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Baw Baw Shire Council gets $2.2M to support Growing Suburbs Fund and deliver mote major infrastructure

The Growing Suburbs Fund supports fast-growing local government areas within Victoria, like Baw Baw Shire, to enable them to deliver high-quality facilities for their expanding communities.

By news@gippsland - 21st October 2022 - Back to News

Baw Baw Shire Council is set to receive $2.2 million in state government funding to support the delivery of two key infrastructure projects for the Shire: the Queen Street, Warragul Streetscape Project and the Rollo Street, Yarragon Masterplan.

The 2022-23 Growing Suburbs Fund is a contribution by the Victorian government towards meeting critical local community infrastructure needs

Funding allocation

As one of the fastest growing regions in Victoria, Baw Baw Shire Council is delighted to welcome the 2022-23 funding round allocation for:

• Queen Street, Warragul Streetscape Project - $673,962
• 3-5 Rollo Street Yarragon Community Open Space Reserve - $1,528,132

Queen Street, Warragul Streetscape Project

The Queen Street design is the 9th and final stage of the Warragul CBD Streetscape Project that commenced in 2016 to help manage the population growth and development in Warragul.

The project aims to create a more pedestrian friendly precinct with improved safety and access for both road users and pedestrians alike. The works will include:

• Re-establishment and extension of significant tree avenue along the south side of Queen Street
• Installation of a centre median between Smith Street and Mason Street to provide traffic calming, and an opportunity for a mid-block pedestrian crossing
• New line-marking, including bike lanes, median and turning lanes
• Renewal and relocation of the public amenities block to adjacent the existing bus stop to improve passive surveillance and safety

Provide for improved pedestrian and disability accessibility by:

• Addressing existing footpath crossfall issues to enable widening of the shared pathway
• Providing a widened pathway from the TAFE to the existing Normanby Place shared pathway
• Implementing kerb stands and refuge islands at the Queen Street and Gladstone Street intersection to enhance pedestrian and vehicle safety
• Retention of existing parking bays
• Retention of afterhours taxi rank at the existing Queen Street bus stop

Follow the progress at Warragul CBD Streetscape Project Overview page.

Rollo Street Yarragon Masterplan Project

The Rollo Street Yarragon Masterplan project will see the vacant land of the old Yarragon Primary School site transform into a valuable community open space that accommodates passive recreation and community events. The key opportunities outlined in the masterplan include:

• Opportunity to create an entry forecourt
• A proposed shelter with picnic table with art feature
• Opportunity for angled parking in Hanns Lane with 1.5m wide footpath next to park edge
• Large open play areas suitable for events, markets, and picnicking
• Opportunity for historical information feature to be displayed
• Proposed 2.5m shared loop path connecting Murray Street and Rollo Street

The full list of key opportunities for the site can be viewed in the Masterplan page with confirmation subject to further detailed design and community consultation.

Council is currently in the process of confirming the funding agreement. Once the documentation is finalised, further detailed scope of works and timelines will be identified.

Upgrade and redevelopment

Mayor Cr Michael Leaney said, "The Queen Street redesign and the Rollo Street masterplan are two exciting upgrade and redevelopment projects that will deliver vibrant and accessible community spaces for our residents and visitors to enjoy."

On behalf of council, I welcome this vital and much needed funding from the Victorian government that will help us deliver on these important community infrastructure projects for our growing Shire". Cr Leaney said.

Cr Joe Gauci said, "This vital funding will go a long way in supporting the last stage of the Warragul Streetscape project. With more and more new residents, new businesses and new visitors in Baw Baw Shire, these plans promote a more pedestrian friendly precinct for all."

Improving safety for pedestrians

Cr Danny Goss said, "The current Warragul Streetscape no longer meets the requirements of our growing population. We greatly welcome this funding from the state government to help improve safety for pedestrians without compromising car parking spaces".

Cr Jazmin Tauru said, "We're thrilled to welcome the state government's support for the Queen Street, Warragul Streetscape project. We understand our residents want to see improved pedestrian amenity and accessibility within the CBD and now, with this funding I look forward to seeing this take shape".

Developing community space

Cr Peter Kostos said, "It's fantastic to see the Rollo Street project secure funding. The designs and features of this community space have been guided by our residents and I look forward to seeing the detailed design and the development of this site in the future."

Cr Darren Wallace said, "It was well understood that retaining the Rollo Street site was important to the Yarragon community and now with the support of the Victorian government, we will be able to develop a vibrant community space for Yarragon".

Pictures from Harriet Shing MP Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com