Council welcomes funding for Frederick Street and Mechanics Lane
Published on 16 January 2025
Mount Alexander Shire Council has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of $12.19 million in funding for the redevelopment of Frederick Street and Mechanics Lane in Castlemaine’s town centre precinct.
Council was successful in obtaining the funding through the Federal Government’s Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program (rPPP).
The rPPP provides grant funding to deliver infrastructure projects within regional precincts in partnership with local stakeholders to benefit regional communities.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon. Catherine King MP congratulated Council on its successful application during a visit to Castlemaine on Thursday 16 January.
She was joined in Castlemaine by Federal Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters MP, alongside Mount Alexander Shire Councillors, and members of Council’s Executive team.
Frederick Street and Mechanics Lane form a popular pedestrian thoroughfare in the town, connecting two main retail and hospitality precincts to community facilities such as the town hall, library, Phee Broadway theatre, Castlemaine Community House, and more.
The funding will enable improvements in these areas which will result in a safe, accessible and inviting at-grade streetscape, with an event space and improved access to community facilities.
Mount Alexander Shire Council’s Mayor, Councillor Rosie Annear said she was thrilled at the news of the funding.
“The transformation of Frederick Street and Mechanics Lane into a vibrant and accessible public space and central connecting route through town has been a long-held dream for Council and community,” said Mayor Annear.
“When complete, the redevelopment will link our major town centre shopping areas, and connect them to a range of important community facilities that should be easily accessible to everyone.”
“It will provide our growing community with the ability to move easily through the town centre, to the Railway Station and precinct, The Mill and the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, and community hubs such as the Castlemaine Community House, Castlemaine Library and the new events spaces.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the Federal Government for their funding support to make this dream a reality,” said Mayor Annear.
“Our community told us what they’d like to see in Frederick Street and Mechanics Lane during the development of the Castlemaine Streetscape Plan, some years ago.
“Since then, we’ve been advocating for funding to make it happen. Today’s announcement that our application to the Federal Government’s Regional Precincts and Partnership Program was successful is exciting and joyful news.
“We’re looking forward to the transformation of these sites, making them safer for pedestrians and cyclists and more accessible for people of all abilities to travel through – leading to better connections to and between important community places and spaces,” said Mayor Annear.
The project will deliver:
- At-grade kerbs to improve pedestrian access and amenity for all users regardless of age or ability.
- Upgrades to pavement surfaces.
- An event space.
- A shared zone providing equal priority to pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles.
- Additional lighting and street trees.
- Underground power.
The redevelopment will also provide new spaces for the community to gather, and new opportunities for performance and public art.
Council’s project partners project include DJAARA (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation), Castlemaine State Festival, Castlemaine Fringe, and the North Central Goldfields Regional Library Corporation.
The project will be delivered through the Federal Government grant of $12.19 million, with a contribution of $250,000 from Council. It is anticipated to take two years to deliver.
The project is a priority in the Castlemaine Streetscape Plan and Design Standards, which was adopted by Mount Alexander Shire Councillors in June 2020 following several rounds of community consultation.