With the Bendigo Easter Festival only a week away, now is the time to start planning your trip to the major event over the long weekend.
Several road closures and detours will be in place in the city centre to facilitate the staging of the region's biggest homegrown community festival. Some of the closures and detours will be in effect from Wednesday April 1 to Monday April 6.
No unauthorised vehicles will be permitted within the Bendigo Easter Festival precinct/road closure areas during event times. These areas have been declared a temporary tow away zone.
Residents and visitors are strongly advised not to park or leave a car overnight in the tow away zone. Any unauthorised vehicle left in the road closure area during the event times will be towed to a location outside of the closure area if Victoria Police is unable to contact the owner to move the vehicle.
For the first time, Arnold Street (from Bridge Street to McCrae Street) has been included among the partial road closures where only local and emergency services access will be given, with residents and businesses needing to show proof. This comes into effect from 6am to 6pm on Saturday April 4 and 6am to 6pm on Sunday April 5. People travelling by car to the festival are advised to seek alternative route. Maps are available on the Bendigo Easter website with all the important information.
Works have begun on the Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment with fencing and hoarding now installed around the site. This means there are some changes to pedestrian access on View Street and for some paths close to the rear of the gallery in Rosalind Park. There will be no footpath access or viewing area directly in front of the gallery on View Street, so this section will not be available for seating or for watching the two parades. For more details, please refer to the map on the Bendigo Easter Festival website. Footpaths remain open outside Dudley House, The Engine Room, The Capital, as well as on the opposite side of View Street.
City of Greater Bendigo Manager Economy & Experience James Myatt said it was important for people to be aware in advance of the road closures and the tow away zone.
"The road closures and the tow away zone across the festival precinct are necessary to meet the needs of staging Bendigo's biggest community festival and accommodate thousands of people attending events and activities," Mr Myatt said.
"The City would like to take this opportunity to thank residents and local businesses for their understanding and patience while these temporary road closures are in place.
"The festival's many sponsors play an important role in the event's success and the City would like to thank them all for their ongoing support, particularly premium sponsor Agnico Eagle and gold sponsors Sherridon Homes, Gold FM, La Trobe University and Bendigo Advertiser.
