Playford Council approves final design work to start on upgrade to main street of Virginia
One of the state’s fastest growing towns is to get an upgraded main street, with Playford Council approving the start of final design work.
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A $5.2 million upgrade of Virginia’s main street has moved closer with Playford Council approving concept plans.
Elected members have voted to proceed with final design work following extensive consultation with residents and business owners.
The project is one of the biggest being undertaken by the council, which last week discussed a strategy to reduce its $140 million debt.
The council has received approval for a $2.6 million State Government grant to help fund the Virginia upgrade, with the remainder to come from borrowings.
A staff report said SA Power Networks was due to start soon on a $2.6 million project to underground power lines along old Port Wakefield Rd.
The council was negotiating with SA Water over the installation of new stormwater drainage and mains sewerage while the powerline work was being undertaken.
Under the concept plans presented to the community, footpaths would be widened, indented carparking bays would be installed and there would be new streetscaping.
The staff report said the upgrade of the main street was needed as it had narrow and uneven footpaths, unsuitable street trees, lack of shade, poor signage and no cycling paths, toilets or public seating.
“The concept design has been developed with careful and extensive consideration of community feedback, transport standards, safety considerations and best practice urban design approaches,” it said.
“As a ‘once in a generation’ project, the concept design aims to meet the needs of the
community today as well as for the next 30 plus years.”
Virginia is experiencing rapid growth, with large residential developments underway on the town’s outskirts.
Further expansion is expected with the completion of the Northern Connector, which has substantially cut travelling time to Adelaide.