Golden Plains Shire Council welcomes the Federal Government’s funding announcement of $222,000 for the Teesdale Turtle Bend Reserve Upgrade.
Council successfully secured the Building Better Regions Fund Round 3 grant, with the funding to cover half the cost of this long-awaited upgrade project. The grant was announced by Federal Member for Corangamite Sarah Henderson MP to a group of community members including Cr Helena Kirby at Turtle Bend in Teesdale on Friday 8 March.
The Teesdale Turtle Bend Reserve is a popular recreation and events precinct that is a valuable social meeting space for the Teesdale community and attracts visitors from across the State. Community events that currently call Turtle Bend home include Teesdale Christmas Carols, Live @ Turtle Bend Music Festival, Teesdale Community Harvest Markets and Teesdale Roots Culture Festival.
Features of the Teesdale Turtle Bend Reserve Upgrade include an expansion and power upgrade of the event site, upgrade and widening of the pedestrian bridge, upgrade to the toilets including a disabled toilet and baby change facilities, additional play space elements and seating, new multi-sport space including half court for netball and basketball, improved fencing and sealing the driveway.
Cr Helena Kirby says the Teesdale community and Council have lobbied hard for this upgrade and the Federal Government grant will help deliver the full suite of works.
“The successful grant announcement is the culmination of extensive community consultation and working closely with the growing population in the area to develop these plans for a premier recreation facility.
“There’s a long list of passionate local community groups who have worked hard to make this dream a reality including the Teesdale Turtle Bend Events Committee, Teesdale Community Events Committee, CFA, Teesdale CWA, FReeZA youth leadership program, Inverleigh Leigh Valley Lions Club, Teesdale Community Co-ordinators, and Bannockburn and District Connected Communities; and Council thanks them for their commitment to the project.
“Already an impressive line-up, the community events staged at Teesdale Turtle Bend Reserve will be bigger and better than ever, with new events likely to join the fun, which is exciting for all residents of Golden Plains Shire.
“The Reserve is also a very special natural outdoor space that is popular with local residents and students of the Teesdale Primary School and Kindergarten; and with the new play space elements, new sport space and upgrade facilities, Turtle Bend is sure to attract even more community members.
“Council is proud to partner with Global Power Generation, the proponents of the Berrybank Wind Farm, to support the delivery of this upgrade, and we welcome the Federal Government commitment to the project. It’s a great example of two levels of government, business, and local residents coming together to build valuable infrastructure for the community.”