Federal Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster MP visited the Central Goldfields Shire this week (18/11) to meet with Central Goldfields Shire Mayor Cr Chris Meddows-Taylor, Flynn Ward Councillor Liesbeth Long and Council staff.
As part of the visit, Dr Webster visited Wareek, Dunolly and Bealiba to officially launch the Your Community 2030 Community Plans and the improvement works about to get underway.
In 2019-2020 we had more than 1,035 conversations with our community as part of the Your Community 2030 project – funded as part of the Australian Government Building Better Regions Fund – which culminated in eight, ten year community plans for the townships of Maryborough, Bealiba, Carisbrook, Dunolly, Talbot, Majorca, Bet Bet and Timor.
Investment in our community hall facilities was a key theme of each of the plans. Thanks to funding as part of the Australian Government Local Road & Community Infrastructure Program, a series of improvement works will be carried out in each of the eight townships:
Bealiba & District - $80,000
- Shade sails & improvements to the playground
- Bealiba Hall improvement including upgrading of kitchen
Bet Bet & District - $80,000
- Improvement works at the Betley Mechanics Institute Hall including BBQ shelter & seating
- Upgrade of signage for Bet Bet & district
- Tree planting
Carisbrook & District - $114,546
- Carisbrook Town Hall improvement including drainage & roof upgrade works
Dunolly & District - $80,000
- Improvements to town signage
- Shade sails Dunolly swimming pool
- Tree planting within Dunolly
- Playground improvements
Majorca & District - $80,000
- Shade sails & improvements to the playground
- Tree planting within Majorca
- Hall improvement works including repainting internal & external of the building
Talbot & District - $275,000
- Installation of new toilets at the Town Hall
- Shade sails playground & swimming pool
Timor & District - $80,000
- Timor/Bowenvale & Wareek Hall improvements including Install air conditioning & painting improvement works
- Shade sails & improvements to the playground
- Tree planting
The visit also included an inspection of the safety improvement works currently underway at the Maryborough Airport.
In June, Central Goldfields Shire received $68,585 in funding for Maryborough's airfield as part of the $41.2 million Australian Government Regional Airports Program, with Council providing $68,585 in matching funding.
The upgrade and extension to the kangaroo-proof fencing at the airfield will increase the safety of pilots and users and help protect native wildlife.
Central Goldfield Shire Mayor Cr Chris Meddows-Taylor said the visit was a great opportunity for Council to brief Dr Webster on a number of key projects and thank the Government for their investment in our local community assets.
"It's great to see a fantastic range of projects being carried out across all of our townships. I have no doubt the shade sails, signage, tree plantings and other upgrade works will be welcomed by our local communities and enjoyed by many in the years to come.
"Likewise it's great to see significant works underway to ensure safety for pilots and users of the Maryborough airfield.
"The Maryborough Aeromedical Transfer Station Project (MATS) facility is about to commence construction and the proposed kangaroo-proof fencing will ensure future safe use of this important facility."
Due to the anti-erosion works being undertaken, the temporary retention of stormwater run-off can lead to the attraction of birdlife. Netting has also been constructed over the retention ponds to prevent birds from landing and therefore reducing the possibility of bird strikes on aircraft.
This is a standard technique for the "modification of habitat" approach to reducing bird strikes. These works were carried out by local contractors and were fully funded by Council.
