Work to upgrade and beautify the central part of Bromley Road in Robinvale begins next week.
The long-awaited, $1.3 million project will include widening Bromley Road between Ronald and Moore streets, creating angle carparking, landscaping, and the installation of seating, bike racks and signage.
Roadworks contractor Bitu-Mill will start on site on Monday, 9 September, with the roadworks stage of the project expected to be complete in December. Landscaping will take place in the new year.
Swan Hill Rural City Council Mayor Ann Young said she was happy that work was about to start.
"The Robinvale community has waited patiently for this project to come to fruition, and I thank them for all their input into designs over many years," Cr Young said.
"We were fortunate to receive funding from the Federal Government's Regional Growth Fund, which added to the contributions from Council and the TAC, and which made it possible to get this project done.
"I am really pleased that work is about to start and look forward to seeing how it comes together over the next few months."
One of the first tasks will be to remove sugar gum trees in this section.
"It is never an easy decision to remove trees, but we can't achieve this project without it. It is important to realise too that many of these trees have reached the end of their useful life, their health is suffering and they have become unsafe," Cr Young said.
"I am pleased to say the plans show that more than 100 new trees to be planted along this stretch when the landscaping takes place in 2020," she said.
"These will include crepe myrtles, Chinese pistachios and lemon scented gums, which over time will make this a beautiful and sheltered entrance to Robinvale."
Other elements of landscaping include irrigated lawn, flowering garden beds at the pedestrian pathway across Bromley Road, seating, sculptural bike racks and signage.
There will be some disruption to traffic during the roadwork, and contractors will work to minimise this.
Council officers visited businesses on this stretch of Bromley Road last week to discuss the project, and Bitu-Mill will contact all property owners in the area too.
If you have questions about the Bromley Road beautification, the project's manager Dione Heppell will be available to meet with community members each Wednesday at the Robinvale Resource Centre from 9.30am until 10.30am. You can call in and chat with her at these times. Or contact her to make an appointment at a different time.
