Golden Plains Shire Council and the State Government will invest more than $1.4M to widen, replace and seal Tall Tree Road, Lethbridge in 2019.
Council will contribute $472,000 to the project and has successfully secured a $943,000 grant from the Local Roads to Market funding program to complete works on the 5.7km section from the existing end of the seal road to Meredith-Shelford Road.
This section of Tall Tree Road provides principal access to the wider road network for a number of primary producers in the Golden Plains Food Production Precinct and to the service providers that support primary industry.
The project will seal an existing 3.5km section of unsealed road that is currently unsuitable for heavy vehicles and regularly requires maintenance, particularly following wet weather. A further 2.2km of narrow sealed road will be widened and replaced, improving safety and smooth flow of traffic along the busy road.
Mayor, Cr Owen Sharkey, is pleased that State Government is partnering with Council on the Tall Tree Road project and supporting the delivery of the Golden Plains Food Production Precinct.
“The Golden Plains Food Production Precinct is a priority project of Council and the completion of these important works on the precinct’s key arterial road is the next step in growing and strengthening intensive agriculture in Golden Plains,” said Cr Sharkey.
“The proposed upgrade will accommodate increased traffic loading on Tall Tree Road, particularly heavy vehicles. It will increase the durability of the carriageway while reducing the maintenance burden on Council.
“The upgrade of Tall Tree Road will benefit established primary producers as well as attracting new investment to the precinct, increasing local employment and significantly improving the economy of Lethbridge and the wider Golden Plains area.
The Golden Plains Food Production Precinct is a 4,000 hectare area of privately owned farm-zoned land west of Lethbridge. The Precinct is strategically located close to the Port of Geelong, and Avalon and Lethbridge Airports, as well as the cities of Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat. In 2016, Council partnered with Barwon Water and Federal and State Governments to deliver an 18km town water pipeline at the Precinct; with future plans for the site including more power and improved telecommunications infrastructure.
Works on Tall Tree Road will be completed by Council’s works department with construction scheduled to begin in early 2019.
– ENDS –
High resolution image available on request.
Released by: Eric Braslis, CEO, Golden Plains Shire Council
Media contact: Susan Talpey, Senior Communications and Marketing Officer, Golden Plains Shire Council
P. 5220 7147 │ E. [email protected]
Golden Plains Shire Council News Hub │ Have Your Say projects │ Community events calendar