Reconciliation journey begins – Golden Plains Shire council meeting briefs

AT the regular meeting held in Linton on Tuesday, 26 July, Golden Plains Shire councillors adopted a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.

Shire director community services Steven Sagona said it would be the municipality’s inaugural RAP and covers the first four parts of the nationally recognised Reconciliation Australia framework.

“In time, we would hope to move through the innovate, stretch, and elevate stages,” he said.

“This RAP acknowledges that this is the beginning of the reconciliation journey of the Golden Plains Shire, and as such, the document is internally focused around building understanding and capacity within the organisation and further developing relationships with traditional owners.”

The Reflect RAP aligns with the Council Plan to promote and connect to the Shire area’s Indigenous heritage and strengthen connections with traditional owners.

Cr Clayton Whitfield said the document is an important step in demonstrating the municipality’s commitment to reconciliation.

“We are supportive and respectful of Indigenous cultures, stories, people, and country,” he said.

Cr Owen Sharkey said working towards reconciliation is important to many in the Shire’s, and Golden Plains is now part of a network of more than 1100 corporate, government and not-for-profit organisations with a RAP.

Mr Segona said 376 people identify as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander within Golden Plains.

 

Grants sought

The Shire is applying to the Federal Growing Suburbs Fund and Living Libraries Infrastructure Program 2022/23 for major grants.

If successful, a Growing Suburbs Fund grant of just under $1.488 million would go to the Inverleigh Active Youth Space, and $805,000 from the same source could cover stage two of the Bannockburn Skate Park upgrade.

The Shire has also applied for just under $112,000 from the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program for a new mobile library van.

Cr Whitfield said Bannockburn Skate Park and Inverleigh Active Youth Space will be for teenagers what the Bannockburn Heart splash park has been for children and young families.

“The very young, through to the late-teens, will be attracted to destination facilities,” he said.

 

Signage for shire hall?

During question time, Linton resident Judy Maddigan asked about the installation new signage at the front of the Linton Shire Hall.

“Would council consider putting back the signs on the front of this building saying it’s the Grenville Shire Hall, and could we also get council to put a small sign up giving a bit of a history of this building now that it is quite a historic building in the area?” she said.

“It wouldn’t be a bad idea just to put up another little sign up saying what the three groups are that are using the hall, and just giving contact details for people who’d like to contact the three groups being the Historical Society, the craft group or the people running the pantry.”

Mr Sagona said the idea for some signage is being considered.

“We’ll reach out to the Linton and District Historical Society, which is appropriate given that they are now a tenant of the building,” he said.

 

Plan for free camping

Linton’s Craig Walker enquired about whether the old goods yard off Brooke Street, which backs onto the Ballarat-Skipton Rail Trail, could be used as a campground.

“We would be looking at utilising that area if we could, gaining permission as part of the Progress Association, and we would manage that area to advertise some free camping to attract visitors in the town to utilise various attractions around the area,” he said.

Director infrastructure and development Phil Josipovic said that space is crown land and township zoned, subject to inundation overlay, and significant landscape overlay.

“That overlay is to do with the Avenue of Honour adjoining the site,” he said. “In order to establish a camping ground… there would be a planning permit required.

“I’m not sure what amenities would be needed to support such a use, noting that the nearest public toilet is about 150 metres from the northern boundary, and about 750 metres from the southern boundary, so it depends whether you’d need toilets etcetera, and the cost associated with that would need to be factored in.”

 

A pump track for Linton?

The appearance and use of the reserve opposite the Linton Takeaway was also raised by Mr Walker, who suggested it needed an update.

He suggested a pump track, like those installed at Ballarat reserves for the use of bike riders could be appropriate.

Mr Segona said there were no plans to further develop the site.

“But our identification and planning for those sorts of facilities is ongoing,” he said.

“Our community planning team is seeking to work with community groups and volunteers to get the community planning program rolling again here in Linton, and we’d encourage projects of this nature to find their way into the community plan for prioritisation.”

 

Roadworks tender awarded

Berne Fleming Civil will complete stage four and five of the Meredith-Shelford Road widening works.

Worth more than $1.536 million the works are set to cover 4.65 kilometres south of Meredith, are expected to take 20 weeks, and Mr Josipovic said they will also include the installation of a guard fence.

“The works will increase safety for road users… and conclude the final stages of a multi-stage project,” he said.

Three tender submissions were received and were considered in July.