Celebrating 2023’s achievements

ANOTHER year is almost over, and what a year it has been!

I sincerely hope everybody across our region enjoyed a safe and happy Christmas and is looking forward to the new year.

Aldershot Reserve Dog Park

As a St Albans Park local, my campaign to be elected to Council was based around local issues and representing and advocating for the eastern suburbs of Geelong like Newcomb, Whittington, Breakwater, St Albans Park, East Geelong, and Thomson.

I am happy to report that Council has successfully secured funding from the Australian Government of $852,133 via its Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LCRI) Program, which will deliver a secure, fenced off dog park at Aldershot Reserve in St Albans Park.

The dog park will include separate active and passive dog spaces as well as a path network, drink bowls, park furniture, tree planting and landscaping to create an attractive social space for dogs and their owners of approx. 4,000sqm.

The dog park works will commence in April 2024, with a completion date in June 2024.

This project is close to my heart, and I’ve received a lot of feedback and support from the local community that helped to get this project to this stage.

I say this because the dog park forms part of the Aldershot Reserve masterplan, which is a topic many people from St Albans Park, Whittington, and Breakwater have been talking about for some time.

Residents have been asking for this reserve to be updated and improved so local families can have a safe and welcoming space to play and be active.

I will have more to say soon about the results of a community engagement campaign that council ran between November and December on the Aldershot Reserve Playground, but I can report that the feedback was greatly received.

New Cricket Practice Nets at Grinter Reserve

I can also report on funding secured for the redevelopment of new cricket practice nets at Grinter Reserve for Newcomb & District Cricket Club.

The Dinos are a proud local club doing great work in the community and I am delighted for them that this funding will contribute to their ongoing aims of on and off-field success.

The $450,000 project also received $350,000 from the Australian Government’s LRCI program and an additional $100,000 from the Victorian Government via its Sport and Recreation Victoria funding program.

It will involve redevelopment of the existing cricket net facility to deliver a new three-lane wicket, to include a synthetic surface, retractable netting, removable posts and a turf table.

These works, which are set to commence in January 2024 and be completed by June 2024.

Whittington Link Concept Plan

It was my great pleasure to recently spend time at the Whittington Link at a barbecue and community meeting, organised by Christine Couzens MP and the Bellarine Living and Learning Centre, to talk with the local community about the Whittington Link concept plan.

The barbecue and community meeting were well attended by residents wanting to have their say on the plan to redevelop the neighbourhood centre, including important community services such as youth development and maternal and child health services.

A further meeting is being scheduled for late January in 2024.

Residents can also contact me directly to have their say about these projects or any other matters.

Contact me on 0403 821 309, or [email protected] to raise any issue, or contact Council via the city’s website (geelongaustralia.com.au), via phone (03 5272 5272), via email ([email protected]) or via the City app.

Cr Melissa Cadwell

Brownbill Ward,

City of Greater Geelong