents identify the responsible authority for roads within the Shire.
This tool offers a user-friendly interface to determine whether a road falls under the authority of Council, the Department of Transport, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, or other government entities.
For urgent issues on Council-managed roads, residents can contact 5734 6200. Non-urgent issues can be reported via Council's online "Report It" tool.
Additionally, Council welcomes community input on future projects through the "Suggest a project" page on its website.
