Golden Plains Shire Council has welcomed the allocation of $1,333,665 in the Federal Budget.
The funding comes with the extension of Phase 3 of the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program. Councils will be able to access the extension funding from July 2023.
The latest allocation adds to the $5.5 million that Council has received over the past two years under the first three phases of the LRCI program. With this investment, Council has completed a wide range of projects across the Shire including the replacement of Reserve Road Bridge in Rokewood and Paddys Gully Road Bridge in Rokewood Junction, Maude Recreation Reserve/Lookout water supply upgrade, playground upgrades in Dereel, Haddon and Garibaldi and a new playground at Enfield, Bannockburn Skate Park Upgrade, Golden Plains Youth Hub, new crickets nets at Lethbridge Recreation Reserve; and guardrail replacements on roads in Rokewood, Happy Valley, Werneth, Haddon, Meredith, Inverleigh, Linton and Piggoreet.
The LRCI funding has also been invested in a number of projects that are underway: Inverleigh Sporting Complex Female Friendly Change Rooms, playground upgrade in Linton, Bannockburn Bowls upgrade, Stage 4 and 5 of the Meredith-Shelford road widening project, public open space asset renewal, upgrade of the Lethbridge Lake Boardwalk, new septic system at the Meredith Interpretative Centre, Buninyong–Mt Mercer/Hardies Hill Road, Garibaldi intersection upgrade; and Derwent Jacks Road/Snow Gum Road/Reef Road/Chromes Road, Berringa intersection upgrade.
Golden Plains Shire Mayor Cr Gavin Gamble said Council joined with Rural Councils Victoria and the Municipal Association of Victoria to lobby for the continuation of the LRCI program and is pleased with the announcement.
“The Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program has supported vital investment to Councils across Victoria and this funding is particularly important for regional and rural municipalities that have the greatest need for road upgrades and priority infrastructure in smaller townships.
“In Golden Plains Shire, funding from the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program has invested more than $5.5 million in new and upgraded roads, bridges, playgrounds and youth facilities, and sporting and community infrastructure in 16 townships across the Shire over the past two years. This new $1.3 million will add to this list.
“Council thanks the Australian Government for its commitment to extend the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program and we hope there will be bi-partisan support to continue this funding stream in the future.
“Announced last night in the Federal Budget were a range of cost-of-living measures including the reduction of fuel excise which will have a positive immediate impact for residents in Golden Plains Shire who travel longer distances to our neighbouring cities for work, education, shopping and health services.
“There was also the commitment of $800 million to improve mobile phone coverage in rural Australia. This issue has long been a priority in Golden Plains Shire and we look forward to hearing more detail about this funding program.”
The Australian Government’s LRCI program supports local councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia, supporting jobs and the resilience of local economies to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. As with the first three phases of the LRCI Program, Council will identify local projects meeting the funding requirements and submit the list to the Federal Government for approval.