This morning, Golden Plains Shire Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey joined Michaela Settle MP, Member for Buninyong and Stewart Marshall from Tall Tree Poultry to officially mark the completion of the $1.4 million Tall Tree Road upgrade.
A partnership project with the Victorian Government, Council invested $472,000 and secured a $943,000 grant from the Government’s Local Roads to Market funding program.
The $1.4 million project, completed by Council’s Works team, widened, replaced and sealed Tall Tree Road in Lethbridge. Works were done on the 5.7km section of the road from the existing end of the sealed road to Meredith-Shelford Road.
The project sealed an existing 3.5km section of unsealed road that was unsuitable for heavy vehicles and regularly required maintenance, particularly following wet weather. A further 2.2km of narrow sealed road was widened and replaced, to improve safety and smooth flow of traffic. As part of the works, Council also completed 27 new property entrances for residences and businesses on Tall Tree Road, including new pipes and safety headwalls for improved drainage.
Tall Tree Road is the key arterial road of the Golden Plains Food Production Precinct. The $1.4 million upgrade supports the growth of intensive agriculture, and will help attract new investment in the precinct, increasing local employment and positively improving the economy of Lethbridge and the wider Golden Plains area.
Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey says that the upgrade of Tall Tree Road was an important component for the future success of the Golden Plains Food Production Precinct, a priority project for Golden Plains Shire.
“Tall Tree Road is a key arterial road within the Golden Plains Food Production Precinct, and this upgrade has improved access and safety for businesses, staff and neighbouring residents.”
“In addition to improved access and safety, this important road upgrade will help accommodate future business expansion for the local agriculture industry.”
“Local primary producers like Tall Tree Poultry will directly benefit from this project, with the new road accommodating increased traffic loading, particularly heavy vehicles. It will increase the durability of the carriageway while reducing the maintenance burden on Council.”
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