The Morrison Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LRCI Program) is delivering $1.2 million to replace a 600 metre section of Ballarat’s historic tram track on Wendouree Parade.
Ballarat City Council has received a total of $8.49 million from the Morrison Government under the LRCI Program for priority local roads and community infrastructure projects.
After much lobbying from Ballarat Tramway Museum volunteers, I am delighted that council is directing $1.2 million of this funding to such a wonderful community asset.
The Ballarat Tramway Museum operates a fleet of historic trams on part of the original horse tramway around Lake Wendouree and the Botanical Gardens. Operating on weekends and public holidays, it is a much loved tourist attraction which attracts some 20,000 visitors each year. A large network of trams graced Ballarat’s road from 1887 until 1971. With a collection of 15 historic operating trams, the Ballarat Tramway Museum’s 250 volunteers, led by president Paul Mong, do an incredible job preserving Ballarat’s historic era of tram travel.
The federal grant will replace a 100 year old section of tram track which is vital for the safe operation of the tourist tram.
The City of Ballarat’s LRCI Program projects are as follows:
- $1.3 million to rebuild the Gregory Street Intersection;
- $1.3 million for Wendouree Recreation Reserve change room facility;
$1.2 million for Wendouree Parade tram track replacement; - $1.15 million to rebuild Addington Creswick Road to 200m north of Creswick Creek;
- $766,000 to rebuild drainage on Armstrong Street for people accessing local businesses and Federation University CBD Campus;
- $766,000 to rebuild road pavement on Lanstaffe Street;
- $750,000 to rebuild the road and improve car parking around St Patricks Point at Lake Wendouree;
- $700,000 to rebuild Cuthberts Road at Cardigan; and
- $560,000 towards the Gregory Street West/ Ring Road roundabout
The Morrison Government is investing more than $2.5 billion in the LRCI Program to build community resilience and boost local employment as we emerge from the pandemic. More information on the LRCI Program is available at infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure_investment/local-roads-community-infrastructure-program.
17 December 2021