RE-purposed Red Gum timber removed from Ravenswood during the construction of the interchange has been transformed into new park benches for the Garden of the Future in White Hills.
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The $99,000 project used more than 700 metres of timber to create 133 metres - or the equivalent of 66 park benches - of seating in the park.
City of Greater Bendigo mayor Margaret O'Rourke said council, along with project partners Regional Roads Victoria, Bendigo Northern District Community Enterprise and the Friends of the Botanic Gardens, were eager to see the Red Gum re-purposed.
"The seating was always meant to be here and has taken a while through budget processes," she said. "This was a nice way of using that re-purposed timber.
"Shading is also being installed, the footings are in for that, so (the whole park is) close to fruition."
Regional Roads Victoria engagement manager Seamus Haugh said he was pleased to see the timber being used for a community project.
"A number trees were removed from (the Ravenswood) area to make way for interchange and it is great to see we can re-purpose that timber and use it in the community at the Bendigo Botanic Gardens," he said.
"We are thrilled to work in partnership with the City of Greater Bendigo and the two community groups here at the gardens to see this timber re-used.
"We work closely with all local government authorities (on similar projects). (RRV) is proud of our role as environment custodians to minimise the impact on the environment and re-use the timber to bring it back to the community."
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