The upgrades of main streets in Hamley Bridge and Balaklava remain well on schedule for completion before the end of the year.
Most of the major civil works are now finished in Balaklava, with the spotlight set to switch back to Hamley Bridge to reseal Light Street, scheduled for September. Paving the footpath on the southern side of Light Street will be completed in coming weeks.
New street furniture in both main street precincts will also be installed in the next month or two, including bench seating and bin enclosures, while outdoor dining settings will feature in Balaklava as well.
Wakefield Regional Council Mayor, Rodney Reid, said the upgrades were making a noticeable difference in their respective townships.
“Council was keen to activate these areas with pedestrians by improving accessibility, raising the amenity of the streets, and greening and cooling with plantings,” Mr Reid said.
“The significant changes from painting and refurbishing building facades, installing feature lighting, reworking pedestrian crossings and bringing forward major civil improvements with additional grant funding has made a terrific impact to date.
“It is also vital to highlight the contributions from the communities in Hamley Bridge and Balaklava in shaping these projects.
“These upgrades are among the first actions delivered from Wakefield 2030, Council’s 10-year community plan, which also lists main street improvements for Blyth, Brinkworth, Owen and Snowtown in coming years.
“Council is also half way through developing the master plan for Port Wakefield, which will outline major improvements to deliver for the entire township.”
The Balaklava and Hamley Bridge projects are supported by Federal Government grants through both the Drought Communities Program and Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.
The Balaklava Town Hall is currently in the process of developing a revamped entry and garden area, a separate project supported by a grant from Council.
The total cost for the Balaklava and Hamley Bridge Main Street Projects is estimated at $1.833 million, with about $986,000 to be spent at Hamley Bridge and $846,000 at Balaklava.
See below for a breakdown of completed and pending works.
Progress of Main Street Upgrades:
Completed
Hamley Bridge - 15 property facades repaired and repainted (including toilet block which had roof repair and reseal, plus walls repainted internally and externally).
- New kerb and water table on southern side of Light Street
- Hardwood bench seat fitted to former toilet block planter box (in association with Owen Community Shed)
- Monument cleaned and lettering refreshed
- Feature lighting to the Institute, Annie Street murals and feature ‘ironbark’ tree near medical centre.
- Street lighting to Annie Street
- 11 items of street furniture
- 6 planter boxes (in association with Owen Community Shed)
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Balaklava - 10 business facades repaired
- New fences on Howe Street and Edith Terrace (plus two more in Wallace Street repainted)
- Lighting of feature tree #1 in Triangle (in progress as of today)
- Feature lighting of Town Hall, Balco and Bowmans Rail buildings (and advice to Uniting Church on same)
- Painting of Bowmans Rail building, five vacant shops in Wallace Street and TADs (George St) now completed
- Four new general waste and recycling bin enclosures
- Three new disability access compliant pedestrian crossings
- Two pedestrian crossings on Wallace Street
- New pedestrian crossings on Edith Terrace and George Street
- Levelling of Foodland footpath
- Reduced pavement gradient at ANZ
- Reduced pavement gradient at Lovin’ It Fresh
- Repave to eliminate step into Betta Home Living
- Foodland car park entrance improvement
- Over 20 new irrigated street garden beds/medians with trees
- 11 new jacaranda trees planted
- 17 new tuckeroo trees planted
- Reseal of Edith Terrace
- Reseal of Scotland Lane
- Reseal of portion of George Street
- New kerb and water table on Edith Terrace
- New kerb and water table on George Street
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To complete
Hamley Bridge - Preparation and repainting of 2 buildings pending (Institute and Hotel)
- Reseal of Light Street and Annie Street
- New kerb and water table on northern side of Light Street
- Repave footpath on northern side of Light Street
- New train-themed play equipment at Apex Park
- Apex park to be fenced, path paved and retaining wall to go in
- Checkerboard paving near the Hamley Institute
- Irrigation to planter beds
- Planting of medians in Light Street
- Line marking
- Install of 5 new bench seats
- Install of 6 new general waste bin enclosures
- Install of 6 planter boxes
- Parklets (x2) pending budget savings
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Balaklava - Irrigation in garden beds
- Planting of garden beds
- Formalise post office garden beds
- Install of 6 new outdoor dining tables and benches
- Install of 10 new bench seats
- Install of 7 new general waste bin enclosures
- Install of 2 bicycle ‘semi hoops’
- Uplighting on Silent Cop
- Silent Cop history podium
- Repainting to 13 business facades in progress or pending (repairs to 3 recently damaged verandas pending under insurance claims outside of project)
- Line marking
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