Buchan - Main Street and Linkages Project

The contract for the Buchan Main Street and Linkages project civil works was awarded at the 5 September Council meeting to Fulton Hogan Industries Pty Ltd. The contractors anticipate mobilisation to site in November 2023 for the commencement of construction.

We are mindful of community activity and visitor movements leading into the peak tourist season and will make every effort to minimise the potential impact of the works within the township.

Dates will be advised when available.

The Buchan Streetscape project is progressing towards construction. An updated layout plan is available to be viewed in the documents sections (or click on the green link above).

Minor adjustments to the final design have been necessary to align with available budget, these changes will not impact the general delivery of the streetscape project.

The key outcomes that will be delivered are:

• Car parking will be increased within the town.
• Both service roads will remain two-way.
• The area near the existing playground and toilet block will be formalised and activated as shown in the previous design.
• Additional carparking will be implemented near the playground and the adjacent the CFA Shed.
• Additional carparking will be implemented adjacent the Hall.
• Roads will be re-sealed and line marked. This will improve vehicle and pedestrian safety
• Long Vehicle carparking will be created and sign posted.
• Pram crossings will be realigned to provide safer crossing points.
• Street furniture will be upgraded, and additional tables installed, where appropriate.
• Additional tree plantings and gardens will be installed.

Commencement of construction is to be confirmed once a contractor has been engaged to undertake the works.

Council will be in contact with property owners that may be impacted by the works.

There has been a slight delay in the proposed asphalt works for this week due to weather.

We expect the works to be completed early next week (weather dependent).

The Buchan Linkages Project is nearing completion, with the newly constructed footpath link between the township and Buchan Caves Reserve now open for public use.

There will be some further asphalt works undertaken in the coming week to the John Flynn Reserve driveway and carpark area, along with the installation of safety improvements to the Caves Road Reserve. These safety improvements include updating of existing signage and the installation of four ‘raised pavement’ speed humps to ensure vehicle speed limits can be managed along the Caves Road Reserve.

Community response has been great, with regular walkers already enjoying the morning or evening stroll, with dry feet. The installation of the solar lighting looks great and compliments the pleasant location for locals and visitors to the area.

The Buchan Main Street detail design has now been completed. Copies of the detail designs can be found in the Documents section.

The construction tender will be released to the public this week and will close in 4 weeks.

Solar bollard lighting has been installed.

Picnic tables have been installed within the John Flynn Memorial reserve

EGSC is working with design consultants to have the streetscape documentation finalised as soon as possible.

Part of the shared path leading into the Buchan Caves Reserve will be open to the public over the Easter 2023 long weekend, however further construction is still required to complete the path link to the existing informal gravel carpark within the Buchan Caves Reserve.

Due to the risk to vegetation, there has been an amendment to the path within the Caves Reserve, (see revised plans in the documents section) with the path now stopping at the existing gravel carpark and the road into the reserve will become a shared zone with additional speed reduction and speed humps added.

Street furniture will be added within John Flynn Memorial Reserve over the coming days which will complete this piece of the shared path, connecting the recreational reserve to the town.

The installation of solar bollard lighting along the path will commence after the Easter break.

The shared path from the township into the Buchan Caves Reserve and providing a connection through John Flynn Reserve construction works has commenced.

The streetscape detail design is being finalised, EGSC has been working with the PRG and local community to reinvigorate the town. The design and construction of carparking adjacent the Buchan Hall will also be completed within these works adding much needed carparking to this facility.

Once the detail design documentation has been approved by Regional Road Victoria, the construction package will be released for public tender and subsequent contract award early in 2023.

The Project Reference Group has been meeting regularly and has representatives from Buchan Bush Nursing, local traders, Buchan Quarry & also community members.

Council have received valuable feedback from the October 2022 online and face to face community consultation.

Consultants, Village Well, conducted several workshops and traffic management planning discussions in Buchan.

The key actions from the community consultation to be investigated in the Detailed Design (within the scope of works) are;

COMMUNITY CONSULTATION SESSIONS - 17 and 18 October 2022

Council is progressing the Buchan Streetscape Redevelopment to the next stage through the development of a draft plan. Community members are invited to join us for the next phase of the consultation process with in-person events held over evening and morning sessions to view the draft plan and provide further feedback.

Council would like to thank all those community members who have taken part in the consultation process to date, including those who attended the Village Well place making workshops and traffic management planning discussions. Your feedback is greatly valued and appreciated, and your ideas and concerns will help inform this next stage of the draft plan.

The in-person events will be held on 17 October at 7.30 pm at the Buchan Hotel and on 18 October at 8.30 am at the CFA Building.

For anyone who is unable to make the in-person events the draft plan will be available to view and provide feedback online through this YourSay page from 17 to 23 October.

The next steps after this round of consultation will be to develop the final plan and begin construction in early 2023.

Updates will continue to be provided via Your Say so keep an eye out as the project progresses and contact Council with any queries.