Communities along the Mallee Track are set to benefit from a massive $2.3 million suite of projects in Murrayville, Ouyen, Underbool and Walpeup.
It follows Mildura Rural City Council's successful application for $1.15 million in Australian Government Building Better Regions Funding, announced by Federal Member for Mallee Anne Webster today.
The projects include:
- Murrayville Recreation Reserve Community Complex and Change Rooms - $1.7 million
- Murrayville Wetlands Project - $150,000
- Ouyen Fitness, Health and Wellbeing Centre - $150,000
- Underbool Bowls Artificial Turf Project - $265,716
- Walpeup Hall Restoration Final Stage - $25,125.
Councillor for Recreation and Events Liam Wood said combined with Council's contribution, the Australian Government funding would allow for one of the biggest spending injections along the Mallee Track in recent years.
"This shows what can be achieved by working side-by-side with our government representatives to ensure everyone in our municipality can enjoy improved sporting and community facilities," Cr Wood said.
"It's also important to highlight the amazing work of the residents and groups that call the Mallee Track home, as these projects wouldn't have come about without their vision and hard work.
"Local residents have worked for years in advocating and developing these projects, and today we can celebrate that hard work and vision.
"I'd also like to highlight the work of our Council staff who have supported these projects during their development, and worked very quickly earlier this year to turn around this successful application for Building Better Regions funding in a very short space of time to get this result."
Quotes from project representatives
Murrayville Recreation Reserve Community Complex and Change Rooms
"This will revitalise this community. It puts a spark back into the place, that drive and push for people to keep going, and will really give us something to look forward to, especially for the kids.
"It also gives everyone involved a pat on the back as well, a reward for all the hard work. It's going to be incredible.
"I'd like to thank everyone involved, our community, Council staff, Member for Mildura Ali Cupper and Federal Member for Mallee Anne Webster for getting us to this point."
- Kieran Kelly – Murrayville Recreation Reserve Sports Hub President
Ouyen Fitness, Health and Wellbeing Centre
"This has very much been a community-driven project that will provide benefits to so many people in the community
"It will provide both social and physical benefits, including for sporting clubs, it will allow opportunities for rehabilitation for older people or those with medical issues.
"The community has put in a lot of work, including people donating money, which is why we're really excited about the fact that we now have funding that will enable us to complete the gym."
- Ouyen Inc. Chair Scott Anderson
Walpeup Hall Restoration Final Stage
"We've already made a lot of progress since the restoration started and this funding will allow us to complete the work.
"It will allow us to paint the supper room, some work on the outside, and a little bit of work on refurbishment of the walls around the stage area.
"The aim of the whole project was to preserve the building, which will have been there for 100 years in 2023, and once it is completed, I think it will certainly be there for another hundred years."
- Walpeup Hall Committee President Greg Vallance.
Underbool Bowls Artificial Turf Project
"It's always been a battle to maintain the green. Water's a big question mark and obviously essential for maintaining bowling greens, and it was quite expensive buying all the chemicals and sprays to keep it maintained, as well as the time and effort.
"The huge benefit of a synthetic green is it will take away the burden of keeping the green going.
"And the beauty of it is you won't need to prepare it for use. It will be a consistent surface that you can bowl on at any time with no need to prepare it.
"This will mean more people can use the green, and we're getting quite a few young people and kids who are keen to have a roll, and with the synthetic surface, they can do that whenever it suits them.
"It's much more than a sporting facility – it's a real asset to our town."
- Immediate past President Underbool Bowling Club Robert Gloster
Murrayville Wetlands and Walking Trails Project
"This project will be great in terms of the wellbeing benefits of having water in the town, it will make the town more attractive and complement the nearby Recreation Reserve.
"It will also help with birdlife and the ecotourism we're already involved with, which will be a plus in attracting tourists to the town and the economic benefits associated with that.
"I believe it will really give us a chance to put the town on the map and there are future opportunities it would create, such as festivals and live music acts that could play on a deck out on the wetlands."
- Murrayville Wetlands and Walking Trail committee representative Kym Kingdon.
Project backgrounds
Murrayville Recreation Reserve Community Complex and Change Rooms
Demolition and construction of a new multi-use building, servicing a broad range of community and sporting groups, as well as introducing female change facilities for the first time. This project received $500,000 from the Victorian Government's Local Sports Infrastructure Fund earlier this year.
Murrayville Wetlands and Walking Trails Project
The Murrayville Wetlands and Walking Trails Project is a community initiative focused on economic, social and environmental outcomes.
This project is based on a community plan to establish environmental wetlands in Murrayville, rejuvenate existing walking trails and re-purpose town storm water from planned drainage upgrades already completed by Council.
Ouyen Fitness, Health and Wellbeing Centre
Establishment of a 24-hour community-owned gym that can be utilised by the community to run fitness, health and wellbeing programs, personal training, group fitness and training classes, featuring quality equipment.
Underbool Bowls Artificial Turf Project
Replacement of the existing grass surface with a low-cost maintenance and long-term cost effective synthetic green.
Walpeup Hall Restoration Final Stage
Complete the restoration of the Walpeup Hall, including completion of internal and external works.
