Communities get their projects picked

THE results of Pick My Project are in, and Anglesea, Birregurra and Apollo Bay are among the communities that will be celebrating after their proposals were chosen.

The state government’s $30 million Pick My Project initiative gave all Victorian residents aged 16 and over the opportunity to submit their idea for a project or program that made their community a better place to live.

In the Barwon region (which included the Surf Coast, Colac Otway, Greater Geelong and Queenscliffe councils), 22 successful projects will share in more than $2.6 million.

These include:

• The Anglesea Golf Club refurbishing its clubhouse to encourage more community and tourist use
• The Anglesea Football and Netball Club building 34 car parks at Ellimatta Reserve
• The old bitumen court at Birregurra’s primary school will be levelled and refurbished with a modern sports surface and new dual purpose basketball/netball rings
• New 24-hour toilets being built at Birregurra Recreation Reserve, and
• A structure built over the outdoor pool in Apollo Bay to make it an indoor facility.

There were 14,724 votes cast in the Barwon region from a population of 300,492.

The most popular project was a Geelong Cats proposal to develop Australia’s first evidence based on-line bullying prevention program, which received 411 votes.

Across the state, more than 95,000 Victorians cast votes, with successful projects receiving grants of between $20,000 and $200,000.

Premier Daniel Andrews revealed the list of successful recipients on Tuesday.

“This is a great day for communities right across Victoria, with hundreds of wonderful local projects getting the funding they deserve,” he said.

For the full list, head to pickmyproject.vic.gov.au.