Stage three of a multi-year project to revitalise Timboon's town centre has started with works to replace the footbridge across Power Creek.
The Timboon Town Centre Activation Project will focus on the southern end of the town centre near the pool with 30 new car parks.
The car park next to IGA will be extended and the Lambert Street car park opposite the pool will be modified to accommodate the extra parks.
New footpaths, drainage works, tree planting, lighting, picnic and street furniture will be installed along Power Creek, highlighting the natural features connecting the town centre to the swimming pool.
The existing timber footbridge built by the Timboon Lions Club over Power Creek will make way for a new 2.5 metre wide concrete and steel footbridge.
South West Ward Councillor Kate Makin said the original timber footbridge had served the community well.
"You don't have to walk far in Timboon to find something built for the community by the dedicated Lions Club volunteers," Cr Makin said.
"The original bridge has been very well used and this project builds on that original vision of making Power Creek a natural feature that residents and visitors can enjoy.
"The new bridge and footpath will be wider with less of an incline to meet today's accessibility standards," she said.
Cr Makin said the project had a strong economic development focus with an aim to create more opportunities for business.
"Timboon has experienced a lot of recent growth, and we can expect more visitors with the construction of the Twelve Apostles Trail.
"Improvements to the appeal and function of the southern entrance to the town centre will encourage more retail business activity in this key area.
"We also need to ensure the town has the capacity to cope with this growth and I think more parking spaces and better access to the town centre from the Lambert Street car park will be warmly welcomed by residents and businesses," Cr Makin said.
The Timboon Town Centre Activation project is supported by a $300,000 grant from Regional Development Victoria's Regional Infrastructure Fund. It is matched by a $100,000 contribution from Corangamite Shire and $50,000 from Beach Energy.
Cr Makin thanked the Victorian Government and Beach Energy for continuing to support small communities.
"I think Timboon's journey over the past decade is a really good example of the public and private sectors working together to revitalise regional towns," she said.
The project is the third stage of a $1.2 million investment in Timboon, with the Railway Precinct Project completed in 2015 and the Town Centre improvement projects completed in 2017.
