Buchan - Main Street and Linkages Project

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Buchan is celebrating a significant upgrade to its main road and walking path connections, following the completion of the Buchan Main Street and Linkages Project.

Undertaken in two parts, this significant project commenced in November 2022 with the creation of a 2.5m-wide, 1300m-long shared pathway connecting Buchan to the limestone Buchan Caves and surrounding park. 

In addition to the pathway, significant upgrades to the town’s streetscape include new parking areas near key locations such as the Buchan Playground, CFA facility, and Mechanics Hall. 

Roads have been re-sealed with new line markings to increase safety for both vehicles and pedestrians. The installation of new street furniture, including tables, has enhanced the town’s aesthetic appeal, making it more inviting for locals and visitors to the area.

The Buchan Main Street and Linkages Project will boost the tourist economy by improving access to Buchan’s town centre and enhancing its appeal to encourage people to stop, stay, and spend. It will also increase accessibility for the local community to move around town more safely and instinctively.

Council secured funding for this project from the Victorian Government's Local Economic Recovery Program which is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments. This funding can explore improvements and refurbishments such as:

  • Reconfiguring the service roads
  • Optimising car parking
  • Increasing visual appeal of the streetscape
  • Landscaping and improved street furniture

A shared path link to the Buchan Caves campground will be introduced to facilitate tourist movement between the popular tourist destination and the town proper, to encourage campers and glampers to walk or cycle to town and spend.

Social and business infrastructure will be designed to leverage the main street and linkage pathways investment and provide existing and new businesses a ‘wrap-around’ service which may include training for key skills, new events and enterprise facilitation services.

This project will be undertaken in two parts:

  1. Buchan Caves Reserve Linkage
  2. Buchan Streetscape Refurbishment

The attached fact sheet will provide more information about the project, including the possible inclusions and improvements to be made. Fact sheets will be produced on a regular basis throughout the duration of the project to keep you and your community members informed about the progress of the project. To stay up to date with the project you can subscribe to project updates in the right-hand column.


Please click on the News Feed tab below for regular updates. Information will be updated regularly as it becomes available, if you would like to stay up to date, please subscribe.


Information last updated by Project Development Officer on 24 October 2022



The Buchan Main Street and Linkages Project will boost the tourist economy by improving access to Buchan’s town centre and enhancing its appeal to encourage people to stop, stay, and spend. It will also increase accessibility for the local community to move around town more safely and instinctively.

Council secured funding for this project from the Victorian Government's Local Economic Recovery Program which is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments. This funding can explore improvements and refurbishments such as:

  • Reconfiguring the service roads
  • Optimising car parking
  • Increasing visual appeal of the streetscape
  • Landscaping and improved street furniture

A shared path link to the Buchan Caves campground will be introduced to facilitate tourist movement between the popular tourist destination and the town proper, to encourage campers and glampers to walk or cycle to town and spend.

Social and business infrastructure will be designed to leverage the main street and linkage pathways investment and provide existing and new businesses a ‘wrap-around’ service which may include training for key skills, new events and enterprise facilitation services.

This project will be undertaken in two parts:

  1. Buchan Caves Reserve Linkage
  2. Buchan Streetscape Refurbishment

The attached fact sheet will provide more information about the project, including the possible inclusions and improvements to be made. Fact sheets will be produced on a regular basis throughout the duration of the project to keep you and your community members informed about the progress of the project. To stay up to date with the project you can subscribe to project updates in the right-hand column.


Please click on the News Feed tab below for regular updates. Information will be updated regularly as it becomes available, if you would like to stay up to date, please subscribe.


Information last updated by Project Development Officer on 24 October 2022



Buchan is celebrating a significant upgrade to its main road and walking path connections, following the completion of the Buchan Main Street and Linkages Project.

Undertaken in two parts, this significant project commenced in November 2022 with the creation of a 2.5m-wide, 1300m-long shared pathway connecting Buchan to the limestone Buchan Caves and surrounding park. 

In addition to the pathway, significant upgrades to the town’s streetscape include new parking areas near key locations such as the Buchan Playground, CFA facility, and Mechanics Hall. 

Roads have been re-sealed with new line markings to increase safety for both vehicles and pedestrians. The installation of new street furniture, including tables, has enhanced the town’s aesthetic appeal, making it more inviting for locals and visitors to the area.

  • Project Update - 18 May 2023

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    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.

  • Project Update - 17 May 2023

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    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.

  • Project Update 17/04/2023

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    Solar bollard lighting has been installed.

    Picnic tables have been installed within the John Flynn Memorial reserve

  • Project Update 4/04/2023

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    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.

  • Project Update 29/11/2022

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    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.

  • Project Update 23/11/2022

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    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;

    Request

    Action
    Add new long vehicle parking bay along central Main Street.

    Included within Detail Design

    Investigate additional 45-degree parking space on Main St, Buchan Upper and/or better access to car parks out the front of the General Store from the north approach

    Additional carparking added to in front of General store

    Check all swept paths accommodate large truck movements

    Noted and carried out

    Check and design to all building access and vehicle cross over locations

    Noted and carried out

    Provide long vehicle parking at Main St, Buchan Lower

    Included within Detail Design

    Consider future treatment of the monument

    Consultants to explore options

    Tree species to be further refined. Noting that Jacaranda does not suit the environment

    Different tree species to be included within Detail Design

    Provide additional DDA car parks

    Additional carparks included within Detail design

    Liaise with RRV possibility of new bus shelter

    Consultant to follow up

    Upgrade footpath to Buchan upper

    Pending budget

    Dump Point installed at toilet amenity

    Included within Detail Design

    EV Charge point & carpark location

    Location to be directed by EGSC and DEWLP

    Reduce Speed limit to 50km through town centre

    EGSC and RRV to work through

  • Project Update 17/10/2022

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    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.

  • Project Update - July 2022

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    Project Update

    The Heritage Victoria permit for the proposed shared path project linking the Buchan township to the Caves Reserve information centre has been approved. This is a fantastic achievement and a big milestone for the project which has taken many months of collaboration between Council, Heritage Victoria, Parks Victoria and GLaWAC.

    The tender for the construction of the shared path into the Caves Reserve and also the linkage from the township to the swing bridge through John Flynn Reserve is open for public tender. This tender period is open until 10 August 2022.

    Estimated construction start for these works is mid October for a finishing date of April 2023.

  • Project Update 24/11/2021

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    Imagine Buchan Workshop a big success!

    With COVID restrictions easing in November the team at Village Well were able to run in person workshops to develop ideas for the project in Buchan. All Buchan District community members were invited to join us at two sessions on 16-17 November 2021. On Tuesday 16 November Village Well and 'streetmakers' Complete Streets hosted an inspiring, engaging and practical workshop to hear your ideas and aspirations for the streetscape and how you think it should connect to the Buchan identity and place experience more broadly. We want to thank the community members who attended the workshop and drop in session to provide feedback and valuable ideas.

    This was the first step in the community consultation process to develop the masterplan for the upgrade of Buchan's main street. The team at Village Well are working on the report which will be available for community to review early in 2022. Please subscribe to stay up to date with this project and to learn about further consultation opportunities.

  • Project Update 11/10/2021

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    Community consultation opens

    With COVID restrictions easing in November the team at Village Well will be able to run in person workshops to develop ideas for the project. All Buchan District community members are invited to join us at both of the below get togethers.

    Online Meet 'n' Greet - Tuesday 26 October
    Click on the above link to book your place
    Village Well will kick-start their consultation journey in an online Meet 'n' Greet where community members are invited to come along, say hello, learn about the process ahead and ask questions about next steps.

    In-person Imagine Buchan Community Workshop - 6pm Tuesday 16 November
    Click on the above link to book your place
    Village Well and 'streetmakers' Complete Streets will host an inspiring, engaging and practical workshop to hear your ideas and aspirations for the streetscape and how you think it should connect to the Buchan identity and place experience more broadly