Work on the Port Campbell Town Centre Revitalisation Project is expected to start in mid-July.
The first major works will happen on the foreshore and on Lord Street near the Norfolk Island Pines, while works to the central Lord Street area will happen over winter 2024.
At its April meeting in Camperdown on Tuesday, Council awarded the $5.15M contract for the 2023 works to Warrnambool company Civilnow.
Coastal Ward Councillor Jamie Vogels said the landmark decision had been a long time coming.
“At $15.6M this is the largest single project Council has ever done,” Cr Vogels said.
“Community members, Council staff and engineering and design experts have put years of work into getting the planning right.
“Now after the pandemic and challenges with getting contractors who can do a job of this size and complexity, it’s time to start delivering concrete results – literally,” he said.
“When national and international tourism comes back to pre-COVID levels, the improvements will encourage visitors to take more time to experience the town, its shops and natural attractions safely on foot.
“It will also be great for the growing number of families and cyclists visiting town due to the Twelve Apostles Trail,” Cr Vogels said.
The 2023 works include:
- drainage, electrical, pavement, paving, concreting, artwork installation, asphalting and landscaping along the foreshore, Cairns and Lord Streets
- drainage, structural decking and retaining walls, electrical, pavement, paving,
- concreting, asphalting and landscaping on Lord Street, south of Cairns Street under the Norfolk Pines and towards the Fisherman’s Carpark; and
- decking, pavement, paving, concreting, artwork installation, asphalting, retaining walls, and landscaping along the foreshore trail and car park area.
The project is funded jointly by Council, with $6 M from the State Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund and $5.6 M from the Federal Government’s Building Better Regions Fund.
Council released the tender in December 2021 but received no responses due to market conditions, COVID and workforce shortages.
Council’s Works Team completed a footpath between Lord, Morris, Tregea and Cairns streets in December. Minor road works, landscaping, pedestrian safety improvements and parking upgrades were done in February and March this year.
