Crucial funding sought for road, culvert upgrades

BASS Coast Shire is seeking a slice of the Federal Government’s Bridges Renewal Program, and Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program to upgrade three key roads and culverts. 

This includes:

• Grantville Glen Alvie Road renewal and upgrade: Project cost estimate- $6M. Council contribution (minimum)- $1.5M. Seeking from federal government program – $4.5M

• Kongwak Road, Glen Alvie culvert renewal: Project cost $550,000. Council contribution $110,000. Seeking - $440,000

• Loch Kernot Road, Kernot culvert renewal: project - $700,000. Contribution - $140,000. Seeking $560,000.

If the shire is unsuccessful in funding, it was recommended to endorse $812,000 be reallocated from the renewal program to fund the high priority culvert renewal projects for delivery in 2023.

The Federal Government Bridges Renewal Program (BRP) and the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP) are complementary programs designed to provide up to 80 per cent funding for projects. 

Council currently has eight major culverts that are nearing the end of life with two metal culverts needing renewal in the next 12 months, and the Kongwak Road Culvert currently closed to traffic for safety reasons. 

According to a shire report, design investigations to renew the highest priority culvert at Kongwak Road, Glen Alvie are currently underway with the preliminary estimate at $550,000 to renew it. 

A design for the next highest priority structure at Loch Kernot Road, Loch, is almost complete and is estimated to cost approximately $700,000 to re-line and more than $1million to renew. 

The third metal culvert is estimated to cost $150,000 to renew. The total cost of all high priority major culvert renewal works over the next four years is estimated at $3million. 

The Gippsland Freight Strategy identifies the section of Grantville Glen Alvie Road as an important freight route, and is one of Council’s key road upgrade advocacy priorities.