06 Feb 2018 The Free Press, Kilmore, VIC (General News) EXCITING improvements in the heart of Wallan are just around the corner with the $4.1 million Wallan Town Heart revitalisation reaching a major milestone. Contractor, Evergreen Civil will begin works in and around the Free Library Public Hall this month. As part of the wider project, an upgrade of the existing car park in Bentinck Street will see approximately 25 new car parks created near the adventure playground. The first stage of works are expected to take four to six weeks to complete. Other works, including a new outdoor plaza, new pedestrian crossing, new car parks, landscaping, and traffic improvements to the High Street service road entry and Wellington Street, will also begin soon. The Wallan Town Heart revitalisation was jointly funded by Mitchell Shire Council ($400,000), Regional Development Victoria ($1.5 million) and the Victorian Governments Growing Suburbs Fund ($2.19 million) through the work of Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes and Member for Yan Yean Danielle Green. Plans were presented to the community in September last year, with an extensive community consultation period following. Mitchell Shire Mayor Rhonda Sanderson said after a slight delay in starting construction late last year, it was exciting to see the project about to begin. This project has been a long time in the making the original idea for these works came out of the Wallan Structure Plan in 2015, Cr Sanderson said. The community played a key role in developing this project, and with their input and feedback, were about to deliver a positive change in the heart of Wallan. The project will not only create new public spaces, it will create local jobs, connect communities and give people an extra reason to be proud of where they live. Wallan is experiencing large amounts of growth and is clearly a very desirable place for people to live. This project will enhance the appearance of the town centre of Wallan and will truly unlock its potential. Cr Sanderson thanked the Victorian Government for their significant investment in Wallan. Forming partnerships is key for a major project like this and none of this would be possible without the considerable investment from the Victorian Government, Cr Sanderson said.Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.