Golden Plains Shire Council has welcomed the announcement that the Federal Government Election will be held on Saturday 21 May, 2022.
In the lead up to the election, Council has been advocating for bi-partisan commitments for valuable community infrastructure and important services across the Shire. The new boundaries released in 2021 have placed the majority of Golden Plains Shire townships in two federal electorates: Corangamite and Ballarat.
Federal Election Commitments for Ballarat Electorate
The new electorate boundaries released in 2021 have moved all the townships in Golden Plains Shire that were in Wannon to the federal electorate of Ballarat. In addition, several towns that were formerly in the Corangamite electorate, including Lethbridge and Teesdale, are now in the Ballarat electorate.
Woady Yaloak Reserve Lighting Project: $650,000 for 150 lux lighting on the oval and netball courts at the Reserve, providing provide increased opportunities for sporting and community activities, training and matches, and events.
Smythesdale Sub-Regional Play Space: $2.2 million for a new play space featuring age-diverse play elements, street furniture, barbeques, shade structure and accessible public toilets, co-located with the Smythesdale Skate Park.
24-Hour Ambulance Station: A new 24-hour ambulance station to better serve the northern townships of Golden Plains Shire, who currently experience notably poor ambulance response times.
Northern Streetscapes Project: $1.3 million to deliver Stage Two of the Northern Streetscapes Project to beautify the town centres of Linton, Scarsdale and Smythesdale, increasing visitation to the northern corridor of the Shire.
Linton Oval Reconstruction: $880,000 for the complete reconstruction of the playing field on Linton Recreation Reserve, allowing greater use year-round and future sports participation.
Public Bus Network: A commitment to extend Ballarat’s public bus service to Smythes Creek, Smythesdale and Scarsdale, providing greater access to public transport in the north of Golden Plains Shire.
These priority projects complement a range of current and recent initiatives in Golden Plains townships in the Ballarat electorate including the Rokewood Community Hub, Ross Creek Active Recreation and Play, Meredith Skate and BMX/Pump Track and the Teesdale Turtle Bend Upgrade.
In the 2019 election, there were no commitments for Golden Plains Shire townships in the Wannon electorate.
Federal Election Commitments for Corangamite Electorate
In 2022, the area of Golden Plains Shire included in the electorate of Corangamite has been reduced from the 2019 election. The townships that will vote for the next Member of Corangamite are Bannockburn, Inverleigh, Murgheboluc, Gheringhap, Batesford and Russells Bridge.
In the marginal electorate of Corangamite, the following priority projects are top of the list for commitments in the 2022 election.
Bannockburn Netball Pavilion: $1.4 million to build a new netball pavilion including female friendly change rooms at Victoria Park, Bannockburn. Supporting current and future participation at the growing netball club, the proposed facility includes a social indoor space, public toilets, team and umpire change rooms, first aid and office areas.
Inverleigh Active Youth Space: $1.4 million to deliver this community-driven project with new bike tracks, an upgraded skate park, a social basketball court and associated works including carparks, seating and landscaping.
Bannockburn Family Services Centre Expansion: $1.1 million to expand the Bannockburn Family Children’s Services Centre (BFSC) to support an additional 60 kindergarten places in the growing south of the Shire.
Bannockburn Skate and Pump Track: $441,000 for a new skate bowl and $525,000 for a new BMX/pump track at the skate park in Bannockburn, home to the Shire’s only high school and a rapidly growing youth population.
Inverleigh Recreation Reserve Lighting Upgrade: $420,000 to fund 150 lux lighting and drainage on oval 2, supporting greater participation and training at Inverleigh Recreation Reserve.
Bannockburn Recreation Precinct Upgrade: $10.15 million to deliver a new synthetic junior sports oval for junior football (soccer), Australian Rules, Little Athletics, hockey and cricket; cricket practice facility, new pavilion and extension, car park and landscaping works.
In the previous Federal Election in 2019, the Coalition made four election commitments for the Golden Plains townships in Corangamite, which then included a larger area including Lethbridge: $3.2 million for the Bannockburn Entrance Roundabout, $832,000 for the Bannockburn Soccer Facility Change Rooms, $500,000 for the Inverleigh Club Rooms Upgrade and $100,000 for the Lethbridge Reserve Lighting. All these projects have been delivered for the Golden Plains community.
Mayor Cr Gavin Gamble says Council is dedicated to advocating for commitments that benefit and support the people and townships of Golden Plains Shire.
“Following the Federal Election, each electorate will receive funding to deliver the promises of the political party who forms government, so our focus is on securing commitments from all the major parties for Golden Plains Shire.
“Golden Plains Shire Councillors, CEO Eric Braslis and I have been meeting regularly with the MPs and candidates for the electorates of Corangamite and Ballarat. We have travelled with them to visit towns across the Shire, meeting locals and showing the locations of our priority projects.
“In Golden Plains Shire, we have 56 communities so we know that Federal Election commitments won’t reach all the corners of the municipality, but every dollar of government investment that’s secured for our priority projects saves money in Council’s budget and allows for more money to be redirected to smaller townships and for other important and on-going works across the Shire such as improving roads, health and wellbeing, caring for the environment and general service delivery.
“In the lead up for the Federal Election, we are welcoming meaningful and valuable commitments for the people and communities of Golden Plains. Every commitment secured will be reported by Council back to our residents to help voters make a decision on election day.”