The $830 000 Nagambie main street redevelopment was officially opened by Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes last Friday. The Strathbogie Shire Council and the Victorian Government project started in 2013 after extensive consultation with the local community and VicRoads. It was designed to attract more visitors to Nagambie after the bypass saw a large reduction in visitors to the town. Mayor Deb Swan said since the Nagambie bypass opened in 2013, almost 2000 fewer trucks and about 9000 fewer vehicles in total travelled through the Nagambie each day. In order to sustain the local economy, a new approach from the community and local businesses was required to encourage motorists and travellers to turn off the freeway and visit Nagambie, Cr Swan said. The street was beautified with more gardens and provision for outdoor dining and facilities to encourage people to stop in the town centre. There has also been structural changes including a roundabout, additional car spaces and kerb and channel work at the towns entrance. The roundabout has been made into a feature of the re-working, with new lighting and tree planting done by local school children. With extensive consultation undertaken with community members and VicRoads, a concept plan for the full length of the street was prepared, which included street beautification, provision for outdoor dining and facilities to encourage buses and recreation vehicles to stop in the town centre. A roundabout concept was adopted by a steering committee, with council consulting with traffic engineers and VicRoads. A new entrance, exit and kerbing was constructed for the roundabout approaches and a new service line to businesses on the western side of the roundabout was constructed, together with a bus bay. Twelve new angle parking bays were also created, adjacent to the western service road. Cr Swan said Goulburn Valley Water undertook the design for the relocation of water mains prior to construction works, which enabled council to start on the road construction works. Ausnet Services have also designed new lighting for the roundabout and undergrounded an existing overhead service to make the roundabout more attractive. Together with some fantastic planting from our local school children, the roundabout is truly a highlight for Nagambie, alleviating traffic build-up in the process. Cr Swan said the main street would soon be complemented by four flags, acknowledging the strong sport, wine and equine industries in the area.