Highton Lane Upgrades Nearing Completion

Published on 06 June 2025

Ongoing upgrades on Highton Lane have reached a major milestone with the section between James Street and Monkey Gully Road now complete.

Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said it was satisfying to see the complex project nearing completion.

“We’re really grateful for our community’s patience as we complete the important upgrades on Highton Lane,” he said.

“We’ve listened and we’ve acted. These upgrades are addressing our community’s longstanding concerns with legacy infrastructure.”

The recent works have included widening single-lane sections to two lanes, constructing new and improved footpaths, installing kerb and channel and significantly upgrading stormwater infrastructure.

Community consultation played a vital role in shaping the final design.

"We held extensive consultations with residents, and their input was invaluable," Cr Rabie noted.

"That feedback helped us make several important changes, such as better locations for traffic islands, improving the footpath routes and pedestrian accessibility and modifying some driveway crossover locations.

“With good project management we’ve made savings during construction. Those have been reinvested into further upgrades, getting better bang for our buck,” said Cr Rabie.

Savings allowed Council to reseal Highton Lane with higher-quality asphalt instead of a spray-seal. They also allowed asphalting and kerb and channel construction to be extended to the section between James Street and Mt Buller Road. Works on this section are continuing.

Council is also continuing to consult with residents to finalise works affecting driveways and crossovers.

The Highton Lane upgrade project is a key component of the IMPACT Route (Integrating Mansfield’s Productivity, Agricultural Communities and Tourism). This initiative is funded with $9.8 million from the Australian Government’s Remote Roads Upgrade Pilot Program and $2.5 million from Council’s budget.