Works start on Wallan's $4.1 million town heart
The first stage of the $4.1 million Wallan Town Heart revitalisation will begin next week.
The revitalisation includes a new outdoor plaza, forecourt improvements near the War Memorial, a new pedestrian crossing, new car parks, landscaping and traffic improvements to the High Street service road entry and Wellington Street.
In the first stage of works, car park and vehicle access improvements will be made near the Free Library Public Hall. There will also be 25 new car parks created near the Community Bank® Adventure Playground in Bentinck Street.
Plans have also been finalised for other parts of the revitalisation with some changes made following community consultation in September.
The War Memorial will stay in its current location, with the addition of a Circle of Remembrance.
Proposed garden beds outside the Free Library Public Hall have been removed for better pedestrian access. The picket fence has been removed outside the hall.
The High Street service lane entry near the pedestrian crossing has been moved further south to improve traffic flow.
Mitchell Shire Deputy Mayor David Lowe said it was exciting to see the start of the project after many years of planning.
“This project is not just about creating new public spaces – it’s about creating local jobs, connecting communities and giving people an extra reason to be proud of where they live,” Cr Lowe said.
“We’re currently preparing for our population to reach 210,000, with much of that in Wallan and to our south. We’re already seeing Wallan change as a result of this growth and we’ve seen how important it is to have good community facilities to bring people together.
“Wallan has a very bright future ahead and the start of the Wallan Town Heart project is a key part of unlocking its potential.”
Cr Lowe also thanked the Victorian Government for their investment and the Mitchell community for their input in to this project over the last few years.
“The original idea for these works came out of the Wallan Structure Plan back in 2015, with various opportunities for input since then including the recent preliminary designs which were released in September,” Cr Lowe said.
“The community has been very generous with their ideas and their time. I look forward to seeing this transformation of Wallan’s town heart take shape.
“None of this would be possible without the considerable investment from the Victorian Government through the Growing Suburbs Fund and Regional Development Victoria.
“These partnerships and funding streams are vital to support our growing community, to support the creation of local job opportunities, and to improve the liveability of our shire.”
Consultation has concluded
