Winchelsea works starting soon

NEW picnic settings, bike racks, paving and garden beds are just some of the improvements that are preparing to get underway as part of a project to enhance Winchelsea.

The Surf Coast Shire’s Winchelsea Town Centre Revitalisation Project features two key components – beautification works and township entrance sculptures, estimated at $264,000 and $128,300 respectively.

The beautification works are scheduled to start in late January, with completion expected in April.

Furniture including seats, bike racks, new rubbish bin enclosures and picnic settings have been ordered, along with trees and Gallipoli roses for Anzac Memorial Park and the area beside Bendigo Bank.

A contractor has been appointed to repave the footpath on the IGA and Bendigo Bank corners, and to construct a new kerb adjacent to the western side of Anzac Memorial Park and Bendigo Bank corner. There will also be landscaping works within Anzac Memorial Park.

Winchelsea Ward councillors Heather Wellington and Carol McGregor were excited about the project.

“We expect the ANZAC Memorial Park works to start in early February and to be completed by the end of March,” Cr McGregor said.

“The works will feature the new furniture, garden beds and relocation of the barbecue, water trough and cannon. Overall, it will revitalise the area.”

Cr McGregor said while the design process was not as straightforward as planned, she was looking forward to the end result.

“The extra work that was needed means that any future stages will be able to fit in nicely with the current works.

“It’s encouraging to know that the project is scheduled to be finished by April, for our residents and visitors to enjoy.”

The council resolved at its November meeting to expand the Winchelsea Town Centre Project to include provision of electricity to the township entrance sculptures at an estimated additional cost of $28,300. It will ensure that both “Dusk and Dawn” sculptures can be lit when installed.

Funding for the Winchelsea Town Centre Revitalisation Project is made up of $155,000 from the federal government’s National Stronger Regions Fund, $50,000 from VicRoads and $187,300 from the shire.