General News
14 December, 2023
Millions flow in C’mite road funding
THE $9.45 million 2023-2024 roads program is well underway across Corangamite Shire.
Director works and services Brooke Love said council had already completed a one-kilometre rehabilitation of Vite Vite Road in Derrinallum and a one-kilometre rehabilitation of Castle Carey Road in Boorcan this financial year.
“Our crews have just about completed a 1.6km rehab job in Sisters Noorat Road, Noorat and a 0.7km job in Chocolyn Settlement Road, Chocolyn, and are about to start a rehab on Old Geelong Road,” she said.
“Other major rehabilitation projects in the current capital works program include works on Wiridgil and Glenfyne Brucknell roads.”
Another 66km of local roads across Corangamite Shire would be resealed in the new year.
Mrs Love said the works would encompass approximately seven per cent of the shire’s sealed local road network.
“Council maintains 914km of sealed local roads which need periodic sealing to maintain the surface and stop water getting in and weakening the underlying pavement,” she said.
“The new surface has a lifespan of about 15 years but all of our local roads are resurfaced well before their use-by date.”
Council crews will do any patching which might be needed before the sealing contractor arrived, so the underlying pavement is in good condition before the protective seal is applied.
A condition assessment in 2020 found 99 per cent of council’s local sealed roads were in adequate condition.
Council will be again collecting road condition data in the new year.
Mayor Kate Makin said council awarded the contract for sealing of various local roads throughout Corangamite Shire and Warrnambool City in 2023-2024.
“For the past eight years we have cooperated with Warrnambool City Council to share resources and have both our annual sealing programs done under one contract,” she said.
“This has been more efficient and reduced costs for both councils.
“The contractor will source accommodation, meals and fuel locally for their crews during the works which will have flow-on benefits for our local economy.”
The Corangamite portion of the $2,761,820 (plus GST) contract will cost $2,139,404, which is $39,596 under budget.
Cr Makin said the savings would be put towards other road maintenance activities.
She said council remained committed to maintaining local roads and advocating to the state and federal governments for further improvements to the arterial road network.
For a map and list of roads to be resealed during this year’s program, go to www.corangamite.vic.gov.au/sealing-program.