City makes pitch for federal cash

A CITY of Greater Bendigo deputation travelled to Canberra this week in a bid to secure Federal funding for priority projects ahead of the next election.

Led by mayor Andrea Metcalf, the group met the Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters and advisers to Minister for Local Government Kristy McBain, Minister for the Arts Tony Burke and Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek.

Opposition local government spokesperson Darren Chester and infrastructure, transport and regional development spokesperson Bridget McKenzie also spent time with the delegation, as did Senator for Victoria Sarah Henderson.

Cr Metcalf said the city’s number one priority project, the Bendigo Art Gallery redevelopment, was well received.

She said city staff would soon submit a funding application to the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program and, when it opens, the next round of the Growing Regions Fund in a bid to attract $15 million of federal money for the overhaul.

Other tourism projects in the prospectus included $1.2 million for expansion of the Golden Dragon Museum and $2.2 million towards stage one of Central Deborah Goldmine surface-level improvements.

Cr Metcalf said support to transition Bendigo Library off gas, funding for stage two of the Ironbark Gully Trail, stage two of the North Bendigo Recreation Reserve pavilion project, making Brennan Park Swimming Pool a year-round electric-heated facility, a new skate park in Kangaroo Flat and a new pavilion at Truscott Reserve rounded out the priority list.

Flood resilience works, further development of the Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct and local government financial sustainability also were discussed.