The Department of Transport is to take charge of Geelong’s Mercer, Malop and Garden streets corridor, with the City Council told not to undertake any further works on the city’s ‘Green Spine’.
Minister for Roads, Jaala Pulford said the Council had seven days to respond as the Governmentis prepared to declare the corridor a Designated Road Project under Victoria’s Road Management Act.
“The Green Spine project is transforming Central Geelong and restoring one of Geelong’s oldest roads to meet the needs of a modern city,” Ms Pulford said.
“Taking control of the project from the City of Greater Geelong responds to community concern over a recent council decision to spend $2 million ripping up parts of the project already built,” she said.
“The decision gives the Government the authority to both protect work already done on Malop Street and complete the project to deliver a better transport network for Geelong.”
Ms Pulford said $8 million of taxpayers’ money had been allocated to the Green Spine, a key project in the 10-year Revitalising Central Geelong Action Plan.
She said stage one of the Green Spine Project was an extensive redevelopment that included an eight-metre-wide botanic walk on the south side of Malop Street, complemented by more trees and planting on the north side, separated bike lanes and a roadway rebuild.
