Frederick Street and Mechanics Lane in Castlemaine are set to receive a major facelift thanks a $12.19 million boost from the federal government.
The works aim to link two of the town’s major shopping areas and connect them to a range of important community facilities.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and Ballarat local, Catherine King, visited Castlemaine on Thursday afternoon to announce that Mount Alexander Shire Council had won the funding through the regional Precincts and Partnerships Program.
The redevelopment works will transform the public space with improvements to roads, pedestrian zones, public safety, the outdoor event space, underground infrastructure and streetscaping.
The project will provide connections between the Town Centre Precinct to the Railway Precinct and integrate local Djarra art into the streetscape.
Council will contribute $250,000 towards the project, which is anticipated will take two years to deliver.
MASC will partner with community organisations, including DJAARA (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation), Castlemaine State Festival, Castlemaine Fringe, and the North Central Goldfields Regional Library Corporation on the project.
Ms King said Castlemaine is a beautiful city with some incredible built infrastructure.
“Being able to bring that infrastructure into the way in which we use our communities in the 21st century is a great opportunity,” Ms King said.
Bendigo MP Lisa Chesters said there had been a lot of discussion about what the streetscape and CBD should look like.
“I was not at all surprised when the shire put forward a project seeking support to bring Castlemaine into the modern era. With this funding, a very special community space will be created,” she said.
Mayor Rosie Annear said the area was becoming more and more important to the community as people were struggling.
“A lot of people who are doing it tough are relying on the library, on council, on the Community House, all of which are co-located in this area,” she said.
“I feel like it is unlocking a part of Castlemaine that really needs that love and deserves that attention. And I can see that the benefits are going to be huge.”
Council’s director of infrastructure and development Michael Annear said this was council’s second funding application for the project and they were thrilled to be successful this time around.
“The project is a priority in the Castlemaine Streetscape Plan and Design Standards, which was adopted by Mount Alexander Shire councillors in June 2020 following several rounds of community consultation. The design is complete and we are shovel ready,” he said.
“Council will manage the project. We have begun talks with stakeholders such as Powercor and the Department of Transport as there will be a lot of relocation of services, undergrounding of powerlines etc, and we will be ready to put the project out to tender shortly. We hope to see some local contractors show interest in the project.
“The works will see the roads and footpaths completely removed and replaced with one continuous road surface with footpaths at the same level. It will allow smooth unfettered shared access to vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists and will provide improved accessibility for those with disability,” he said.
It is anticipated the roads will have a 10 km/h speed limit.
Mr Annear said granite removed from the existing drains as part of the works would be incorporated into a granite inlay detail to honour the heritage of the area, and any excess stone will be utilised in parks and gardens across the shire.
A permanent community seating area and outdoor stage will be constructed at the side rear of the Castlemaine Town Hall at the intersection of Frederick Street and Mechanics Lane. Structured as a landscape with terraced decks, this ‘stage’ will support active public life within this key civic precinct to cater for various events.
“The existing disabled carpark on that site will be relocated closer to the side entrance of the venue,” he said.
Council also aims to continue to utilise the current portable stage and space in Mechanics Lane subject to negotiation with site owners Telstra.
Council will eventually look to install a zebra crossing at the intersection of Frederick and Lyttleton Streets to provide connection from Mechanics Lane right through to Mostyn Street.
