By Callum Ludwig
Yarra Ranges Council’s slowly disappearing Roads for Community program has had a small win, with the first road sealing project in the region confirmed to have been completed far cheaper than expected.
The sealing of Rue De Gare and Prospect Road, Wandin North was able to be completed at a saving of $227,716 compared to the initial estimated costs, with the savings set to be redistributed to landowners and to boost remaining road sealing projects before the now-stripped Federal Government funding runs out.
At the Tuesday 11 July Council meeting, in the absence of Chandler Ward Councillor David Eastham, Billanook Ward Councillor Tim Heenan spoke to the motion and said it was (previously) a shocking road.
“It was another one of those roads that we regretted going down, I’ve got a few of them in Mt Evelyn myself, but it’s certainly a better system that we have now going on there now,” he said.
“Thank you to the officers and certainly everyone that’s been involved in this.”
Rue De Gare and Prospect Road are residential roads that connect to the Warburton Highway near the town centre of Wandin North and as a result of the success of the project’s delivery, Council wants to advise landowners that a component of the savings is set to be redistributed to them.
Streeton Ward Councillor Andrew Fullagar said it’s very pleasing to see they’ve secured savings to Council on the original estimates.
“I think it’s good to see that the staff are working towards efficiencies and I commend them for that,” he said.
“Each resident pays a limit of $7000, which is a wonderful bargain when you see the improvements to their roads and the improved value to their houses.”
The total cost of the project, including Council’s added contributions to improving the intersection of Rue De Gare and the Warburton Highway and to the Council land abutting the roads, was estimated to come out to $629,140 but was completed for $383,584. Excluded from the Special Charges Scheme, Council saved $17,840 on their estimated costs for the footpath which was also improved through the project.
Lyster Ward Councillor Johanna Skelton said it was a happy time, but a sad time to see ‘the loop getting brought back’.
“Costs have really escalated in that space in the last few years, so it’s good to see 245 odd thousand is to be going back towards helping to fund the remainder of those roads in the Roads for Community program,” she said.
“It’s the first road that rolled out and now is closing up, so I just wanted to say thank you to all of the past council and also to past directors like Mark Varmalis, who I know really worked to get that funding in the first instance.”
The motion was passed unanimously.
