Mount Victoria Village Recovery Package

Mount Victoria was significantly impacted by the Black Summer 2019-20 (and 2013) bushfires and Council has been actively pursuing funding to support a range of upgrades and initiatives that will help reinvigorate this historic area.

Find out more about this exciting package of works below.

Mount Victoria Village Recovery Package - tree work underway

Tree installation work will take place in Mt Victoria Village Centre on Saturday, 20 April 2024.

Planting of 15 new street trees (Prunus ‘Erecta’ / Upright Cherry Tree) will commence from 7am, on both sides of Station Street by members of Council’s Horticulture and Arboriculture teams.

Please note, the majority of preparation work for this project was undertaken earlier this year, with a Vacuum Truck contractor engaged for excavation of the soil at each tree location.

We thank the community for their patience as the work is carried out and apologise for any inconvenience.

Works commence - Monday, 5 February 2024

Update - 12 February 2024

Work to enhance the accessibility of Mount Victoria Memorial Park, with new footpaths and an improved parking area started on Monday, 5 February 2024.

The upgrades are the next stage of the Mount Victoria Village Recovery Package and include:

• A new formal entrance to the park at Station Street with paved entry and seating.
• A new village entrance sandstone plinth, in keeping with the heritage streetscape.
• Accessible footpaths linking Station Street, the amenities block and village carpark.
• Removal of the existing path from Station Street to the amenities block, which is in poor condition.
• Installation of a new sculptural artwork.
• Continued work on stormwater management.
• Carpark improvements (to start in late February 2024)

View the park upgrade plans here and landscape plans here.

Once work starts, there will be some disturbance to the park’s main entrance from Station Street. However, access will be maintained so visitors can still reach the amenities building in the park.

Visitors can also use the entrance from the Great Western Highway or enter from the Montgomery Street carpark (until work on the carpark starts in late February 2024).

From 5 February, construction work at the park will take place between 7am – 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am – 1pm on Saturdays.

At times, the work will involve some noise. However, disturbance to nearby residents and businesses will be reduced as much as possible.

Construction traffic will be managed by BMCC’s principal contractor engaged for the works. Some additional traffic will be using Station Street and Montgomery Street during the upgrades.

The park upgrades are anticipated to be completed by mid-April 2024 (weather permitting).

In addition to the park upgrades, a range of Village Centre improvements are also expected to be installed from February 2024. This includes:

• New street trees on Station Street
• New street furniture and planters
• A new Mount Victoria Heritage Trail and Visitor Information Sign
• Bin sensors: to monitor the level of waste in rubbish bins, to aid in monitoring and collection routines.
• People counters: to count visitors to Mount Victoria Memorial Park and monitor the usage of facilities.
• An accessible parking bay sensor: to provide information on availability of the upgraded accessible parking bay.
• A weather station: to provide localised environmental information.

Over two days in mid-to-late February, the amenities building will be closed to the public so that some of the counting sensors and associated technology can be installed. The dates of the closure will be communicated to the community once confirmed.

We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding while the work is being undertaken.

About the Mount Victoria Village Recovery Package

Under the Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program, Council has secured almost $900,000 to deliver a package of works for Mount Victoria Village Centre.

This comprehensive renewal package will support social and economic recovery through a range of initiatives identified with the Mount Victoria community. It will provide a number of important upgrades to infrastructure and enhancements to village amenity.

Between late 2022 and mid 2024, the following improvements and support will be provided:

Improved village marketing and promotion
An interpretative heritage trail to guide visitors through the village and a new Visitor Information Sign to promote local experiences.

Enhanced village centre amenity
New planting, street trees and seating to revitalise the village. Formal closure of middle section of the heritage staircase at the Great Wester Highway and improved visual amenity to the immediate area of the heritage staircase.

Mount Victoria Memorial Park renewals
A renewed entrance to the park, carpark upgrade including upgrade of the adjacent storm water channel, accessible footpaths, visual amenity improvements to the park water fountain and sculptural installations by local artists.

Mount Victoria Memorial Park Public Art - A public Expressions of Interest process to commission a new sculptural artwork for Mount Victoria Memorial Park closed on 6 April, 2023. Local sculptor Clara Hali has been selected to develop the new work. Read more about this artwork commission and Clara’s practice here.

Smart City initiatives
A local weather station to improve bushfire threat knowledge and smart sensors to improve asset management; and

Business support package
Mentoring and resources to equip local businesses to better prepare for disasters and enable them to build a strong business support network.

The project will empower and build a stronger community by supporting the social, economic and built environment recovery through:

• better facilities for residents,
• visitor marketing opportunities,
• business support, and
• improved access and amenity.

Read the media release.

View the draft scoping document.

Please subscribe to this project (on the top-right of this page) to be notified when engagement opportunities commence and receive further updates.
This project received grant funding from the Australian Government.