Major projects

The Maldon Streetscape Rejuvenation Project will enable Maldon to realise its vision to be a vibrant and attractive centre which maintains and enhances its unique character and heritage values, serves the needs of local residents, attracts tourists, and promotes the growth and viability of retail traders and other businesses.

The project has been underway for several years and encompasses the planning and delivery of three main areas:

• Undergrounding power project - Placing power underground in the Maldon central business district.

• Streetscape improvement project - Improving Maldon town centre through upgrading elements such as footpaths, bins, trees, street furniture, lighting and crossovers (the bridge-like structures that allow pedestrians to cross the stone channels), whilst protecting and maintaining the essential qualities and heritage values of the area.

• Shopfront restoration project - Restoring shopfronts to preserve the heritage values for now and into the future.

In 2017 Council formed a Steering Committee to ensure community representation was included in the planning works for these projects.

The Maldon Streetscape Steering Committee comprises representatives from local traders, residents, heritage and community groups, Maldon Community Bank, State Government and Council.

Council is managing this community-led project. There are many steps along the way but work is ramping up to deliver these projects following the Victorian Government’s commitment of $4.5 million towards these works. This is a significant investment to preserve and enhance the heritage features of historic Maldon.

Key links
Maldon Streetscape Rejuvenation Project webpage
Streetscape improvement project webpage

The Harcourt Recreation Reserve Female Friendly Change Facility Project will provide gender neutral change facilities enabling female cricket, football, netball, tennis participants and umpires to change before and after their scheduled game or training in appropriate facilities.

Currently there are no dedicated change facilities at the reserve for female players or umpires. The two existing change rooms do not have private shower or toilet cubicles and are used predominantly by AFL football and cricket players.

Due to the lack of appropriate facilities, female sports participants have had to change in the ageing public toilet block or in their cars, with some heading straight home after their game to change and shower. This created an unintentional division at some clubs with many females not attending the post-match social events.

The project will deliver two gender neutral change facilities for the sporting clubs users as well as two gender neutral umpire change facilities. These facilities will consist of private showers and toilet cubicles, with a common area for pre-game team talks.

Designs for the change facilities were developed in consultation with the key stakeholders of the reserve which included:

• Harcourt Football Netball Club
• Harcourt Cricket Club
• Harcourt Tennis Club
• Harcourt & District Leisure Centre Committee

In addition to the $705,198 Council budget allocation, the Harcourt Football Netball Club and Harcourt & District Leisure Centre Inc. have also contributed funding to the project. This demonstrated commitment to better support female participation in sport was key to Council’s success in obtaining $372,131 funding from the Victorian Government through its Local Sports Infrastructure Fund – Female Friendly Facilities stream.

Construction for the project commenced in April 2021 with the demolition of the old outdoor toilet block and the foundations for the new building now well underway.

The project is set to be completed by the end of November 2021.

Key documents
Project bulletin 1 - Harcourt female friendly change facility project - April 2021
Project bulletin 2 - Harcourt female friendly change facility project - May 2021
Project bulletin 3 - Harcourt female friendly change facility project - June 2021
Project bulletin 4 - Harcourt female friendly change facility project - July 2021
Project bulletin 5 - Harcourt female friendly change facility project - August 2021
Project bulletin 6 - Harcourt female friendly change facility project - September 2021
Project bulletin 7 - Harcourt female friendly change facility project - October 2021
Project bulletin 8 - Harcourt female friendly change facility project - November 2021

Construction is underway for a new play space at Stanley Park North in Harcourt.

The community has played an integral role in developing the design, with a dedicated working group of local residents, parents, grandparents and educators contributing ideas.

Working with Council officers and local play space designers, the group has created a design inspired by the town’s fruit-growing history and indigenous culture.

The play space will feature a large play tower with its design inspired by apple crates. The tower, measuring over six metres in height, incorporates a ten metre long slide, climbing wall, play stalls and a viewing platform.

Designed for all ages and all abilities, the play space will include a wheelchair accessible carousel, accessible and traditional swings, an accessible rocker and spinner. Many nature play elements including locally quarried granite rocks and boulders have been included and will be surrounded by indigenous plantings.

Council is funding the play space in partnership with the Victorian Government, who is providing a $250,000 grant. Harcourt Progress Association has generously contributed $6,500 courtesy of a Maldon Community Bank grant.

Council has also developed a master plan for Stanley Park North which was adopted in August 2019. It ensures the play space is well positioned in the park, provides linkages between the pool and the shops and details opportunities for acknowledging history and indigenous culture.

Key documents
Media release - Construction to start at Harcourt play space - 14 August 2020
Stanley Park North Play Space Concept Plan (pdf, 24MB)
Stanley Park North Master Plan (pdf, 26MB)
Play space designs for Stanley Park North (pdf, 5.6MB)
Media release - Designs finalised for Harcourt play space - 22 April 2020
Media release - Progress continues on Harcourt play space - 19 March 2020

Council constructed a new play space at Victory Park in the centre of Castlemaine.

The play space was designed following extensive consultation with the community, including children, families, local Elders and residents. It provides high quality facilities to meet the play needs of a broad range of ages and abilities.

Council was a finalist for a 2020 HART Award (Helping Achieve Reconciliation Together) for the play space project. The play space draws on themes of peace and reconciliation and incorporates two important ancestral beings of the Dja Dja Wurrung – Bunjil in the form of a wedge-tailed eagle and Waa, the crow.

Council officially opened the play space in October 2019 during National Children's Week.

Council has allocated $553,851 in the annual budget to construct the play space and received $89,520 in funding from the Victorian State Governments Community Sport and Infrastructure Fund and $10,000 from the Variety Club.

Key documents
Media release - Community gathers for afternoon of celebration - 25 October 2019
Project bulletin 1 - Victory Park Play Space Construction - August 2019
Project bulletin 2 - Victory Park Play Space Construction - August 2019
Project bulletin 3 - Victory Park Play Space Construction - September 2019

Many homes and buildings in Castlemaine, Campbells Creek and Chewton have been flooded or impacted by rising levels of Barkers Creek, Forest Creek and Campbells Creek during periods of high rainfall.

Construction of levee banks and waterway improvements are recommendations in the Flood Management Plan for Castlemaine, Campbells Creek and Chewton, which Council adopted in 2015.

The levee banks and waterway improvements will considerably reduce the impact of major flood events on nearby homes, businesses and community assets like buildings, roads and footpaths.

The project includes:
• 100m earthen and concrete levee at Central Cabins and Van Park in Castlemaine
• 430m earthen and concrete levee at Elizabeth Street in Castlemaine
• 580m earthen and concrete levee at Campbells Creek township
• 50m earthen levee at National School Lane in Campbells Creek
• Waterway improvements downstream of Alexandra Bridge in Campbells Creek.

Council is in the Development phase of this project. Within this phase we will finalise designs and secure all required permits and approvals so the levees can be built.

Please note this phase DOES NOT include construction of the levees. Construction will only begin once all the permits and approvals are obtained, funding has been sourced and the budget is approved by Council.

Key links
Levee banks project webpage
Levee banks project frequently asked questions

Stage one - A $1.9 million upgrade to sporting facilities at Wesley Hill Recreation Reserve in Castlemaine started in March 2017 and is now complete. The upgrade included construction of six new netball courts, court lighting, two cricket nets, carpark improvements, a retaining wall and accessible paths and ramps.

Stage two - The $2.43 million project is underway and includes the development for a multi-use pavilion, roadways, drop-off point, ramps, steps and external works. The pavilion includes unisex change rooms for netball, cycling and junior football, umpires change rooms, first aid, public amenities, office space, a kiosk and storage.

Stage one and two are part of the Wesley Hill Master Plan, adopted in 2015, to develop a first class multi-purpose sports precinct and junior sports hub at the reserve.

Read the monthly project bulletins:

February 2019
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
April - May 2018
March 2018
February 2018
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017