General News
30 August, 2022
Shire sets projects for priority funding
CORANGAMITE Shire Council has released a list of projects it would like to see prioritised for State Government funding totalling more than $85 million.
CORANGAMITE Shire Council has released a list of projects it would like to see prioritised for State Government funding totalling more than $85 million.
Mayor Ruth Gstrein said the shire was seeking direct funding commitments made in the lead-up to the election for the ten projects.
The priority items are:
Fixing mobile phone black spots and upgrading NBN capacity in Port Campbell;
$31 million, or $310 million of ten years, to upgrade roads comprising the Dairy Supply Chain;
$150,000 to fund a commercial model to engage with Eastern Marr Aboriginal Corporation to develop a signature winter event for the Twelve Apostles region;
$5 million to implement the second stage of the Camperdown Royal Theatre Master plan;
A $30 million fund to implement enabling infrastructure works in accordance with a Servicing Master Plan for the Camperdown Production Precinct;
A $5.4 million fund to upgrade the Skipton Recreation Reserve;
A $5.1 million fund to upgrade Mockridge Park in Camperdown;
$8.4 million to widen Darlington Road in line with the National Performance-Based Standards (PBS) Scheme;
$1.8 million to widen Darlington-Terang Road, Kolora; and
$1 million to replace three bridges along the Camperdown-Timboon Rail Trail.
Cr Gstrein said council would work with both sides of government to achieve $31 million in upgrades to the Dairy Supply Chain roads each year for the next decade.
“It’s a lot of money but a fair investment in our region, which produces more than a quarter of the nation’s milk and is forecast to grow by 20 per cent by 2045 – about 2.5 billion litres per year,” she said.
“Cobden Warrnambool Road and Cobden Port Campbell Road are in urgent need of upgrades to support that massive industry.”
Cr Gstrein said the priority projects were built on the diversity of ideas including infrastructure, enterprise and community connectedness in the hopes of attracting State Government support.
“We’ve given a broad suit so if the State Government is focusing on an area viewed as a positive, we could potentially do that,”she said.
“Projects are designed to represent communities right across the board so economic development, productivity, able to connect through mobile phones, supporting sporting facilities and also cultural and economic development.
“We would love to have this all funded, which may not be the case, but we’re putting forward plenty of options.”
Corangamite Shire chief executive officer Andrew Mason said the priority projects had been selected based off the feedback the shire was receiving from the community.
“What we’re ultimately trying to do is reflect what we hear from that community,” he said.
“This community continues to be concerned about roads, it’s a key theme, but there is also investment we think is necessary to support business growth and capitalise on post-COVID opportunities
as well as critical bits of infrastructure and recreation which is needed.
“We’re really hoping the community will get behind these projects and push for the State Government to make some contributions.
“Even if we’re not successful, we’llkeep going.”
Cr Gstrein acknowledged it was frustrating to be call for the funding of basic infrastructure projects needed to improve general safety of residents and visitors.
“We continue to push hard for our communities and while it can be frustrating, it can also be incredibly rewarding when you get a project up and running,” she said.
“Especially with the south west corner of the road network, there has been a lack of investment over the years.
“If we get the $5.1 million funding needed up upgrade Mockridge Park, what a difference that is going to make to the 80 kids playing hockey, the soccer teams and the cycling club.
“Those sorts of projects can have real change in communities, and that’s what we’rehere for.”
To learn more about the priorities visit www.corangamite.vic.gov.au/priorities or pick up a hard copy from the Corangamite Shire Civic Centre.