Victoria-Albert Streets Precinct Streetscape Improvements

Spotlight on Sebastopol

Project Overview

The City of Ballarat in partnership with the State Government is delivering the Victoria-Albert Streets Precinct Streetscape project. The project aims to deliver a greener, safer and more accessible precinct for Sebastopol residents and visitors. The concept plan aims to capture possible works and items that can achieve this aim.

Consultation

The draft plans have been developed in consultation with a number of stakeholders including local businesses and traders and Regional Roads Victoria.

Funding and Timeframes

The Victoria-Albert Streets Precinct Streetscape Improvements is a $974,000 project which is being funded through Spotlight on Sebastopol - a $5 million State Government funding commitment.

The project’s engagement and design is expected to take place throughout the rest of the year with works planned to begin in the autumn of 2023. The streetscape upgrade is expected to occur after the important Easter retail trading time next year. The streetscape works are expected to take eight to 12 weeks, with the timing dependent on weather conditions during construction.

Most of the works will take place along the road shoulders and footpaths. The works are not expected to cause significant traffic disruption and will not impede businesses in the precinct. However, some minor disruptions for pedestrian access are expected.

Streetscape Works

The draft plans outline the proposed streetscape works for the precinct. They have been informed through engineering advice and Australian Standards as well as trader and business engagement.

The proposed works, subject to final design and cost management, will take place from just north of Birdwood Avenue to Ophir Street and include:

Eighty new trees along Albert, Victoria and Bridge Streets plus garden beds and landscaping
Improved streetscape amenity and beautification
Improved accessibility and pedestrian safety at the Albert Street and Victoria Street roundabout
More parking, including accessible car parking
New paving and seated areas for pedestrians and community members using local businesses
New precinct signs

What is unable to be delivered through this project

The streetscape improvements do not propose changing the location of the existing pedestrian crossing signals to the south of the Albert-Victoria Streets roundabout. Also, the project does not propose to introduce traffic lights at the intersection. What can be delivered will be determined through cost planning during the detailed design to maximise the available budget for the project.

Your feedback

As a local resident and/or visitor to the precinct, the City of Ballarat is seeking your feedback on the proposed design. We want to know:

Does the proposed design make the precinct easier to use?
Is there something else that you think would make the precinct more usable, safer, or welcoming?