Napier Street St Arnaud streetscape works on hold for Easter

While completion of the major works to upgrade kerb and channel and footpath between Mill and Alma Streets has been delayed, Napier Street is, thankfully, able to be open to traffic for the Easter weekend with parking made available on the west side to access shops.  

Council would like to inform businesses and residents that the street will close again with works to continue on 12 April and officers are comfortable the pavement will be suitable for asphalting on 16 April.  

Council is disappointed that the works were not completed by Easter as planned and at the delays it has experienced. These delays have added days to the estimated timeframe and include testing due to rain causing moisture penetration, water seeping into trenching when laying drainage and water from the median strip gardens leaking into the works requiring further excavation not scheduled for. To add further delays large, buried tree stumps and roots were found within areas of roadway, which led to the subsequent removal of these up to a depth of two metres and reinstatement contributed to time lost.  Add in contractor unavailability, to stall works even further, the program has unfortunately not been achievable.  When it became obvious that the asphalt reinstatement scheduled for 30 March would not happen due to flexing of the sub-base and a last-ditch attempt to secure a contractor for works on 1 April was not successful, the decision was made to halt works.  

The Mayor of the Northern Grampians Shire Council said, “We are extremely disappointed and apologise to any businesses impacted by the works not being completed by Easter as planned. This is a major project for our works team who have worked very hard but against just too many odds to achieve what they set out to do.  Fingers are crossed now that with traffic travelling on Napier Street that the pavement is still suitable for asphalting; worst case scenario will be further road base treatments.   

Our Business Team will spend time post Easter to talk to businesses to gauge the extent of any impact this disruption has had on businesses.”