Main Street Upgrade
| What we're doing: | Upgrading the Echunga Main Street to deliver a range of improvements designed to make the town centre safer, more accessible and more attractive. |
|---|---|
| How much it is going to cost: | Preliminary cost estimate approximately $3 million of which the council would seek a minimum of 50 percent grant funding to help deliver the project. |
| Timeframes: | Construction is anticipated to begin in the 2027/28 financial year. |
| Background: | A key priority within the endorsed Echunga Township Plan (Action 39) is to undertake improvements to the main street with landscaping treatments, street trees, lighting, street furniture and footpath surfaces. In late 2023, Council engaged with the community on a draft concept design. Based on the feedback, the design was revised and a final version presented to and approved by Council in December 2023. |
Update August 2026
The Echunga Main Street Upgrade has reached an exciting milestone, with Council endorsing the project's final detailed design at meeting held on 3 August 2026.
Shaped by community feedback and a comprehensive design review, the completed design sets the vision for a safer, greener and more attractive main street while preserving Echunga's unique character.
The upgrade includes three new pedestrian crossings, new paved footpaths on both sides of Adelaide Road, activation areas around the Echunga Memorial Institute and General Store, 79 new street trees, around 1,700 new landscape plants, 48 on-street car parking spaces, formalised bus stops and upgraded underground stormwater infrastructure to improve flood resilience.
The detailed design has been costed at approximately $3.3 million for construction. Council will now seek external funding opportunities to help bring the project to life.
This milestone complements the ongoing Power Line Environment Committee (PLEC) project in Echunga, with Stage 3 currently in procurement and expected to be delivered during the first half of the 2026/27 financial year.
Thank you to everyone who contributed their ideas and feedback throughout the design process. Your input has helped shape a project that will improve the safety, functionality and appearance of Echunga's main street.
Read and listen to the Agenda item at the 3 August 2026 Council meeting agenda: Resolve Ordinary Council Meeting - 3 August 2026
Progress Update July 2026
Throughout the detailed design phase, Council has continued to engage with the Echunga Community Reference Group (CRG), with meetings held at key design milestones to present the evolving design, discuss proposed refinements and seek feedback. The final 100% detailed design is now complete and will be presented to Council for consideration in August 2026.
Echunga Main Street 100% Detailed Design
Many of the refinements are a natural outcome of progressing from concept design to detailed design. At the concept stage, design decisions are based on preliminary information. As the design progresses, additional site investigations, engineering assessments, service authority requirements (e.g., GMB Water) and technical constraints (e.g., DIT and Austroads regulations) are identified and incorporated into the final design. For the Echunga Main Street project, this also included accommodating the requirements associated with the Echunga PLEC project.
While a number of design elements have been refined throughout this process, the final design continues to deliver the project's key objectives, which are to:
- Improve pedestrian safety;
- Create opportunities for social interaction and inclusion;
- Collaborate to improve infrastructure;
- Support economic development; and
- Enhance environmental sustainability;
| Concept Design | Final 100% Detailed Design | Reason for Change |
|---|---|---|
| 110 new street trees | 79 new street trees | The concept design included a double row of trees on the western side of the street. During detailed design, driveway sightline assessments identified that the row closest to the traffic lane would obstruct driver visibility. An additional reduction in tree numbers was due to the clearance distances required around new public lighting infrastructure. |
| 75 on-street carparks | 48 on-street carparks | Detailed design identified that some parking spaces needed to be removed to meet the standards for sight distances for pedestrian crossings, intersections and driveways, ensuring a safer street environment for all road users. |
| 2m wide paved footpaths on both sides of the street | 2m wide paved footpath on the Western side 1.8m wide paved footpath on the Eastern side | The Eastern footpath was reduced by 200 mm to provide additional verge width for tree planting. The revised layout creates better growing conditions for the street trees while still providing an accessible pedestrian footpath. |
| 3.8m wide traffic lanes | 3.7m wide traffic lanes | The traffic lane width was reduced by 100 mm to provide additional verge width for tree planting on the Eastern side of the street. The wider verge allows greater soil volume for healthy tree growth and improves verge grading, reducing the risk of mulch erosion and making it easier for people to enter and exit parked vehicles. |
| 2.4m parking lane on the Eastern side | 2.3m parking lane on the Eastern side | Minor adjustments to the parking lane width were made to accommodate the wider verge while maintaining a functional parking layout. |
| 0.8m verge on the Eastern side | 1.2m verge on the Eastern side | The verge was widened to improve tree growing conditions by providing additional soil volume and creating more suitable ground levels for long-term landscape establishment. |
| Underground stormwater extending along Adelaide Road from the Battunga Road Intersection to the Marianna Street intersection | Underground stormwater extending along Adelaide Road from the Battunga Road Intersection to the 11 Adelaide Road (180m longer) | The stormwater network was extended to improve drainage capacity and enhance flood resilience along Adelaide Road, Echunga |
| Construction cost opinion indicating $2-3 million construction cost | Pre-tender cost estimate indicating $3.3 million in construction costs | Cost estimates have been refined as the design has progressed. The increase reflects the expanded stormwater upgrade, inclusion of permeable paving, energy-absorbing bollards etc., together with construction cost escalation since the concept design was prepared in 2023. |
| WSUD Swales and kerb bump outs for the swales and understorey planting | WSUD swales removed, understorey planting reduced by 50% and kerb bump outs reduced to activation areas and pedestrian crossings | During detailed design it was determined that the proposed landscaping could not be sustainably maintained due to the absence of a reliable water source for irrigation. The revised landscape design reduces long-term maintenance requirements while retaining landscaping in key locations where it will have the greatest benefit. This refinement also created sufficient space to reinstate seven on-street parking spaces within the design. |
| Permeable paving around mature trees not identified | Permeable paving around mature trees identified | Permeable paving was introduced following detailed design investigations and consultation with Council's Arborist to protect the health of existing mature trees by allowing water and air to reach tree roots while minimising impacts from paving. |
| Energy-absorbing bollards within key activity areas not identified | Energy-absorbing bollards within key activity areas identified | A risk assessment identified the need for additional vehicle protection in the activation nodes around the General store and Echunga Memorial Institute for public safety. |
| Design for the Echunga Memorial Institute laneway upgrade | Consideration of the Echunga Memorial Institute laneway upgrade as a separate project | The laneway upgrade is now being considered separately to the Main Street upgrade. The consensus from Council staff was for the EMI Committee to utilise the laneway for community events and activations to demonstrate community demand, test the functionality of the space, and build stronger evidence base for any future consideration of upgrades. Council’s Economic Development and Tourism team will work with the EMI Committee to support these activation initiatives. As the laneway upgrade has always been costed separately from the Main Street Upgrade, this change does not impact the overall project budget. |
Progress
Council has been working with consultants and the Echunga Community Reference Group to progress the detailed design of the Echunga Main Street. Survey findings on existing conditions have also provided input to enable the future design. The scope of works includes:
- Stormwater upgrade
- Planting street trees
- Landscaping
- Improving vehicle and pedestrian safety
View the Echunga Main Street Design Development - Information Plan here.
The design for the main street upgrade is currently at draft 100% detailed design stage.
The current draft 100% design includes the following key elements:
- Installation of three new pedestrian crossings
- A 2m wide paved footpath on the western side of the street
- A 1.8m wide paved footpath on the eastern side
- 79 new street trees comprising a mix of native and deciduous species
- Lower level planting and landscaping
- Water sensitive urban design treatments, including rain gardens/soakage swales
- Provision of 41 on-street carparks
- Narrowing of traffic lanes to 3.7m
- A 2.3m car parking lane and 1.3m verge on the eastern side
- An upgrade and extension of the underground stormwater system along Adelaide Road to improve flood resilience
- The anticipated completion date of the design is end of July 2025
View the Echunga Main Street Draft 100% Design Detail Plan here.
In the 2025/26 financial year, Council will be seeking grant funding for the construction of the main street upgrade.
Update May 2026:
- The draft 100% design is currently being finalised, with remaining updates underway.
- The design is expected to be completed by the end of May 2026.
- An information report is scheduled to be presented to Council in July 2026, outlining the final design and next steps.
Construction is currently estimated for the 2027/28 – 2028/2029 financial years, pending Council receiving minimum 50% grant funding.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Echunga Main Street upgrade is part of Council’s broader commitment to deliver on the priorities outlined in the Echunga Township Plan 2019, which was developed in consultation with the community.
The project has gone through an extensive assessment process within Council and has been prioritised against many other community projects across the district. At present, there are no other Echunga projects identified with the same level of priority or readiness that could be substituted in its place.
The Echunga Main Street upgrade will deliver a range of improvements designed to make the town centre safer, more accessible and more attractive.
The works include new footpaths and kerbing to improve pedestrian access, upgraded street lighting to enhance visibility, and new trees and landscaping to create a greener streetscape. Seating, signage and public spaces will be added to encourage people to stop and enjoy the area, while improved stormwater management will help reduce flooding and pooling.
The upgrade also includes undergrounding power lines along the street allowing for increased tree canopy cover and a reduction in hard paved surfaces.
Given the scale of the works, the Power Line Environment Committee (PLEC), a grant funding agency which provides up to 66 percent funding grants to successful applicants, has budgeted for three six-month stages.
Stage one has been completed with stage two estimated to start in January 2026. An application for PLEC funding of stage three was lodged in May 2025 and if approved is expected to commence in July 2026.
These works reflect the priorities identified in the Echunga Township Plan and through community consultation, which highlighted the need for a safer, more welcoming and visually appealing main street for residents and visitors alike.
A preliminary cost estimate for the main street upgrade is around $3 million of which the council would seek a minimum of 50 percent grant funding to help deliver the project.
The estimated total cost for undergrounding the power lines along the Echunga main street is $4 million. With Power Line Environment Committee (PLEC) funding, the council’s contribution would be between $1.3 and $1.5 million.
New or upgraded toilet facilities are not included in the scope of the Echunga Main Street upgrade. Council is progressing a separate proposal to improve public conveniences across Echunga which has recently been out for public consultation.
The project is being delivered in stages to align with funding from Council, the Power Line Environment Committee (PLEC) and other grant provisions. Given the scale of the works, PLEC has budgeted for three six-month stages, commencing in January 2025 and expected to be completed by late 2026.
Once detailed design is finalised and the project is “shovel-ready,” Council will begin seeking funding in 2026, with construction of the main street upgrade anticipated to begin in the 2027/28 financial year.
Disruption to residents and businesses will be kept to a minimum wherever possible, and those directly affected will be notified in advance of any works that may impact access or services.
40 trees will need to be removed as part of the Main Street upgrade. Most of the existing trees are nearing the end of their natural lifespan and would likely cause disruption or safety issues in the future. In addition, several trees are located where new streetlights will be installed or where they would significantly affect light coverage.
Council’s Tree Management Policy guides the careful assessment and replacement of trees to ensure long-term sustainability and visual appeal. The new streetscape design includes 79 advanced replacement trees and understorey plantings to enhance the overall landscape and soften the impact of the roadway.
There will be a small reduction in the number of parking spaces on the Main Street. This outcome was discussed during community consultation and carefully considered in the Echunga Main Street design process.
While some spaces will be lost due to the inclusion of new lighting, landscaping, and improved pedestrian areas, the design aims to balance safety, amenity, and accessibility without negatively impacting local businesses or residents.
Council has worked to retain as many spaces as practical, ensuring parking remains convenient and functional for everyone who visits or lives in Echunga.
The Main Street will be made slightly narrower to allow for new tree planting, upgraded footpaths, and seating areas that create a more attractive and pedestrian-friendly environment.
The design has been developed with input from the community and in consultation with the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT), which owns and manages the road. Because of its road classification, DIT requires certain standards to be maintained, including minimum lane widths—so the road will not be reduced beyond what is considered safe and appropriate for traffic.