$12.5 million “isn’t enough” for roads

Almost 30 per cent of Baw Baw Shire’s capital works budget will be directed to roadworks in the next financial year.

Council has allocated $12.5 million to road projects, matching its commitment in last year’s budget.

However, according to Cr Danny Goss, that figure isn’t nearly enough.

“I don’t see enough money in roads,” Cr Goss said. “I’d like to see at least another $1 million going into our roads contract, our upgrades there, to assist with road maintenance and drainage.”

The road projects proposed in the 2024/25 capital works program include $9.3 million of renewal works and $3.2 million of new capital works.

Five big ticket items valued at $5.8 million - representing 46 per cent of the roads commitment - are repeat items.

This includes $2 million for the $4.5 million Copelands Rd upgrade. Council has committed $49,255 of new funds to upgrade culvert and piped drainage works as part of these DCP works and gained $475,000 in grants. The remaining $1.5 million was carried over from last year’s budget.

Road reconstruction projects for Weerong Rd in Drouin and Saleyards Rd in Trafalgar appear for the third consecutive year.

The two projects, valued at $121,000 and $730,000, had been prioritised by road condition and traffic volume, but remain subject to federal government grants.

The $1.75 million project to seal Gardner and Holman Rd in Drouin and improve the Lye and Dixon intersection has been carried over and still requires an external grant.

The $1.4 million safety upgrade to the intersection of Sand Rd and Princes Way in Longwarry North under the Black Spot program also is carried over.

Council has allocated $1.4 million for resheeting gravel roads, $1.1 million for road pavement repairs, $149,000 for proactive resheeting of gravel roads, and $150,000 for kerb and channel replacement.

Utilising grants, council will put aside $1.2 million for resealing works on more than 15 roads - $1.1 million from grants and $64,000 in council funds - as well as $300,000 to repair roads for resealing.

A new addition is a $1.5 million council fund to help attract federal government grants to reconstruct local roads.

Council will use this fund to leverage grants with a focus on rural roads supporting heavy vehicle transport links and prioritising recent road condition surveys and local transport needs.

Mr Hair said they were awaiting grant announcements and would target those offering best value for dollar.

“Rural collector roads are struggling at the moment,” he said. “Until we gain clarification...we don’t want to put stuff in (the budget) and make promises we can’t deliver on,” he said.

Although not included in road funding, improvements to two roads have been earmarked for future works.

Council has set aside $175,000 for full design works into Waterloo Rd in Trafalgar, between Seven Mile Rd and Saleyards Rd, and Church St, Drouin, between Viaduct Pl and Boronia St.

Mr Hair said full investigations were required to determine required works and budget.

In the case of Church St, he said a spring across the road and drainage requirements made it “not just a simple road reconstruction”.

“We’re giving ourselves time and money to do it once, right and properly,” he said.

Land will be purchased at the intersection of Pharaohs Rd, Sutton St and Tarwin St in Warragul to enable roundabout works, costing council $516,000.

The only other land acquisition will be in Trafalgar as part of a $713,000 project to design and construct a retardation basin.

The $3.3 million bridge works program features three big carry over projects - two on Factory Rd, Yarragon and the third on East West Rd, Darnum. The Darnum project requires a $1.5 million grant to proceed, with council setting aside $250,000.

Chief executive officer Mark Dupe said the Walhalla footpath project, listed but not delivered for several budgets, would be made a priority in this budget.

Mr Dupe said the $229,000 project for Main St was complicated as it required multi-agency support and land acquisition.

Delivery of the $1.9 million Queen St streetscape works between Victoria St and Mason St in Warragul as well as completion of the $680,000 Sand Rd stage one footpath works in Longwarry are also highlighted in the $6 million footpath works program.