Shire shuffles order of federally-funded projects

THE Surf Coast Shire has shuffled the order that some of its proposed infrastructure will be delivered to meet new deadlines from the federal government.

At their meeting last month, the council endorsed several changes to the works that would be funded under the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCIP).

Established in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, LCRIP supports councils across Australia to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects.

According to the officers’ report to councillors, the shire is close to completing all its projects in Phases 1 and 2 of the program, but there had been difficulties, including COVID-related cost escalations and delays in materials/contractor availability, the 4.2. volume and complexity of LRCIP projects on top of the regular program of projects, and delays and complexities to community engagement.

As a result of the delays, the federal government has advised all councils that the deadline for projects in Phases 1-3 of LRCIP had been extended to June 2024.

“Council’s draft 2023-24 capital works program provides the best source of projects that can confidently be delivered by this deadline,” officers stated.

Under the changes, the shire has withdrawn two projects from Phase 3 and nominated three others: the Horseshoe Bend Road-South Beach to Pacific Drive renewal, Horseshoe Bend Road pedestrian and cycling safety improvements, Fischer Street pavement rehabilitation and roundabout reconstruction between Merrijig Drive and Inshore Drive, and a heating pump coil and chiller at the Civic Centre.

The council motion has effectively freed up $2.1 million of shire spending, which it will now put towards the Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre project ($1.05 million), the Horseshoe Bend Road/Blackgate Road intersection project ($700,000), and the Multi Arts Centre project ($350,000).

The shire will also identify and nominate $600,000 worth of eligible projects for Phase 4B from the road renewal backlog based on the findings of its road condition audit.

Speaking at the council meeting, Surf Coast mayor Liz Pattison said the shire was committed to delivering the Multi Arts Centre project in Torquay and the Horseshoe Bend Road/Blackgate Road intersection as part of Phase 4 of LRCIP, which was scheduled for completion by June 2025.

“All the details of these various projects and the amounts allocated to them are in the agenda report if people are interested in reading it, but the bottom line is that the revised approach to this funding program will ensure that the projects we are committed to already will be completed and that we can bring forward some important road renewals in the process, as well as allocate 1.05 million to reduce some of the funding gap in relation to the Surf Coast Aquatic and Health Centre project.”