Southern Grampians Shire Council will commence landscaping works on Ballarat Road early next month. The project is the first stage of a strategic landscape plan for Hamilton’s major town entrances, as identified in the 2011 Hamilton Structure Plan.
New trees and shrubs will be installed in the median and nature strips located on Ballarat Road between Hiller Lane and George Street. The new plantings will create an avenue effect, with nature strips on both sides of Ballarat Road planted with identical species.
The tree and shrub selections comply with both VicRoads’s guidelines and Council’s Urban Tree Asset Management Plan. They will also accommodate the restricting low-hanging low voltage wires on the northern boundary.
The species selected for planting are:
- Crepe Myrtle – Lagerstroemia indica ‘Tuscarora’ (Nature strip)
- Apple Gum – Angophora costata (Central median)
- Coastal Rosemary – Westringia ‘Mundi’ (Central median)
Some existing trees along the central and median strips will be maintained until the new plantings have established. Others are being removed this month, based on advice from the landscape architect, prior to the new landscaping works commencing.
The landscaping works are scheduled to begin in July and it is anticipated that the project will be completed over winter and spring months.
