Residents in St Arnaud will be pleased to see work continuing on the expansion of Queen Mary Gardens including the new community space on the site of the former bowling green.
The main large structure, the arbour, is mostly complete with some lighting and electrical work being installed from today that is expected to be finished in two to three weeks.
Further, installation of the new irrigation system also starts today and should be completed within one to two weeks.
Once the arbour is finished, there is some paving and garden bed preparation along with planting and seating to be installed before completion.
Finally, a new entry sign to mark the new common space will be installed as the finishing touch of the project.
Council has worked with the Queens Mary Gardens Committee to refine the designs of this expansion to ensure this development is attractive, welcoming and enhances the beauty of the gardens.
This first stage of the expansion of the Queen Mary Gardens onto this site will include new:
- picnic seating
- an entry arbour
- stone wall/seat
- stone wall with signage
- feature pavement with a stone paving pattern
- garden irrigation system
- concrete edging for the gravel footpaths
The new section of the gardens is expected to be open to the public by April this year.
Northern Grampians Shire Council Mayor, Murray Emerson, said council appreciates the patience of the community as this project has progressed.
"We understand this project hasn't moved as quickly as people would have liked but we are at the end of the road now with only small jobs left to complete the project," he said.
"This community-driven project will greet visitors from the east and south entrances to the town and give everyone a lovely new space to use for a great variety of uses."
