SOUTHERN Grampians Shire Council (SGSC) has provided an update on the progress of the 2023/2024 Capital Works Program which totals $33,778,312, the largest annual capital program it has undertaken.
The program comprises in excess of 360 individual projects across the Shire covering categories such as flood recovery, building renewal and road rehabilitation.
Included are a range of funded flood recovery works including Tarrington, Grangeburn and Lake Hamilton trails, playground softfall and Nigretta Falls stair replacement and tree assessments.
Building renewal projects include the HILAC changeroom design and floor resurfacing, Hamilton Depot OHS upgrades, Cavendish pre-school building, Coleraine Mechanics Hall roof and Balmoral RSL.
The Road Rehabilitation works cover 13 road sections and urban and rural Road Reseals on 117 road sections across the Shire.
There were final road seals on 23 roads in the Shire and gravel re-sheets across 23 sections of roads.
The Bridges and Culverts Program includes nine bridges and one culvert with the contract to be awarded in February 2024.
There will also be drainage renewal at 10 locations with the focus on increasing capacity to mitigate localised flooding.
Of the total $33,778,312 program, there are currently 60 per cent ($21 million) of projects underway and at various stages of completion.
Projects already completed this year include:
• Dunkeld Loop Walk - $440,000
• Hamilton Botanic Gardens Rose Garden - $40,000
• Dunkeld Hub comprising the new viewing pavilion, connecting pathways, pedestrian refuge on Parker Street, landscaping and interpretive panels - $1,242,000
• Penshurst Volcanoes Discovery Centre interpretation panels, display cabinets, landscaping and seating - $40,000
• Hamilton Art Gallery Lighting, Climate Control, Essential Services and Security - $700,000
SGSC chief executive, Tony Doyle, said he was pleased with the robust start to what is the largest capital program ever undertaken by Council in a 12-month period.
“It is very pleasing to see that we have over half our programmed works underway at this point of the financial year,” he said.
“Our team has worked hard in a challenging construction market to have $21m of projects scoped, designed, contracted and underway for our community.”
Significant projects to commence include:
• Melville Oval redevelopment $7,346,000 (due for completion December 2024)
• Silvester Oval, Coleraine - Power Upgrade and Sportsground Lighting $426,888 (due for completion April 2024)
• Coleraine Rail Trail Crossings Detailed Design $225,000 (due for completion June 2024)
• Pedrina Park Soccer Field Drainage $150,000 (due for completion July 2024)
Mr Doyle said it wasn’t just about the scope of the projects, but about the people.
“Working for a community is a privilege and I am very proud of our team,” he said.
“Our capital program is diverse, with everything from building maintenance and construction, road constructions and rehabilitations, upgrades to sporting surfaces and facilities, playground upgrades, dam wall upgrades, pool maintenance, electrical works and drainage through to heritage fountain repairs.
“This requires our small engineering team, asset planning and works team to have a very diverse set of skills.”
Projects that will commence early in the new year include:
• Hamilton CBD Streetscape design development
• Swimming Pool Renewal works
• Parking meter replacement
Mr Doyle said there was also an overall motivation to address better efficiencies into the future.
“Council is also focusing on initiatives that improve our sustainability, including LED replacement of our Performing Arts Centre lights and developing our own source of native vegetation offsets at Hewitt Park, which will not only reduce costs but also provide a new source of revenue for Council,” he said.
