Information about the upcoming works - updated April 2025

We’re upgrading the Templestowe Route to support the long-term growth of Templestowe, including its businesses and activity centre. 

By enhancing amenities and beautifying the area, we’re creating a more inviting space for the community and visitors to shop, dine and connect. 

Our goal is to create a safer, more accessible road network that encourages people to enjoy public spaces and support local businesses. 

This will start with the first stage of works on Anderson Street.

As a Victorian Council, we are required to maintain public roads in accordance with the Road Management Act 2004 and our Road Management Plan. This means we must carry out necessary repairs, upgrades and improvements to our roads and infrastructure to ensure they meet the required standards. 

Currently, the road pavement condition, inadequate drainage and lack of pedestrian infrastructure on the Templestowe Route make it difficult to maintain the road effectively and comply with this legislation. Without these upgrades, we would likely see an increase in safety risks and unplanned disruptions. 

The upgrades are essential for public safety, accessibility and ensuring the longevity of the road network, so it can continue to serve community and businesses.

Our steps to create a more vibrant and liveable Templestowe

Major works will soon begin on Packages A and C of the Templestowe Route Upgrade - view the project map.

• Package A includes works along Parker Street, between High Street and the Templestowe Bowling Club.
• Package C includes works on Anderson Street, between Atkinson Street and James Street.

Preliminary site investigations for both packages will start in late April 2025, following Easter. These investigations will help identify any unknowns, including ground conditions and potential service relocations. This will help us finalise the construction methodology and design.

Construction for both packages is expected to take approximately 18 months, with completion anticipated by December 2026.

We are taking the following steps to ensure our project stays on schedule:

• Procured a highly experienced contractor with the resources and capacity to complete the works efficiently.
• Conducting extensive early investigations to identify any unknowns, including ground conditions and potential service relocations.
• Engaging with affected service authorities early to minimise construction risks.
• Temporarily closing a section of Anderson Street to ensure any construction issues can be resolved quickly.

While we’re doing everything possible to prevent any delays, factors such as weather and unforeseen ground conditions may still impact our timeline. To address this, we’ll develop contingency plans with our contractor and facilitate decision-making to resolve issues quickly. 

We’ll provide details on traffic flow and access during the temporary road closure on Anderson Street once we finalise the construction schedule and Traffic Management Plan.

Parker Street will be open to traffic throughout the works, and we’ll have traffic management on site to guide you around the works, maintaining traffic flow.

• Anderson Street, between James Street and Wood Street, will likely need to be closed for four to six weeks. This is subject to further site investigations and the weather conditions at the time of construction. We’ll schedule this closure during the July school holiday period to minimise disruption.
  
  
• There are no planned closures for James or Porter streets.

The section of Anderson Street between James Street and Wood Street is the most deteriorated. It needs major earthworks to restore the road subbase, adjust road levels and install essential underground drainage infrastructure.

With high traffic volumes in the area, keeping the public safe is our top priority during construction.  

After working with our contractor, we have been able to reduce the planned road closure to around four to six weeks. This is subject to further site investigations and the weather conditions at the time of construction. We’ll schedule this closure during the July school holiday period to minimise disruption.

We’ve also considered other options to reduce the closure time, such as working at night or maintaining vehicle access to shops. However, these would:

• make the works take significantly longer, causing longer traffic disruptions
• create significant noise and inconvenience to residents if done at night
• likely cause more traffic congestion and safety concerns because of the complexity of traffic control needed.

We understand some residents may be concerned about increased traffic on local roads due to construction detours. 

To minimise impacts on residential streets, through-traffic not intending to visit the activity centre will be redirected onto main arterial roads during temporary detours. 

However, traffic intending to visit the activity centre will still have access, with signage in place to inform road users that the Village and nearby businesses remain open.

We have also begun implementing safety improvements on nearby local roads, including pathway connections, roadside maintenance and road condition upgrades to support any temporary traffic increases.

We’ll continue to monitor traffic patterns on residential streets, and if needed, introduce further measures to ensure the safety of residents.

We’ll provide details on traffic flow and access during the temporary road closure on Anderson Street, once we finalise the construction schedule and Traffic Management Plan.

Parker Street will be open to traffic throughout the works, and we’ll have traffic management on site to guide you around the works, maintaining traffic flow.

We’re exploring options to manage parking disruptions during the works, including identifying alternative parking and wayfinding measures to guide customers to their destinations.

The rear car park between Wood and James streets will remain open for customer use. It will not be designated for contractor parking. Contractors will instead have allocated parking at an alternative location.

Part of this project will include formalising the existing parking bays along Anderson Street. These works will result in a total of 26 bays, including 14 on the west side and 12 on the east side of the road.

We are taking the following steps to ensure our project stays on schedule:

• Procured a highly experienced contractor with the resources and capacity to complete the works efficiently.
• Conducting extensive early investigations to identify any unknowns, including ground conditions and potential service relocations.
• Engaging with affected service authorities early to minimise construction risks.
• Temporarily closing a section of Anderson Street to ensure any construction issues can be resolved quickly.

While we’re doing everything possible to prevent any delays, factors such as weather and unforeseen ground conditions may still impact our timeline. To address this, we’ll develop contingency plans with our contractor and facilitate decision-making to resolve issues quickly.

Power interruptions may occur during the works. The extent and timings of these interruptions are not yet fully understood. If power shutdowns are needed, we’ll reach out to affected businesses 14 days before to discuss management options, including the use of generators.

In the event of unplanned shutdowns, our contractor will have a power recovery plan in place to restore connection as soon as it is safe.

We’re committed to supporting businesses in Templestowe Village throughout this upgrade.

We understand that each business will be affected differently and will liaise with business owners directly to develop tailored support packages. Our ‘We’re open’ business support program will also include the following activities:

• Events and promotions – a program of events and special promotions, spanning the duration of the works.
• Advertising campaign – promoting Templestowe Village in key locations and on social media channels to remind the community that businesses are open.
• Additional signage – more wayfinding signs to help people navigate the area.
• Support local campaign – encouraging locals to support businesses through various initiatives.
• Individual business support packages – tailored support for businesses most affected.
• Temporary outdoor seating on James Street – a renewed seating area for businesses affected by outdoor dining disruptions, a community meeting and performance space.
• Trader support – helping interested businesses form a trader group under the Manningham Trader Group Partnership Program. This could lead to more tailored support, including a website for Templestowe Village.
• Advocacy for more outdoor dining – we’re continuing to advocate to Browns Body Corporate to explore outdoor dining options in the Anderson Street rear car park.