GAWLER Council will spend almost $590,000 to plant trees along the Gawler East Link Road, amid hopes it may receive State Government funding to complete the landscaping.
At a special council meeting a fortnight ago, elected members voted to endorse a 2020/21 budget submission of $40,000 for the purchase of trees and $548,000 for their planting and 12-months of maintenance.
According to a report presented at the meeting, council will apply for State Government funding for half the project through the Open Space and Places for People Grant Program.
The council expects to recoup the expenses for the trees through an increase in rate revenue due to the growth of housing in the Gawler East area.
The Department of Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) will only deliver “high-priority” landscaping for the due to budget pressures on the $67.7 million project.
“Due to budget pressures, DPTI will only be delivering the high priority landscaping which is deemed to be where vegetation was removed on the project and/or areas of high aesthetic value currently,” the report read.
“Landscaping not delivered by DPTI or Springwood will become deferred infrastructure and needs to be funded and delivered by council at a later date.
“Street trees along the GELR are proposed to be categorised within the deferred infrastructure as these elements do not fall into DPTI scope.
“It is logical to plant the street trees in the immediate future and concurrently for aesthetics and also so that they establish as a collective as development occurs.”
Also in the report, which provided a range of updates relating to the Gawler East Link Road, details of an opening event for the road were touted, if social distancing measures are rolled back by the time the road opens.
Transport minister Stephan Knoll expects the road to be completed in the third quarter of 2020.
“The completion of the GELR is seen as significant milestone for the State Government, Town of Gawler, the Gawler East Development Zones and the broader Gawler region which is well worth celebrating,” the report read.
“The event would involve the community and provide the opportunity to view the road prior to the road officially opening to vehicles.”