People will soon have easier access to Torquay, with works on reopening the Horseshoe Bend Road due to begin soon.
During its September 26 meeting, Surf Coast Shire Council granted higher delegation powers for the chief executive to deliver the Horseshoe Bend Road – Storm Event Reinstatement project promptly.
The council decision allowed the chief executive to award a contract for the project’s works at a greater value than the existing delegation limit of $600,000.
Councillor Rose Hodge said this allowed the project to reopen community access to Torquay through Horseshoe Bend Road to proceed without delay after floods destroyed it last year.
“This road has now been closed since November 2022,” she said.
“The project has got to move on now because it is such a link road from the Torquay highway, and it runs parallel to the Torquay highway right through Armstrong Creek and into Geelong.
“It’s paramount that this must be fixed as an alternative road…and I am looking forward to getting this bridge fixed and hopefully flood proofed.”
An investigation into the required scope of works and design for reinstatement of the low-level crossing of Thompsons Creek along Horseshoe Bend Road is now complete and works out to public tender.
Many roads and associated infrastructure, including the low-level crossing of Thompsons Creek along Horseshoe Bend Road, were damaged during last year’s October and November storm events.
The crossing had sustained considerable damage, which led to its public closure while council conducted detailed structure assessments and prepared design documentation for reinstatement works.
The closure of the crossing led to Horseshoe Bend Road having restricted access between Blackgate Road and Mt Duneed Road with no access across Thompsons Creek.
Works will be fully funded by the Australian government’s Natural Disaster Funding Assistance Program, and council released tender documents in early September this year.
