By Tanya Steele
Upcoming infrastructure works on Station Street in Ferntree Gully are expected to start in early 2025 and have been welcomed by the local village township group who are eager for more details.
The road renewal program will see several repairs and replacements, along with drainage upgrades and surfacing along Station Street.
The Ferntree Gully village township group members have been in discussion with local traders and Knox Council about the proposed works and the final details about the project’s scope and potential impacts on local businesses and parking have yet to be announced.
President of the Village Township group for Ferntree Gully Seamus Smith said the group welcomes the investment into the area and looks forward to getting more details on the project in the new year.
“We believe that the council will work with the shop owners and traders to reduce the impacts for their businesses and the access or car parking and for pedestrian access, for their shops – so that they’re not too heavily impacted by the works that council is proposing to do,” he said.
The works are anticipated to take around ten weeks depending on the weather.
Knox Mayor, Cr Lisa Cooper said they are improving the road condition in Station Street, Ferntree Gully, to make it safer for our residents, traders and visitors.
“The works will cost $790,000 and we have received $650,000 from the Australian government’s roads to recovery program,” she said.
“Council’s budget includes $10.8 million for resurfacing and reconstructing local roads and renewing our drainage,” she said.
Initial advice was sent to surrounding residents and traders in mid-November and Knox Council is expected to provide further communication as the start date approaches.
Mr Smith said that the council has been sending out notices of pending works to residents and traders that are slated to start in early 2025.
“It is for some re-surfacing and new curb and channel and some drainage works around the Wyuna street down to Alpine street,” he said.
The project will include the replacement of concrete kerbs, channels, and vehicle crossings (driveway entries), as well as concrete infills where necessary.
Road pavement patching and full asphalt resurfacing, stormwater drainage upgrades and other associated minor works are planned along Station Street.
Mr Smith said future projects around the village could include some of the parking allocations in Alpine Street and a structure on Forest Road that was built as a temporary measure for outdoor dining after the pandemic.
“It’s in a bit of a state of disrepair with weed stuff growing out through the gutters and broken plastic,” he said.
Mr Smith said it was assured to the group that the council will do what it can to reduce impacts on the businesses and the people for the upgrades planned.
