Koroit Township Renewal

Paving works from IGA to Woolsthorpe Road are now in the final stages.

We thank businesses and residents for their support, patience and co-operation as we completed this major project – the results speak for themselves and the street is looking magnificent.

Weather permitting, final works include completion of pit works by Telstra, completion of paving works, resealing of the car parking bays and linemarking, installation of new furniture and planting of new hedging at the bakery!

Contractors have indicated the majority of these works should be completed prior to ANZAC Day, which will then be immediately followed by the set up for the Koroit Irish Festival. No disruption to the Festival is anticipated. Finish off works will be undertaken after the Festival.

There have been some changes to the tree planting plan due major underground assets running parallel to kerb which were located as the old asphalt was removed.

Rather than planting into the ground, street furniture grade 1m x 1m x 1m planter boxes are on order and will be planted with Pencil Pines – this will provide a distinctive avenue from Woolsthorpe Road and will stop future root damage to the pavement and underground services.

The trees and planters will be installed over the next three months due to lead times for manufacture of boxes, and on-growing of tree stock.

Council is still waiting to hear the outcome of it’s application to the Growing Regions Fund – if successful works can begin on completing drainage, parking, footpath and road improvements in High Street from Commercial Road to the Bowls Club area, and footpath and streetscape improvements to Commercial Road on the southern side from High Street to Spring Street and from IGA to North Street.

Mayor Cr Ian Smith has laid one of the first bluestone pavers on the Stage Two Township Renewal Works in Koroit.

Cr Smith said it was yet another exciting step forward for the project.

“It’s great to see this project taking shape, it’s been a long-held wish of Council and the Koroit community to give the main business area a refresh and now we are delivering,” he said.

“Starting work on the paving is a major milestone and over the next few weeks residents will see the new footpath take shape.

“Starting at the Woolsthorpe Road intersection end, contractors will work their way back towards IGA where it will meet the existing bluestone pavement.”

Cr Smith said access to businesses will be maintained at all times, but there would be some disruption.

“We will have to move pedestrians around work sites, so there will be some diversions and footpath closures in place,” he said.

“Businesses will be fully accessible, with paving works in front of entrances to be completed outside trading hours and our Project Management Office team is in regular contact with traders to ensure they are stay informed and any issues can be addressed.

“I’d encourage everyone to continue to shop locally and to enter the weekly raffle which is still running, all you have to do is spend $15 in one transaction at a Koroit business, write your details on the back of your receipt and put it in the barrel at Daly’s IGA or the Koroit Library.

“Each week on lucky winner will receive a $100 voucher to the Koroit business of their choice. The raffle is running for the duration of the stage two works.”

Cr Smith said once paving work is completely new street furniture will be installed and street trees planted.

He said stage two works were funded with a $1 million allocation from Council’s budget and major works were on track to be completed ahead of the Koroit Irish Festival.

Council has also lodged an application to the Federal Government’s Growing Region’s Fund for $2 million in matched funding to complete the remaining footpaths in Commercial Road and for works in High Street. An announcement on that application is expected soon.

Works on the IGA to Woolsthorpe Road footpath works are well underway. Over the past couple weeks works have included:

▪ Repairs to existing bluestone kerbing

▪ Construction of charcoal coloured kerb tray

▪ Installation of three new coloured concrete driveways.

These works will continue over the next couple of weeks with paving works expected to start at the eastern end of the site in late February.

Parking bays are being temporarily reinstated as works progress along Commercial Road. Permanent reinstatement will occur as paving works are completed.

We're pleased to advise the commencement of Stage Two works on Commercial Road on 29 January 2024.

Whilst we strive to minimise disruptions during major works, there will be temporary impacts including road, parking and footpath closures over the period of the works.

The project is expected to take 14-18 weeks to complete, with work hours Monday to Friday between 6am and 6pm. Some out of hours work will be required to ensure that business opening hours are maintained wherever possible.

Below details the first six weeks of expected works and disruptions. See "Koroit Township Renewal Stage 2 - project methodology.pdf" and "Map of expected works.pdf" in the Documents section.

Please note that these dates can be subject to change - for up-to-date project updates including details of scheduled night works, please come back to Engage Moyne at www.engage.moyne.vic.gov.au/koroit-township-renewal

Week One –Two (29 January 2024 – 9 February 2024):

• Vehicle lane and parking closure (eastbound) from Koroit Bakehouse to corner of Commercial Road and Koroit-Woolsthorpe Road. Footpath access retained. Minor driveway access disturbances.

Week Three – Six (12 February 2024 – 8 March 2024):

• Vehicle lane and parking closure (eastbound) from Daly’s IGA to Beany’s Butcher. Footpath access retained. Minor driveway access disturbances.
• Parking and footpath closed from Beany’s Butcher to corner of Commercial Road and Koroit-Woolsthorpe Road. Driveway access retained.

To support Koroit businesses during this period, Council’s economic development campaign, Love Local Moyne, will be focusing their efforts of promoting Koroit and the Koroit businesses. This will include a community giveaway which will see prizes given away every week, an activity pack which will be provided to both schools, and a social media campaign. To find out more about these initiatives, follow the Love Local Facebook page.

We appreciate your understanding and patience during this period of transformation. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the project, we encourage you to reach out to us.

Drainage Works in commercial road are now complete! Council thanks the community for their patience and understanding during the works on Commercial Road over the past couple of weeks.

The completion of this work marks a significant milestone for the Township Renewal Project and are a crucial component for moving to the next phase, footpath construction on the North Side of commercial Road between IGA and High Street which will begin in early 2024.

Council knows that while critical, these works have also caused some disruption for businesses. As a token of our thanks Council has arranged for window washing for businesses in the works area.

Councill has been notified it has made it through the first step in the application process for the Federal Government's Growing Regions Fund.

Council will now prepare a full application to the fund, seeking $2 million in matched funding to complete the township renewal project.

We expect to know if the application is successful in March or April 2024 and will keep the community informed.

This week, drainage works began on Commercial Road, Koroit.

Service location, proving and surveying has taken place and approximately 65m of stormwater pipes have already been installed.

Over the coming weeks, the team will continue to install the remaining stormwater pipes, including three road crossings, as well as the installation of drainage pits.

Stage two of Koroit’s township renewal project will get underway on Monday as preliminary drainage works begin.

Mayor Cr Ian Smith said it was an exciting step forward for the project.

“The drainage works are a critical component of the next phase of works in stage two, which is the completion of the Bluestone footpath from IGA to the corner,” he said.

“It’s great to see this work getting underway so we can then start on the footpath in late January.

“This has been on the top of our list for a long time, so it’s great to get it moving,”

Contactors will begin the work on the northern side of Commercial Road, between Deta Hair and the Woolsthorpe Road intersection, which is expected to take around three weeks.

Works will start at the Woolsthorpe Road end and progressively work westwards toward the Deta Hair over the three-week period.

Crews will be undertaking trenching work in parking bays, which will be closed and reopened progressively as the works move down the street. Trenching will need to cross to the southern side of Commercial Road in three locations towards the end of the project.

One lane of Commercial Road will be closed during construction work hours, with traffic controllers in place to keep delays to a minimum. The road will be reopened when crews are not working. Detours are not being put in place because of the short length and progressive nature of the works. Pedestrian footpath access to properties and businesses will remain open.

Cr Smith said staff from Council’s Project Management Office will work with business and property owners to keep them informed of any interruptions to access.

“We’ll also be keeping the community informed though our website and social media,” he said.

“I’d encourage anyone interested to head to the Moyne Shire project page to see information about the Koroit Township renewal.”

Cr Smith said Council was still waiting to hear the outcome of an application to the Federal Government’s Growing Regions Fund.

He said if that was successful it would allow for bluestone footpaths, street furniture and trees on both sides of Commercial Road and for footpath, parking and road works in High Street.

“We are completing the footpath on the north side of Commercial Road based on community feedback,” he said.

“We hope to hear about the application soon so we can continue with work and complete all of Commercial Road between High Street and the Commercial Hotel and in High Street from Commercial Road to the caravan park.

“If the application isn’t successful, we will have to explore options for next steps.”