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Road construction is continuing across the shire, with works this week including:

• Segment 8 of Clarence Town Road (south of the Clarence Town Road and Cemetery Road intersection) is practically complete, with guardrail installation and line marking expected to be finished next week.
• Works are progressing on the installation of safety barriers on Bingleburra Road, under the NSW Government’s Road Safety program. All site preparations for rail installation are now complete and contractors will finish the remaining installation work next week (approximately 1km remaining).
• Shoulder widening and culvert extension works are continuing on Bingleburra Road, under the NSW Government’s $25M Special Purpose Grant. The project has achieved completion of culvert and shoulder widenings and is now ready to accept new road gravel.
• With road stabilisation works completed last week at Gresford Road at the Clements Road intersection, the road was prepared and bitumen sealed this week. When complete, 1.4km of road will be upgraded under combined funding from the Australian Government’s Black Spot program, NSW Regional Roads Repair Program and council funds.
• Footing construction for the installation of guardrail on the Stroud Hill Road viaduct has been completed this week. Guardrail installation is planned by the end of this month, following a period of concrete curing. These works are funded under the NSW Government’s Road Safety program.
• Summerhill Road rehabilitation works have recommenced this week, with site clearing and grubbing underway. These works are funded under the NSW Government’s Fixing Local Roads Program.
• Early works will be undertaken in the upcoming fortnight for Duke Street and Queen Street, with signage and service relocations and adjustments.

BRIDGES

The $16.44M timber bridge replacement program is continuing under the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Bridges program. Recent updates include:

• Preparations for bridge approaches for the new Hopson’s Bridge are progressing.
• With the pour of the deck successfully completed last week, work continues on the bridge substructure, with the abutment wing walls and batter protection being placed at the new Saxby’s Bridge.
• Work on the eastern approach slab (Vacy side) for Bruxner Bridge continued this week, with the forming and steelwork placement. Work will commence next week on the reinstatement of the upstream bridge rail that was damaged in the March 2022 extreme weather events.

Following this, council works crews are preparing to commence the road approach works and are targeting the last week in July for the bridge to be opened to traffic, weather permitting.

COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE

Upgrades to community infrastructure are progressing across the shire, with works this week including:

• Bruyn Park public amenities block was delivered and installed, including roofing solar panels, water supply and bubbler. Some final finishing works will be completed on and around the block, and it is expected to open to the public in approximately two weeks. These works are funded by the Hunter Water Corporation Grant and the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Grant.
• Demolition of the old Shelton Shed on Hooke Street is progressing, with service disconnection completed this week and acceptance of a quote for the demolition works. As per the council resolution, the scope of works includes the removal of all structures except the concrete slab. This will be followed by a master planning exercise to understand the best use (or uses) of this land and corridor.
• Offsite fabrication of some building elements for the Gresford Sporting Amenities Construction Project continued this week. The works are funded by Developer Contributions, a Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) grant and the Stronger Country Communities Fund.
• The Dungog Shire Library upgrade commenced this week, with an inception meeting held with the contractor and the site handed over. The library upgrade will feature over 188sqm of additional floor area, which includes a function room and meeting room, new internal amenities and extra floor space for traditional library activities. For full details visit .
• The Bennett Park picket fencing project achieved practical completion this week, featuring the upgrade to 1200mm-high white powder coated aluminium picket fencing provided around the field. The project was funded under the NSW Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program.