Footpath projects approved by council

Footpath projects valued at more than $785,000 have been approved by Baw Baw Shire Council.

Three packages of works have been approved and tendered out to GBM Contractors Pty Ltd.

The packages included works valued at $402,491 in Drouin; a $165,518 package of works for Thorpdale, Trafalgar, Yarragon, Darnum and Warragul; and $217,621 contract for footpaths in Buln Buln, Longwarry and Rawson.

A report to council said almost $370,000 remaining in council’s annual footpaths budget would be allocated to other projects including:

Young St, Drouin (design and construction) $120,000;

Mt Baw Baw Tourist Road, Noojee (design and construction) - $130,000;

Erica to Rawson intertown trail (design only) $50,000; and

Old Sale Rd intertown trail (design only) $50,000.

Any remaining funds following completion of these projects will be returned to council as savings.

Cr Danny Goss said footpaths had been neglected for many years but council was now spending almost $800,000 on various works.

He said it was great to see so many locations around the shire being funded.

Cr Peter Kostos said many of the projects would help to fill in the gaps within the footpath network.

Cr Darren Wallace said he was pleased to see another year of good money being spent on footpaths.

He said studies had identified walking as one of the major activities in the shire.

Cr Wallace said a new footpath was constructed in Dodemaids Rd, Trafalgar last year. “Without a doubt every time I drive there, I see people on that footpath.”

“Our main goal is to connect the footpaths where they are needed,” he said.

Cr Michael Leaney said he was pleased that a range of small towns were included in the list of projects including Rawson and Noojee.

He said he was particularly pleased to see funding allocated to the design of an intertown trail between Erica and Rawson “which is something the community has been asking for for some time,” he said.

Residents affected by the works have received information letters about the works and will be updated as projects proceed.

The contractor also is required to notify residents and other affected stakeholders at least 14 days before works begin. The footpath works include: Central ward: Sutton St, Warragul from North Rd to Emberwood Rd and 240 metre section from Normanby St to McArthur St; Birch Crt, Warragul through the reserve between Birch Crt and Myrtle Cres; Tarwin St, Warragul in front of the church.

East ward: Pinnacle Rd, Rawson between the police station and historical society; MorwellThorpdale Rd, Thorpdale from Hamilton St to the school crossing; Mirboo North-Trafalgar Rd, Trafalgar from Cross St to Giles Rd; Rodier Rd, Yarragon to Dowton Park; Graham St, Darnum from Main St to Gaul Ave; Station St, Buln Buln from the bust stop to Platts Rd; Mt Baw Baw Tourist Rd, Noojee from the Noojee Hotel to Noojee Heritage Centre.

West ward: Ford Plce, Longwarry from Witton St to Church St; Witton St, Longwarry from Ford Place to Drouin Rd; Drouin Longwarry Rd, Longwarry from Corduroy Rd to Witton St, and a path connecting to the existing path in Church St; Grant St, Drouin from the corner to Drouin recreation reserve; Princes Way, Drouin from 3 Amberley Drv to the bus stop; Settlement Rd, Drouin from Lampard Rd to the basketball stadium; McNeilly St, Drouin from Gerrard St to McLean St; Settlement Rd, Drouin from the reserve in Folkstone Crt to Summerhill Bvd; Princes Way, Drouin from Princes Ave to Princes Hwy; Montague Ave along Alex Goudie Reserve; and, Young St, Drouin from Bank Place towards the existing car park.