A major new playground for Bungendore; the replacement of a flood-prone causeway on a key rural road; a new bridge to a much anticipated sports hub; and 1,000m of additional sealing on the region's busiest unsealed road have been announced by Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council as projects to receive more than $2.6m in funding.
The funding, made available through the Australian Government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program, forms part of a COVID and infrastructure stimulus to support jobs, businesses and the resilience of local economies.
Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Mayor Cr Tim Overall said Council recently shortlisted a number of worthy projects for consideration and settled on four key projects to receive the funding.
"We have been working with a dedicated volunteer group of local Bungendore residents since mid last year to consider the community's playground needs, develop some initial design concepts and explore funding sources for a new playground at Mick Sherd Oval.
"The children and families of Bungendore have been lacking playground infrastructure for quite some time, and I'm sure I speak on behalf of the working group when I say it is very pleasing to see funds become available to progress the project," Mayor Overall said.
Mayor Overall also commented on the importance of the other projects receiving funding.
"The replacement of the Bindi Brook Causeway with a box culvert will improve access, particularly during heavy rain events, for the community of Nerriga and travellers on Nerriga Road which is being upgraded to become a significant transport route.
"A bridge over Halfway Creek will provide necessary access to the new Bungendore Sports Hub, where bulk excavation has now commenced.
"Williamsdale Road in the Burra area is the highest trafficked unsealed road in our local government area. Sealing a further 1,000m of the road will come as great relief to local residents who have made many submissions and approaches to Council about the road for several years," the Mayor concluded.
The Bundendore playground project will receive $700,000 (although community fundraising, additional grant opportunities and sponsorship may increase the project budget); Halfway Creek Bridge will be allocated $650,000; the Bindi Brook Causeway will be allocated $600,000; and the additional 1,000m sealing of Williamsdale Road will receive $674,598.
The projects are all expected to be completed by 31 December 2021.
