Dean Street works expedited by Ararat Rural City Council

The project was a late addition to the agenda at the meeting.

In July 2020, a petition signed by various Dean Street residents was submitted to the council. It requested the street be sealed, and a channel added to aid drainage.

The project was initially scheduled for the council's 2021-22 works program. Still, the council had provision for the works within the first tranche of the federal government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and subsequently decided to bring the project forward.

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At the council meeting, Ararat Rural City Council chief executive Dr Tim Harrison said he was pleased to have the opportunity to complete the project earlier than expected.

"It's a bit of good news for the people in Dean Street because their road will be sealed ahead of time," he said.

"It also gives us an opportunity to bring some capital works forward from future years into next year's capital works plan."

In addition to the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, the project will be funded by potential savings on the Woorndoo Streatham Road reconstruction. Dr Harrison said the reconstruction is likely to be completed "several hundred thousand dollars under budget."

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Councillor Peter Beales moved the council's motion to endorse the project and said the council had benefited from being proactive.

"Often state and federal government says there are grants available if you have spade-ready projects to do, and we've got spade-ready projects and this is one of them," he said.

"The funding will be in this year's budget instead of carrying things into next year's budget, and instead of doing it next year, we can do other projects."

Councillors unanimously voted to endorse the project.

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