Councillors recently voted to award the contract to local firm RD Miller to conduct civil, road and landscape works in the Zingel Place area and car park opposite the council chambers.

BVSC group manager of transport and utilities Wayne Sartori said construction fencing around the works area will go up on the weekend beginning Saturday, August 29, and works are scheduled to continue until late November.

“Weather permitting, Littleton Gardens will be transformed into a vastly improved public space over the coming months,” Mr Sartori said.

“Planned works include hard and soft landscaping to significantly expand the grassed area and to plant 80 new trees, the realignment of Zingel Place, in-ground works and infrastructure upgrades.

“Localised traffic and parking disruptions are unavoidable during the works period and we advise users of the nearby shopping centre and outdoor car park to observe the changing conditions.

“Most notably, road users wanting to access Zingel Place during the construction phase will need to do so via Gowing Lane, opposite Magpie Music on Auckland St. 

“This will be a one way system, with the exit from Zingel Place being via Gipps St.

“Parking during construction works will be reduced to about 30 places in September, and during October only there will be no parking allowed in the Littleton Gardens area, including the open air car park adjacent to Gipps St.

“Local parking will still be available in the Sapphire Marketplace underground and upper lever car parks, and recent improvements to the Gipps St car park near Club Bega have resulted in 30 extra spaces to offset the 24 spaces being lost in Littleton Gardens.

 “Access to the rear of all commercial properties facing Carp St along the north side of Littleton Gardens will be maintained during this period.

“An independent arborist report will assess the impact of the works on the trees, and while we are doing all that we can to maintain the trees, we will ultimately be guided by the arborist’s recommendations.

“The general works and detailed designs are in accordance with the approved Littleton Gardens Masterplan which went through extensive public consultation in the planning phase,” Mr Sartori said.

To see the plans, click here and follow the links to “Council and Infrastructure” then “Major Projects”.