One of Glenelg Shire’s major timber routes will be significantly upgraded after elected members voted to award a contract for the project through a tender process.

Local company Porthaul Civil Pty Ltd was successful in getting the contract for the Mumbannar-Wanwin Road rehabilitation.

The project will see about 2.4km of this local council road stabilised and strengthened to ensure the safe and efficient movement of timber vehicles during the harvest.

The local council road is one of the top priority routes identified in the Timber Industry Road Evaluation Studies (TIRES), the key document which informs state government funding decisions.

Wilsons Road, which connects to Mumbannar-Wanwin Road and is also a priority in the TIRES report, has already been upgraded, and another priority route Heathfield-Lindsay Road, west of Casterton, is next on the list with some sections of it to be upgraded.

Timber Towns Victoria president and Glenelg Shire Councillor Karen Stephens said she was delighted the TIRES report was realising its value for key roads upgrades in the shire.

“This will ensure the safe and efficient movement of heavy vehicles in one of our key supply chain industries,” she said.

“These roads are a major economic driver for our shire.”

Glenelg Shire Mayor Scott Martin said it was also a great outcome for a local contractor to be awarded the work.

“These projects also contribute to the Portland Industrial Land Strategy through the provision of enabling infrastructure in Portland’s industrial precinct,” Mayor Martin said.

The upgrades are part of the Local Freight Roads – Portland project funded by the Victorian Government through the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund.