Work starts on next stage of Deakin Avenue centre median redevelopment
Published on 10 May 2024
Work has started on the latest stage of the biggest upgrade to Mildura’s iconic Deakin Avenue centre median in the city’s history.
The ageing public toilets in the centre median between Seventh and Eighth Streets were decommissioned last month, paving the way for a hive of activity in coming weeks to transform the centre median.
Preparations have now started on-site, including traffic management signage and safety barriers ahead of demolition of the public toilet block next week.
Ground works associated with water, power and other services will be the main focus in coming weeks, ahead of establishing footings for light poles, trenching for conduits and concreting in the first phase of activity.
While there will be no full road closures as part of the project, there may be single-lane closures at certain points, but traffic disruption will be kept to a minimum throughout the works.
This week’s progress follows Mildura Rural City Councillors’ endorsement of plans for the redevelopment, which will follow a similar theme to the successfully completed stages between Eighth and Tenth Streets, including:
- replacing the previously removed sugar gums
- a new central footpath
- more than 1,600 new plantings, introducing more colour to the centre median
- feature lighting to highlight various aspects of the new landscape
- grassed areas, mature plants and landscaped features
- updated street furniture
- refurbishment of the existing historic limestone structure
- replacement of the existing public toilet facility
- refurbishment of the water fountain
Councillor for Infrastructure and Assets Glenn Milne said completed stages of the redevelopment between Eighth and Tenth Streets had been well received by the community, transforming the prominent precinct into an attractive, more modern and accessible thoroughfare.
“This next stage of the project will be in keeping with the completed areas, but will also retain its own identity in terms of the historic structures our teams have been carefully preserving throughout the broader project,” Cr Milne said.
“And given its location near the corner of Seventh Street and Deakin Avenue, it will also serve as a more attractive entrance to our city’s main thoroughfare for people travelling from New South Wales.”
The majority of the $1.9 million redevelopment has been funded though $1.2 million from the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.
ENDS