Campaspe Shire councillors voted at their recent monthly meeting to reinstate the section of Bowen St, heavily impacted by last year’s floods, as a gravel road.
The work will be funded as part of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements program, a joint initiative of the state and federal governments.
Campaspe Shire Mayor Rob Amos said an upgrade from a gravel to sealed road would not be possible for engineering reasons and in the interest of fairness across the municipality.
“The project design includes preliminary work, road geometry adjustments, driveway culverts, kerb and channel work, underground service relocation and optional stormwater pipe replacement with estimated costs for the upgrade ranging from $850,000 to $900,000, with the DRFA contribution being $65,000,” Cr Amos said.
“As councillors, this presents us with several issues including misalignment with our current road network policy, flood recovery funding criteria, as well as concerns about favouritism over adjacent roads.
“Our officers are rigorously assessing projects in various locations around the shire to ensure the highest benefit and value to our flood-affected residents across the municipality.”
The federal and state government’s Council Priority Betterment Program, aimed at improving resilient public infrastructure, was granted to Campaspe Shire, which will receive $1 million to repair public assets damaged by last year’s floods.
“We are grateful to receive the betterment funding, but with the eligibility requirements, only a small portion of the Bowen St project qualified, so we have opted to utilise the DRFA funding for this project to restore Bowen St to its existing service level,” Cr Amos said.
Council had engaged an external consultant to investigate the design process to seek more detailed information about the potential works and costs.
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