By Dongyun Kwon
In response to the community’s demand, the Yarra Range Council (YRC) prioritised drainage, road, footpath and trail maintenance as well as park, tree, sporting facility, bushland and reserved maintenance in the 2024-25 council budget.
For the Yarra Valley, road renewals in Gruyere and Yarra Valley Trail are two main projects picked up in this budget.
YRC allocated $1.7 million on road renewals in Gruyere including Gruyere Road and Maddens Lane, and $2.3 million on Yarra Valley Trail Northern Loop to develop a 10.7km trail circuit north of Yarra Glen, connecting the Yarra Valley Trail to the Yarra Glen Station Trail Node.
Yarra Ranges mayor Sophie Todorov said one thing the council heard loud and clear was that people want more focus on infrastructure, roads, footpaths and drainage and to maintain the assets that it has.
“The budget also outlines and increases our investment in areas of community priority including maintaining our trails, improving and maintaining our parks, trees, sporting facilities, bushlands and reserves, caring for the environment and responding to climate change, including emergency event management, programs and activities to support the community through all stages of life and our 120 services,” she said.
YRC has addressed the improving and maintaining drains to reduce flooding in the 2024-25 budget through a significantly increased commitment of $16.2 million to be spent on drainage and related infrastructure capital upgrades over the next six years across the municipality, a 300 per cent increase from last year’s budget.
This is in addition to $23 million of operating expenditure on infrastructure and drainage maintenance, a six per cent increase, also included in the 2024-25 budget year.
Almost $2.2 million has been invested in the maintenance of drainages on Victoria Road and Station Street in Coldstream, George Road, Lalor Road, and Maroondah Parade in Healesville.
$22 million has been allocated for the maintenance of roads, footpaths, and trails, a 13 per cent increase from last year.
YRC will construct a concrete path on Stephens Road, Healesville for $70,000 and upgrade the bridge on Wilson Street, Healesville including a pedestrian walkway for $193,000.
Badger Creek Road, Healesville and Bluegum Reserve, Badger Creek will also be rehabilitated with $91,000 and $102,000 respectively
Deputy mayor David Eastham said he wanted to thank all provided feedback.
“I hope that the changes reflect the feedback from the community,” he said.
“I believe that these changes and where there has been an increase in investment has been done in a financially responsible way.”
