Roads commitment includes deferred works
More than $29 million will be invested in roadworks next financial year.
The allocation represents about 23 per cent of the draft council budget.
Whilst a large increase on the 2022/23 budget, it includes more than $11.7 million of projects deferred from last year.
The capital roads budget is $20.214 million, with $8.416 million in “new” works and $11.798 million carried over from last year. In addition, the operating budget is $9.121 million.
A major road safety upgrade will be undertaken on Copeland Rd,
Warragul, with $3.29 million spent on a Moe River culvert and piped drainage works. Council will contribute $100,000 new funding, with $3.19 million carried over. Council will contribute $100,000 to the completion of a safety upgrade to the Longwarry North intersection of Sand Rd and Princes Way. The $1.54 million safety upgrade falls under the Black Spot program, with $1.44 million for works carried over. Two projects listed in last year’s budget - road reconstruction in Weerong Rd, Drouin and Saleyards Rd, Trafalgar - appear again. Prioritised by road condition data, these $2.47 million renewal works are subject to federal government Heavy Vehicle Productivity Program grant funding, with council contributing $162,000. They are part of a $16.8 million investment in road renewal projects across the shire, which includes 200,000 square metres of resealing works on 15 local roads.
The $1.75 million project to seal Gardner and Holman Rd, Drouin South has been carried over to this budget. Council will contribute new funding of $60,000.
Featuring the sealing of gravel sections, improving the intersection with Lye and Dixon Rd as well as drainage improvements, Cr Keith Cook said “this one is very exciting”.
“Some people talk about it as the western bypass for Drouin, but you couldn’t use it as it has about a kilometre of gravel on it,” Cr Cook said of the link to Westernport Rd.
The federal government’s Roads to Recovery program will provide $1.6 million to help meet the $2.74 million repair bill for 20 local roads. Council will contribute $1.13 million for repairs to more than 30,000 square metres of road.
Subject to grant funding, safety improvements to Albert Rd, Warragul are included. The $450,000 works between Normanby St and Neilson Ct propose raised safety platforms, speed cushions, street lighting upgrades and pedestrian pram ramp crossings.
Kerb replacement works on Bennett St, Longwarry have been carried over from last year’s budget. The works, as well as other kerb and channel works at sites determined via condition surveys, will total $150,000. These will be funded by $85,000 from council and $65,000 in deferred expenditure.
Bridge works on Factory Rd, Yarragon are a feature, subject to Bridge Renewal Program funding. Council has put aside $400,000 in the draft budget for the $2.23 million works to construct a bridge over Contour Drain and replace the bridge crossing Moe River. The Contour Drains are also subject to CMA approval.
Completion of the intertown trail in Longwarry between Sand Rd and Ashley Ct to Princes Fwy service station is included at $715,000. Council will contribute $55,000, with the remaining costs having been deferred.
Walhalla will benefit from the $389,000 new footpaths in tourist towns program with completion of the Main St footpath project and Australian Alps Walking Track link footpath. The costs were carried over.
Deferred expenditure also will provide for the $1.68 million Queen St streetscape works in Warragul and $1.48 million Commercial Pl streetscape works in Drouin.