Council wins half million for Heath Street Bridge
Published on 03 November 2022
Council wins half million for pre-construction planning of Heath Street Bridge
Northern Grampians Shire Council is one step closer to making the Health Street Bridge a reality, with council awarded $500,000 to cover pre-construction planning and detailed design costs.
Identified in the Halls Gap Action Plan as a project of key importance, the proposed bridge will be developed over Stoney Creek and join Grampians Road with Heath Street in Halls Gap.
The Victorian Government informed council of the successful grant application late last week, with funding coming from the government’s Investment Fast-Track Fund (IFF).
The Health Street Bridge development is considered critical infrastructure by the Halls Gap community. It is set to transform the visitor experience by redirecting traffic congestion away from the centre of the village as well as increasing capacity for the additional 20,200 walkers expected to use the Grampians Peaks Trail to safely access the trailhead from Halls Gap.
Council have also contributed $125,000 toward the works to enable the completion of pre-construction activities necessary to make the Heath Street Bridge investment ready. Works will include a cadastral and engineering survey, geotechnical investigations, pavement investigations and design, environmental investigations, structural design including testing & documentation.
Once pre-construction planning and detailed design is complete, Northern Grampians Shire Council can pursue further funding and investment for the construction of the Heath Street Bridge from the State and Federal Governments.
Cr Mayor Murray Emerson said of council’s recent success: “The Heath Street Bridge has been on the to-do lists of both the council and the Halls Gap community for some time now. We are excited to be able to take our first steps toward making this bridge a reality.”
“The bridge will reinvigorate commerce in Halls Gap and contribute to the growth of the tourism industry for Victoria. We are grateful to the Victorian Government for their foresight in funding activities that mobilise strategic investment projects to improve the liveability of rural Victorians.”