Council
25 July, 2024
Attendance climbing
CORANGAMITE Shire Council this week received the Mt Noorat Annual Report for the 2023-2024 year, which showed a period of success for one of the south west’s most iconic landmarks.
The Mt Noorat Management Committee’s report, which was received at this week’s Ordinary Meeting of Council, showed visitation to the mount had experienced an eight per cent increase from the year prior, with 26 visitors each day (790 each month) tracked at the walking track entrance gate counter.
The Mt Noorat land parcel also attracted income through a grazing license, communications tower leases and grant funding.
The report noted the existing lease and license arrangements provided an income of $49,306.56, which allows the site to be managed with long-term financial support from council.
The Mt Noorat Management Committee have an accumulated reserve of $180,000 from unexpended funds from previous years.
The forecast income for Mt Noorat during 2024-2025 is $52,170, and with the exclusion of grant funding the projected expenditure is $50,000.
New infrastructure remains on the cards as council has an agreement with Mortlake South Wind Farm developer Acciona to expend a $50,000 contribution towards a new viewing area, walking tracks and associated infrastructure, with works to be completed in 2024-2025.
Councillor Ruth Gstrein moved the motion to receive the report at this week’s Ordinary Meeting of Council.
“The committee have certainly been busy over the last 12 months, and they’re certainly not going to let the grass grow under their feet” she said.
“They have a busy 12 months of works scheduled which will commence on the new crater viewing platform weather shelter, which has been funded by Acciona, complete some revegetation and development of the website.
“They’ve done an amazing job and it’s great to see the number of people who are utilizing the site is increasing.
“I think we need to highlight, like so many committees across our shire, it’s all done by volunteers.”
The report also notes committee members contributed at least 600 recorded volunteer hours while community members contributing an additional estimated 200 hours to projects, at an estimated $20,000 in in-kind labour.
Committee achievements over the year included development of an infrastructure and interpretive information ‘design style guide’, revegetation of two hectares in ‘Dead Man’s Gully’, establishment of community planting days, participation in the Four Peaks Challenge, ongoing weed control and maintenance, and progress on development of a website and brochure.
“We are so lucky,” Cr Nick Cole said as seconder of the motion.
“We live in the third largest volcanic plane in the world, so we have the magnificent lakes and craters area all around us.
“Very few people have this and can wake up in the morning and see these views.”
Councillors also voted to appoint Susan Morrison, Peter McSween and Kim Rankine to four-year terms on the Mt Noorat Management Committee, and to look at reducing the size of the committee from 10 members to eight.
“It’s an outstanding job these committees do,” Cr Cole said.
The motion was carried unanimously.