Councils list their election priorities

With the state election rapidly approaching, council organisations and councils themselves – including Moorabool Shire Council – are beginning to publish their ‘shopping lists’.

Rural Councils Victoria (RCV), which represents 37 member councils, released its ‘State Election Platform’, last week with Moorabool Shire Council following suit, listing their set of priority projects.

RCV has called for millions in funding for projects relating to road maintenance, services, housing, emergency management, and rural tourism, including $200 million over four years to reinstate the Fixing Country Roads Program, and $50 million a year for a ‘Community Services Fund’ for rural councils, similar to the Growing Suburbs Fund allocated to peri-urban and growth councils.

RCV Chair Cr Mary-Ann Brown said rural Victoria was “the engine room of the state’s economy”, and needed greater investment from the State Government.

“Rural Victorians and rural communities provide the majority of the agricultural and food produce that feeds Australia and brings in billions in much needed export dollars,” Cr Brown said.

“Ongoing support for the work of RCV is also necessary so that we can continue to provide the targeted, trusted and well-informed research to inform State and Federal government policies.”

Moorabool Shire Council’s requests are more specific, with their ‘top five priority projects’ listed –

• $3.5 million for the Bacchus Marsh Community & Bowls Hub,
• $500,000 for a new oval at the Bungaree Recreation Reserve,
• $7.5 million for the Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Recreation Reserve Community Hub,
• $6 million for sewering of the townships of Wallace and Bungaree, and
• $3 million for an upgrade to Griffith Street, Bacchus Marsh, including expansion to four lanes.

Moorabool Shire Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan called on current and state politicians in the region to back the priority projects.

“All of these priority projects are shovel-ready and have been identified following close consultation with Councillors and our community. Several of these projects complement other projects and have an overall benefit to the community,” Cr Sullivan said.

“The community and bowls hub is a key project, which will be developed alongside the new sports stadium and proposed new indoor pool in Taverner Street. It will bring people of all ages together in a multi-purpose space where they can meet, dine, and play.”

A full list of projects Council is advocating for can be viewed at www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/advocacy.