Council Happenings: 3 March 2023

MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR

GRESFORD SUSPENSION BRIDGE REPLACEMENT GETS THE GREEN LIGHT

ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE

The following works are scheduled around Dungog Shire for the week commencing 6 March 2023. Residents and visitors travelling through our roadworks can expect some delays. Please note also that all works are subject to change due to weather or resource availability.

Roads:

Bingleburra Road: Landslip – Contractors are continuing on landslip rectification works below Mount Richardson. Works are scheduled to be completed in mid to late March 2023;
Hooke Street, Dungog (Abelard Street to Lord Street) – Road construction works to continue with initial sealing scheduled for next week;
Park Street, East Gresford – Construction works continue including drainage and kerb construction.

Bridges:

Gams Bridge Replacement – Bridge construction works have ongoing and scheduled for completion in May 2023;
Banfield Bridge Replacement – Bridge construction works ongoing and scheduled for completion in April 2023;
Chesworth’s Bridge Replacement – Bridge construction works have commenced - Works scheduled for completion in May 2023;
Dowlings Bridge Replacement – Bridge construction works have commenced. Works scheduled for completion in May 2023.

Buildings:

Dungog Library Additions – Construction continuing with works scheduled for completion in March 2023;
Clarence Town Sportsground - Carpark & Footpath Construction - Concreting works continue;
Clarence Town Village Green Amenities – Construction continuing with works scheduled for completion in March 2023.

Sporting Grounds:

Bennett Park Resurfacing Project has commenced with initial spraying of the fields complete. Earthworks to commence in March 2023.

Maintenance Activities include:

Sealed Roads:-
- Tar Patching – Gaggins Street, Allyn River Road, Paterson and Dungog urban streets;
- Heavy Patching – Summer Hill Road, Gresford Road, Lennoxton Road, Webbers Creek Road;
- Resealing Works – Gresford Road, Summer Hill Road, Bingleburra Road;
- Roadside Slashing – Dungog Road, Martins Creek area.

Unsealed Roads:-
- Maintenance Works – Paterson River Road, Main Creek Road, Skimmings Gap Road area.

Park mowing – Dungog Area.
Sports Ground Mowing – Clarence Town and Vacy.

DUNGOG VAN PARK IS PROGRESSING

Council is looking forward to meeting with the successful tender recipients of Dungog Caravan Park - the Jeffress Group – this week for an update on this much-anticipated project.

Council is aware there has been lots of discussion and speculation as to the timeline of the park becoming operational. Understandably, the community is eager to see it to fruition.

The Jeffress Group has a strong track record of accomplishment in the tourism sector, with parks and motels in the Mid-North Coast.

ART MURAL PROJECT FOR GRESFORD

Work has begun on a series of murals across Gresford that once finished, will create a beautiful explosion of colour and vibrancy to the country town. The Gresford Public Art Project is a long-term beautification and artist installation delivered by Arts Upper Hunter that will see the development of many public works across the township over five years.

The project is still in its planning stages with a number of murals yet to be decided, but some are confirmed including the butcher shop wall, the newly constructed Gresford sporting facility (this one is of a photograph taken on a hot air balloon of all of Gresford) and a timeline of the town‘s history set for the Gresford Showground.

Watch this space, we will update you as these gorgeous murals get underway. Well done to the creatives behind the project. We can’t wait to see the finished project. It’s sure to make Gresford a stop of the creative Hunter touring map.

RESPECT FOR ONE AND ALL

It’s been a long hot summer and Council’s road crews have been working hard to deliver some vital infrastructure projects, helping to build a better, safer Dungog for all.

Unfortunately, there have been several reports of incidents of aggression and abuse towards Council workers who are working on key road sites across the shire.

We understand the state of our roads are a contentious issue for many in our community and we are doing everything we can to expedite through our massive program of works, however having such incidents can interfere with the delivery of these vital projects.

Council has a ZERO tolerance for aggression and abuse towards our staff and police will be notified if staff are threatened or abused for simply doing their jobs.

On the whole, we live in such a wonderful, connected, supportive bushland and farming community, let’s remember to respect the roads and the people working on them. We ALL want to get home safely and do our part to build a better Dungog Shire.