By Mikayla van Loon
The final cost of two road sealing projects in Lilydale came in under budget, saving both the landowner and the council for the improvement works.
Robert and Black Streets in Lilydale, which run off Cave Hill Road, were completed under a special charge scheme with an estimated cost of $192,500.
Yarra Ranges Council revealed and approved the final costing of $171,610 at the Tuesday 13 August meeting, with a saving of $760 per landowner.
“It’s always good to see anything come under budget…the works are done and I’m sure the community members are enjoying having that all sealed and the benefits that come with that,” councillor Johanna Skelton said.
“Robert and Black Streets are a more dense area, so I’m imagining that that benefit is even more heightened.”
The fixed and maximum cost that could be applied to a landowner was $7000.
The project included the upgrading of approximately 137 metres of urban standard asphalt road with a 3.5 metre trafficable width following the existing road formation.
It also included the addition of a centrally located concrete spoon drain and grated pits connecting to existing underground drainage in Black Street.
The council’s 20 per cent contribution to the project was originally estimated at $38,500, with the actual cost totalling $34,322 – a saving of $4178.
Landowner total savings equaled $16,712.
Cr Skelton said the opportunity to state the importance of this kind of collaborative road sealing scheme could not be missed.
“It would be great to see this extended to all of the roads who had been surveyed and probably beyond because we have such a need for this in our area and it’s going to be just such a crucial point for councils to be deliberating in future of how we’re going to get these outcomes.”
The acceptance of these final costs was passed unanimously.
