Birchip Safer Cumming Avenue Streetscape Works

Birchip Safer Cumming Avenue Streetscape Works

The Safer Cumming Avenue Streetscape project kicked off in October 2020.

This exciting project will see safety and beautification improvements for the main street of Birchip, with the project expected to take around six months to complete.

There is an extensive scope of works, stretching from the ‘five-ways’ intersection through to Morrison/Queen Street.

The extended scope of works, stretching from the ‘five-ways’ intersection through to Morrison/Queen Street, includes:

• Removal of vehicle turning areas at Rundle and Lockwood Street, to reduce the traffic bottleneck/hazard at the Supermarket/Bakery area.
• Continuation of the green median for the length of Cumming Avenue.
• Reduction to one lane for both northbound and southbound roadways and inclusion of a reversing/bicycle lane.
• Redesign of carparking allocations and angles to provide safer parking and reversing options for all commuters, including new carparking options for mobility impaired drivers/passengers with direct ramp access from carpark to footpath.
• Installation of increased footpath crossovers, including access to the median/Mallee Bull/signage areas.
• New underground drainage along the west side of Cumming Avenue, to mitigate the flooding of the main shopping precinct. This will also involve the installation of a new drainage culvert crossing Cumming Avenue from east to west, close to the new five-ways pedestrian crossing.
• Footpath and kerb and channel replacement from Morrison/Queen Street through to the five-ways intersection at Campbell St. This also includes replacement of kerb and channel in the median strip between traffic lanes.
• The installation of new alfresco landscaped eating areas in front of Sharp’s Bakery and the Birchip Cafe.
• Removal of all existing median and footpath street trees from Cumming Avenue from the Campbell Street five-ways intersection through to Morrison/Queen Street. Works also include installation of new drought-resistant tree varieties, landscaping and irrigation improvements.
• New signage and street furniture (bin surrounds, seating, bike rack, etc.). 

Latest Update 25 November

Project Control Group (PCG) met in November to provide an update on the Birchip Streetscape Project. 

Shade umbrellas are now up in the main street, additional street furniture is on its way and will be installed in the coming weeks. 

Landscaping is underway again and aims to be completed by mid-December.  Some vegetation will be planted now and some in Autumn to improve the chances of trees taking root.

30 August 2021

Exposed aggregate concreting works are being carried out in the Middle – West section of Cumming Avenue from Monday 30th August to Tuesday 7 September.

Millers Civil Pty Ltd will keep disruption at a minimum, however the main entrance of the following businesses will be affected.

The Buloke Shire Council and Millers Civil Pty Ltd thank you for your patience.

Scheduled Works table. 

Update 18 June 2021

Council would like to express its gratitude to the people of Birchip for their patience throughout the ongoing works upgrading Cumming Avenue.

Residents and business owners have noted that the works are taking longer than initially communicated. Millers Civil Contractors, Regional Management Group (RMG) and the Buloke Shire Council are committed to finishing the works as quickly as possible without sacrificing the quality of works and safety to all users.

Several issues have arisen since the commencement of the project that have led to unforeseeable delays and unavoidable stoppages to works. In addition to slowing construction works, these issues have meant the contractor has had to alter work programs and scheduled works on short notice. This has resulted in some work sections not being completed in entirety, as planned.  We are committed to working through these delays and completing the outstanding works a quickly as possible. The following major issues have contributed to these delays.

New Drainage System – East Side of Cumming Avenue

You may have noticed the new stormwater drain being installed on the eastern side of Cumming Avenue. Historically, there has not been drainage issues on this side of Cumming Avenue. The engineering plans did not include changes to the drainage on this side of the street. However, after excavation works were undertaken to prepare the new footpaths and pedestrian crossings, the existing stormwater drainage pipes were discovered to be blocked and unstable at the northern end. The pipes were then assessed to be in danger of needing replacing in the near future.

Council made the decision to address and re-new this stormwater asset now. This has delayed the project but is putting in place the right infrastructure now, rather than needing to remove the new concrete footpath in the near future to access and replace the stormwater drainage.

Powercor Safety Concerns

The contract contained a requirement to check what permits were required to work near powerlines and power poles. This permitting process established that there was a safety risk due to the depth of drainage near the power poles. Powercor evaluated the issue, and determined that electricity poles required mechanical holding (by Powercor) while Millers installed stormwater pipes in the vicinity. This caused significant disruption, as the most efficient way to hold the poles was to have Powercor here for consecutive days. This have given the appearance of Millers “jumping” around the site from one area to another. However, this was done to maximise the amount of work that could be undertaken at one time with Powercor in attendance. It also mitigated the cost of Powercor attending and returning to the worksite several times on different days.

Telstra Pit issues

Telstra pits have been another source of delay to the project. Telstra have pursued a case for council to re-new the pit infrastructure in the street at Council cost. The unknown renewals, initially caused Millers to delay some works. You may have noticed that some concrete bays have been left unfinished. This has been due to negotiations with Telstra as to who is liable for the Asset renewal.  In order to not cause any further delay to the project, Council has committed to the majority of the cost of the renewal and the Telstra pits works will start on Monday 21 June 2021.

You will note contractors in the area wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the removal of asbestos contained in the Telstra pits.  In addition, and where appropriate, the immediate work area will have a gazebo installed to ensure there is no risk to the public.

Concrete supply and concreters

We have been experiencing knock on effects from the other delays in securing concrete contractors and concrete supply.

The initial sub-contractor to Millers has been engaged on other large-scale contracts and has been unable to fulfill the concreting duties for Millers. This has resulted in a smaller contractor being engaged. The smaller supplier is experiencing issues securing supply from concrete plants due to the current demand caused by stimulus works around the entire region.

Moving Forward

Council understand that it is imperative to both business owners and residents that the central shopping area is completed in a planned and timely manner.  Should you have any concerns about the streetscape works and would like further information about the project council has scheduled two upcoming meetings to listen to community members. 

Following an approved construction plan, including a pedestrian management plan for the area, Council will hold a listening post at the Council Chambers next week with both date and time to be promoted when confirmed.  Council will share this information on its website and social media pages.

Council, RMG and Millers want to thank the public and traders for working with us on this project and for your patience and hope that these points help the understanding of why the works timeline has been extended.