New trees mean works nearly over

EXTENSIVE and long running roadworks on the Midland Highway between Buninyong and Elaine are set to come to an end soon, and with that milestone on the horizon tree planting on the road’s verge has begun.

To signal the next phase of the project, pupils from the Scotsburn campus of Buninyong Primary School were out on Monday helping Upper Williamson Creek Landcare Group volunteers and workers from VicRoads get the job started.

Capus head Jarrod Morgan said that the addition of a turning lane onto Platts Road in front of the school has made accessing the campus safer.

“There’s been lots of holdups and roadworks but to see the end product now, and particularly the turning lanes for parents and students and the community to turn in safely to the campus, it’s really important,” he said.

More than 300 trees were removed as part of the highway upgrades, including significant old-growth eucalypts and some of the wood went to the Scotsburn school.

Now those lost trees are being replaced with some 4250 new ones over the next 18 months, including species like silver Banksia, Christmas bush, blackwood, and golden wattle.

With the works in the area going on for some time, Mr Morgan said the tree planting effort had been an opportunity for pupils to be part of the project.

“It’s really important for our students to learn about that cyclical nature of sustainability,” he said.

“To do these upgrades we’ve had to have some trees cut down, but then the repurposing and replanting has been important for our kids.”

However, the roadworks are not quite complete, with more safety barriers being installed over the coming weeks and then road resurfacing along the length of the 12-kilometre project in spring

That means there’ll be workers in the area for some time to come and Scott Lawrence, director of safer roads with the Department of Transport, urged motorists to continue exercising caution.

“We certainly understand it’s an important road that links Ballarat with Geelong and appreciate everyone’s patience as we complete these important safety upgrades,” he said.

“We really just ask people to slow down and always obey roadworks speed limit signs.”

Costing $23 million, the Midland Highway upgrades have included extended passing lanes, the installation of road safety barriers and the addition of wider shoulders.