Council investing in roads

Hepburn Shire Council is continuing to invest in roads across the Shire, with a $500,000 road patching contract awarded at its Ordinary Meeting this week. Council has also recently entered into a partnership with five other Councils to deliver a regional approach to bituminous resealing. 

Council has allocated $2.73 million in the 2023/24 budget for reconstruction, resealing and gravel re-sheeting of roads across the Shire, in addition to around $3 million of operational expenditure for other repair works. 

Mayor, Cr Brian Hood said investment in roads is a justifiable concern for our community and a major priority for Council. 

“Successive years of wet weather have seriously deteriorated road conditions and led to potholes and other road defects. This is an ongoing challenge that all road authorities are facing,” said Cr Hood. 

“Major patching can drastically improve the condition of roads. The contract for sealed road patching will see improvements to Council-managed roads around the Shire,” he said. 

To optimise effectiveness patching works will begin in autumn once weather conditions improve. The program of works will be based on an audit of road pavement defects that Council carried out earlier this year, thereby ensuring works are prioritised in an evidence-based manner. Council awarded the contract to Civil By Parker Pty Ltd. 

Hepburn Shire is partnering with neighbouring Councils Ararat Rural City, Pyrenees Shire, the City of Ballarat, Moorabool Shire and Golden Plains Shire, in a regional bituminous resealing program with Victorian-based contractor, VSA Roads Pty Ltd. 

“Joining together with neighbouring Councils to improve our roads makes good sense, both from a safety and financial perspective,” said Cr Hood. 

Bituminous resealing gives the road a fresh coat of protection and grip to ensure continued usability and durability.  

“Bituminous resealing will start in our Shire early next year. It’s a key tool in improving and maintaining our road network,” said Cr Hood. 

Council has also awarded a contract to improve kerb, channel and carparks in the vicinity of High Street in Trentham. The $227,992 (ext. GST) contract was awarded to Fulton Hogan Industries. 

The project includes separate packages of work, including construction of kerb outstands to improve pedestrian safety and access and reduce speed at the intersection of Quarry and High streets. A section of bluestone will be re-laid, with new asphalt on High Street.  

Two car parks will be formalised and asphalted - the car park on Quarry Street at the Quarry Street Reserve and the car park at the corner of Cosmo Road. The formalised carpark adds to the facility upgrades that Council recently completed at the Quarry Street Reserve. 

Works in Trentham are expected to begin in the coming months. Every effort will be taken to minimise disruption to the community and local businesses.  

Similar traffic, drainage and road improvement works have been undertaken in Clunes and Creswick in previous years. 

Cr Hood said that Council has received a lot of feedback on roads over the last few months.  

“We appreciate the feedback from the community on roads. We encourage people to continue to contact Council to raise a service request via our website or by phone,” said Cr Hood. 

“Many of the reports relate to roads which are under the management of Regional Roads Victoria and we're not able to do any work on them, but be assured we share feedback with RRV managers,” he said. 

Roads not managed by Council include major arterial roads including Midland Highway, Daylesford Trentham Road, Daylesford Malmsbury Road, Ballan Daylesford Road, Creswick Newstead Road, Clunes Creswick Road, Main Road Hepburn Springs and more. The full list is available at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/roads.