AT the regular meeting held in Linton on Tuesday, 26 July, Golden Plains Shire councillors adopted a Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.<\/p>\n
Shire director community services Steven Sagona said it would be the municipality\u2019s inaugural RAP and covers the first four parts of the nationally recognised Reconciliation Australia framework.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn time, we would hope to move through the innovate, stretch, and elevate stages,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Reflect RAP aligns with the Council Plan to promote and connect to the Shire area\u2019s Indigenous heritage and strengthen connections with traditional owners.<\/p>\n
Cr Clayton Whitfield said the document is an important step in demonstrating the municipality\u2019s commitment to reconciliation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are supportive and respectful of Indigenous cultures, stories, people, and country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Cr Owen Sharkey said working towards reconciliation is important to many in the Shire\u2019s, and Golden Plains is now part of a network of more than 1100 corporate, government and not-for-profit organisations with a RAP.<\/p>\n
Mr Segona said 376 people identify as being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander within Golden Plains.<\/p>\n
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Grants sought<\/strong><\/p>\n The Shire is applying to the Federal Growing Suburbs Fund and Living Libraries Infrastructure Program 2022\/23 for major grants.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The Shire has also applied for just under $112,000 from the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program for a new mobile library van.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThe very young, through to the late-teens, will be attracted to destination facilities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Signage for shire hall?<\/strong><\/p>\n During question time, Linton resident Judy Maddigan asked about the installation new signage at the front of the Linton Shire Hall.<\/p>\n \u201cWould council consider putting back the signs on the front of this building saying it\u2019s 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?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt wouldn\u2019t 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\u2019d like to contact the three groups being the Historical Society, the craft group or the people running the pantry.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Sagona said the idea for some signage is being considered.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll reach out to the Linton and District Historical Society, which is appropriate given that they are now a tenant of the building,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Plan for free camping<\/strong><\/p>\n Linton\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe 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,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Director infrastructure and development Phil Josipovic said that space is crown land and township zoned, subject to inundation overlay, and significant landscape overlay.<\/p>\n \u201cThat overlay is to do with the Avenue of Honour adjoining the site,\u201d he said. \u201cIn order to establish a camping ground… there would be a planning permit required.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m 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\u2019d need toilets etcetera, and the cost associated with that would need to be factored in.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A pump track for Linton?<\/strong><\/p>\n The appearance and use of the reserve opposite the Linton Takeaway was also raised by Mr Walker, who suggested it needed an update.<\/p>\n He suggested a pump track, like those installed at Ballarat reserves for the use of bike riders could be appropriate.<\/p>\n Mr Segona said there were no plans to further develop the site.<\/p>\n \u201cBut our identification and planning for those sorts of facilities is ongoing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cOur 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\u2019d encourage projects of this nature to find their way into the community plan for prioritisation.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n