Community grants approved

SUCCESSFUL applicants in the first Golden Plains Shire Community Strengthening Grants round for 2021 were announced at the most recent council meeting on Tuesday, 29 June.

Inverleigh Progress Association is receiving $10,000 to replace open-space lawn mowing equipment, Inverleigh Primary School’s gardening group has been allocated $1600 for raised beds for a vegie patch, while the Inverleigh Cemetery Trust has been given $2930 for seating.

Linton and District Progress Association’s Community Safety Plan Connecting Community and Leaders has been allocated $6000. The group has also been granted $7024 for community seating and gardening equipment.

Music at the Market has received a $2300 injection via Smythesdale Community Coordinators, $5795 has gone to the Smythesdale Arts & Music Fiesta, and $800 has gone to the town’s Progress Association for shower ventilation work.

Bannockburn Inclusive’s Sorrento trip for the elderly and people with disabilities has been supported by a $1600 boost, Golden Plains Trail Riders has received $640 for safety equipment, Meredith History Interest Group’s Connecting the Past while looking to the Future project got an injection of $3800, while the Lethbridge Public Hall will replace ovens with $2042.

 

Satisfaction survey

The results of a Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey have been released.

Director community services Lisa Letic said interviews with 400 Shire residents were conducted by phone earlier this year.

“The survey is designed to provide insights into community views on the importance and performance of some of council’s services and infrastructure,” she said.

“The 2021 results indicate that the community perceptions of council performance have improved marginally from 2020… with sealed local roads improving the most by three index points.

“Minor negative movement was recorded in index results scores for consultation and engagement, and customer service.”

Cr Brett Cunningham said the survey has been an important process, and the results are a valuable document.

“It allows council to receive totally independently sourced feedback and insights from our community,” he said.

“The survey results for our council’s overall performance… rates significantly lower than the Victorian statewide average.

“The results identify key performance areas and individual service areas that require attention and action. Hopefully… these areas identified by the community… will begin to be addressed by this year’s budget and by future decisions of this current council group.”

 

Development permit refused

Councillors refused to grant a permit for the removal of native vegetation and a dwelling at 37E Piggoreet Road, Piggoreet; a Crown allotment.

The proposal was not appropriate for the ‘farming zone,’ and went against the Shire’s planning strategy, which states development inconsistent with agriculture should remain in residential precincts, and discouraged in farm areas to ensure land protection.

Cr Owen Sharkey said the applicant showed “a huge amount of depth and knowledge,” but wanted council to “errs on the side of caution.”

“If we were to support this… we’d be supporting something without notifying some of the neighbours, which I personally feel very uncomfortable with,” he said.

“This is a big application; bigger than us as a council. It’s one I see going off to VCAT.”

Cr Clayton Whitfield empathised with the applicant.

“There was a permit held once before. It would indicate that it would be available again, but unfortunately, the VCAT decisions would indicate otherwise,” he said.

“In allowing residential development to spread out like that, it would be a burden to council when it comes to maintenance and infrastructure, and I think we need to consider that.”

 

Report on roads

THE Victorian Auditor-General’s Office’s Maintaining Local Roads report has been released, comparing municipalities’ road maintenance costs.

Director infrastructure and development Phil Josipovic said VAGO audited five council areas.

“VAGO suggests this council underspends by 41.1 per cent on its total network cost,” he said.

“This takes into consideration the road network size, the traffic volume and the cost modifiers which pick up on local conditions, such as availability of materials, climate conditions, etcetera.

“According to the VAGO report, Golden Plains Shire spends 62 per cent of total roads maintenance expenditure reactively, where the average for similar councils is 33 per cent, and the sector average is 25 per cent.”

Mr Josipovic said the report is based on financial figures between 2016 and 2019.

 

Building work for Bowden

Bowden Corporation has been awarded the building tenders for the Golden Plains Youth Hub and the Bannockburn Soccer Female Friendly Changeroom.

The Youth Hub project is worth $393,189.60, while the soccer facility works will cost $878,398.62.

Cr Gavin Gamble said he sees the value of the Hub and its services in connecting young people from different backgrounds and schools.

“This is a way of getting them to have a common ground. There are special challenges for young people living in our Shire, particularly with issues like loneliness and lack of social connections,” he said.

Cr Sharkey said the Bannockburn Soccer Female Friendly Changeroom project is exciting.

“This is something that we have in our priority projects,” he said.

 

Road-widening to Berne Fleming

Meredith-Shelford Road in Meredith will be widened to chainage 16750 after the Shire awarded the works tender to Berne Fleming Civil.

The project is worth $785,357.12, and Cr Les Rowe said the infrastructure update is very important.

“It’s the stage three section… so this will be a two-lane sealed road. It will no doubt help a lot of the rural farmers in the area to get produce in and out,” he said.

“It will also help with the chicken farms out the back of Lethbridge.”