In early October, the Federal Government announced Council would receive an additional $1,512,680 from its Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, and Council resolved to allocate this funding to several different projects.
The program is part of the Federal Government’s COVID-19 response to help local councils support jobs and businesses by delivering shovel-ready projects by 31 December 2021.
At last night’s November Meeting, Council endorsed allocating this funding to seven valuable road and community infrastructure projects to be undertaken in its 2020/21 and 2021/22 capital works programs:
Replace guardrails at various locations: $200,000
This project will fund the replacement and installation of new guardrails on a number of bridges across the Shire, including Gillets Road, Rokewood; Linton-Narringhill Road, Happy Valley; Matthews Road, Werneth; Meredith-Mt Mercer Road, Meredith, Racecourse Road, Haddon; Ross Creek-Haddon Road, Haddon; Meredith-Shelford Road, Meredith; Teesdale-Inverleigh Road, Inverleigh; Whinray Road, Meredith; Wurrook Rood, Rokewood; Linton-Piggoreet Road, Piggoreet; and Denison Street, Linton.
Upgrade Enfield Playground: $250,000
Council’s 10-year Play Space Strategy identified a number of playgrounds as requiring renewal to improve safety and increase the play value of the sites. In line with the strategy, this funding will upgrade the Enfield playground.
Buninyong – Mt Mercer/Hardies Hill Road, Garibaldi intersection upgrade: $250,000
This intersection in Garibaldi has been identified as requiring an upgrade on a blind curve and de-acceleration lane. Design work on the upgrade has already commenced, and this funding will allow for the project to be completed.
Derwent Jacks Road/Snow Gum Road/Reef Road/Chromes Road, Berringa intersection upgrade: $250,000
With multiple road approaches, this project will fund the upgrade of the intersection in Berringa to improve safety. As with the Garibaldi intersection upgrade, design work has already commenced.
Paddys Gully Road Bridge Replacement, Rokewood Junction: $318,680
The ageing single span timber bridge is currently limited to 10 tonnes and is in poor condition. The $318,680 will go towards the $650,000 replacement project and will require Council to allocate the remaining funding in its 2021/22 budget.
Bannockburn Skate Park upgrade: $99,900
This project will rejuvenate and upgrade the Bannockburn Skate Park and address public safety and security issues at the site and in the wider precinct. The project will incorporate a safe, accessible and modern design to maximise site usability and ownership, while supporting local economic activity. Recently, Council announced the $350,000 upgrade of the Bannockburn Skate Park, funded by $100,000 from the first round of the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program, and a $250,000 grant from the Victorian Government’s Community Crime Prevention Program. This $99,900 funding from the second round of LRCI program will fund lighting, landscaping, artwork, rubbish bins and project management works on the project.
Lethbridge Cricket Net Upgrade: $145,000
The $145,000 project, including design, construction and project management costs, will deliver an upgraded cricket net at the Lethbridge Recreation Reserve.
In addition to the Bannockburn Skate Park upgrade, Council allocated funding from the first round of Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program to: Reserve Road Bridge, Rokewood replacement; Maude Recreation Reserve/Lookout water supply; playground renewals in Dereel, Linton, Garibaldi and Haddon; Inverleigh Female Friendly Change Rooms; and the Golden Plains Shire Youth Hub in Bannockburn.
Golden Plains Shire Mayor Cr Helena Kirby thanked the Federal Government for the funding that will deliver a number of great projects for the local community.
“Council welcomes this further significant investment by the Federal Government in our Golden Plains community. This $1.5 million of funding will allow us to bring forward seven important and shovel-ready road and community infrastructure projects, that we wouldn’t have otherwise been able to do next year.
“Rather than allocating this money to one large project, Council agreed to put it towards projects in all corners of the Shire, from upgrading the playground in Enfield, to replacing the old Paddys Gully Bridge in Rokewood Junction, intersection upgrades in Garibaldi and Berringa, numerous guardrail improvements and upgraded cricket nets in Lethbridge, as well as funding towards the Bannockburn Skate Park upgrade.
“This funding comes on top of the $1.3 million Council received earlier in the year to fund six other valuable community projects, and we look forward to now delivering all these great projects for our communities next year.”
Following endorsing the seven projects for the funding, Council will now submit these projects to the Federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development for final approval.