Northern streetscapes on final journey

LIKE fresh bitumen tipped into a pothole on a winter’s day, plans to alter the main streets of towns in the north of the Shire are quickly solidifying.

Concept drawings for the plan known as the Northern Streetscapes Project, and that covers the main streets of Smythesdale, Scarsdale and Linton have been released by Golden Plains Shire and are now out for another round of community consultation.

They cover where the Glenelg Highway runs through the towns and are based off the first round of public input.

Proposed works include more pedestrian crossings or crossing points, changed parking, the addition of public art and town banners, tree succession plans, and more plants.

“Council is very pleased to deliver the Northern Streetscapes Project and we thank the communities in Smythesdale, Scarsdale and Linton for their input during the first round of engagement earlier this year,” said mayor Cr Helena Kirby.

“This is an exciting project that will beautify the streetscapes of three of our northern townships, and we are pleased to be working closely with the communities in these townships to ensure the streetscape upgrades make the greatest improvement for local residents and visitors.”

Under the current concept plans, four marked and potentially raised pedestrian crossings would be added in Smythesdale on the Glenelg Highway.

Two would be either side of Loader Street, one at the IGA and the final crossing could be located just north of Verdon Street.

The speed limit through the town between Heales and Verdon streets could be lowered to 50kph.

In Scarsdale major works include the reconfiguration of the intersections of the Glenelg Highway and Pitfield-Scarsdale and Brown-Scarsdale roads.

They include the removal of the slip lane and the creation of a hard right-hand turn onto Pitfield-Scarsdale Road.

In Linton the speed limit would also be reduced to 50kph between Clyde and Gillespie streets, pedestrian crossings added, and traffic calming measures in the form of inside lane blocking devices added.

Many of the proposed changes, especially along the Glenelg Highway are on roadways or land controlled by the state Department of Transport.

As part of the project Berrybank Wind Farm has committed $650,000 and work is set to get underway later this year.

Feedback on the plans is open until 14 December and can be provided via goldenplains.vic.gov.au/consultations, where full details and concept drawings are also available.

Other ways to provide input include collecting a paper copy of the survey from the Smythesdale or Bannockburn customer service centres and emailing completed documents to [email protected] or via post to PO Box 111, Bannockburn, 3331, and marked attention to the Northern Streetscapes Project.

Lastly, on Saturday, 27 November, each town is getting an in-person engagement event as part of the process.

Things get underway at the Scarsdale General Store from 9am to 10am, then at The Well in Smythesdale from 10.30am to 11.30am and finally they round up at the Linton Shire Hall from 12pm to 1pm.

“We’re now looking forward to hearing feedback from those communities on the concept designs for the upgraded streetscapes,” Cr Kirby said.