Borakup Street pedestrian bridge and Clive Street set for upgrades after Katanning Shire Council vote

Part of Katanning’s main street and an important pedestrian bridge will be upgraded after councillors approved new funding plans. The Katanning Shire Council voted unanimously to allocate nearly $330,000 in Federal Government infrastructure funding to two projects in the townsite at a meeting held last Thursday night. More than $188,000 has been allocated to further upgrades to Clive Street between Conroy and Piesse streets, including improved drainage and road infrastructure works. Funding has also been allocated to a new footbridge over Katanning Creek on Borakup Street, with $140,000 going to the project. Deputy shire president John Goodheart told the meeting the council was backing two “very good projects”. “We have been very fortunate to get the grant . . . and it would be disappointing if we lost some of those funds because we haven’t allocated them towards a project”, he said. Councillor Kristy D’Aprile also spoke for the motion, saying one of the most common complaints about the council was its road and drainage assets. “The grant allows us to upgrade those assets in a way we couldn’t do it ourselves with our current rate base,” she said. Cr D’Aprile particularly stressed the need for the Borakup Street footbridge given its proximity to Katanning Primary School and the local childcare centre. “You see a lot of kids walking across the road at school time, so for the safety of the Katanning community it is a very important project,” she said. The vote for funding both projects was carried 6-0. The council received more than $700,000 in funding under the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program last year, with $375,000 allocated to CCTV upgrades and new footpaths on Clive Street and Synnott Avenue in December.