The recent wet weather has delayed the playground installation, which is now scheduled for Monday the 1 July 2024.

Landscaping is now in progress above the recently completed retaining walls, with some planting completed. Further planting and installation of public seating will soon be carried out, along with the addition of balustrade handrails where required.

Park shelters are under construction and the new toilet block, which is being constructed offsite, is expected to be delivered and installed in the coming weeks, weather permitting.

Kerb and channel to the court bowl area is underway and will allow for footpath connections to follow in the coming weeks.

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The bulk of the earthworks and retaining walls are nearing completion.

Drainage infrastructure in the carpark and preparation for kerb and channel in the court bowl underway.

Concrete steps and Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) accessible pathways are under construction, along with landscaping above the retaining walls.

We welcome your continued interest in this project. Please feel free to share this update with your local network and choose to follow this project on YourSay to receive important information regarding this project directly to your inbox.

Whelans Group Investments Pty Ltd are continuing with demolition works and bulk earthworks throughout the site.

The construction of retaining walls is progressing well.

Works are anticipated to be completed in July 2024.

Additional photos are available in the photos tab: Photos - Orbost Forest Park

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Works are underway... Whelans Group Investments Pty Ltd have commenced clearing the site, with much of the old playground already removed.

	signage on the construction fence (Nicholson Street)	signage on the construction fence (Forest Road)

Access to Orbost’s Forest Park will be limited for the next few months while we upgrade the facilities.

Visitors to the area are asked to observe construction signage and any directions from the contractor during the works.

Access to Orbost’s Forest Park will be limited for the next few months while we upgrade the facilities. Visitors to the area are asked to observe construction signage and any directions from the contractor during the works.

Following community feedback, the commencement of the project was delayed so we didn’t interrupt usage over the busy Christmas holiday period. Our contractor, Whelans Group Investments Pty Ltd, has since moved back on site and commenced works.

Funding for this project has been provided by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications through the Regional Recovery Partnerships program, and East Gippsland Shire Council.

Project updates will be provided on YourSay when available.

Following community feedback, the commencement of the project has been delayed accommodating community events and a busy period for the Orbost township.

The contractor, Whelans Group Investments Pty Ltd, intends to mobilise to site on 29 January 2024 to commence this exciting upgrade for the Orbost community and travelling public.

Tender Contract Awarded

Council awarded the tender contract at their meeting on 26 September to Whelans Group Investments. Works are likely to commence onsite in January 2024.

The tender for construction of the Orbost Forest Park civil works was awarded at the 26 September Council meeting to local East Gippsland business Whelans Group Investments.

The revised scope for the upgrade of the park was required to meet the available budget and was approved by the project reference group.

Whelans are hoping to mobilise to site to conduct some of the initial works prior to Christmas and then commence further works in the New Year. The upgrade of the park will greatly improve local amenity and visitor experience.

The revised project scope has been accepted.

The fig tree in the centre of the roundabout has been assessed as in decline and it is unlikely that the tree will be viable in the medium to long term. Council understands that there is sentimentality to this particular fig tree, but it has struggled to live in its location.

It has been decided to remove the tree and replace it with a more suitable species. Each of these species are suitable to be placed within the centre of a roundabout as their root systems will not be constrained or impacted by surrounding kerb and asphalt.

The proposed options are:

• Acer Rubrum 'October Glory'
• Fraxinus Pennsylvanica 'Urbanite' or
• Nyssa Sylvatica

Detailed design will be finalised within a month, with procurement to follow. The Chamber of Commerce has requested that Council avoid closure of the park over the summer period (December / January). Council is discussing how to programme the works to accommodate this while adhering to the milestone requirements of the funding agreement.

To view the latest design, click here

The project's scope and proposed concept plan has been amended due to budget constraints.

Council are proposing to deliver:

• a new toilet block
• a new junior play area
• main picnic shelter
• main retaining wall and;
• a portion of the car park works

While the scope items to be removed are:

• the Forest Rd carpark improvements
• rail trail head
• path improvements
• a portion of the carpark works
• the all ages play area and;
• the shelter adjacent to the toilet block

The concept plan (provided in the documents section) provides an overview of the revised scope. This has been presented to the Project Representative Group.

A request to vary the scope of the project has been submitted to the Commonwealth Government. Council is waiting on the outcome of this request.

The tender documentation will now be ready in May 2023 with tender award and delivery to follow pending the approval of the variation request.