Plea for infrastructure funding

By Lachlan Ellis

With the State and Federal Governments are busy preparing their annual budgets, Moorabool Shire Council is advocating strongly for local projects.

As it has been for years, Council CEO Derek Madden said an indoor pool to complete the Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre (MARC) remains at the top of Council’s advocacy list.

“We continue to advocate strongly to the Federal Government to contribute their share of the indoor pool, which has already had funding committed from both Council and the State Government,” Mr Madden said.

“And with our growing population, and recent floods and storms, road infrastructure will also feature very heavily in our advocacy work, ahead of the two budgets.

“We regularly meet with state and federal representatives to put forward our projects, and we encourage the community to contact our local Members of Parliament to lend your support for projects such as the pool and roads.”

Mr Madden thanked both levels of government for the funding already provided in the past couple of years – particularly the State Government, which has provided $10 million for the indoor pool.

“We’re very fortunate to have received funding from other levels of government, especially the state, in the past year or two and we can see that our advocacy work is coming to fruition, with many projects throughout the shire currently under construction or nearing completion,” he said.

Among the projects underway are Darley Park Pavilion, an indoor sports centre in Taverner St Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and Gordon skate parks, new and updated ovals and netball courts throughout the shire, works at Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Recreation Reserve, and Ballan Library and Community Hub.

State Member for Eureka, Michaela Settle, said it had been a fruitful few years working alongside Moorabool Shire Council, and she looked forward to continuing to work with Council to get projects funded.

“It’s been great to work so closely with the Moorabool Shire Council over the past four years. We’ve seen some amazing projects get off the ground through that partnership, like the Darley Park Pavilion, the indoor sports centre in Taverner Street, Bacchus Marsh Racecourse Rec Reserve, and many more,” Ms Settle told the Moorabool News.

“I know that the community in Bacchus Marsh is very keen to have an indoor pool, and the State Government has committed $10 million to build it. The State Government budget in May is the opportunity to get the commitments we made during the election underway. I’ll be making sure the funding comes through for the new home for the bowls clubs in Bacchus Marsh, the traffic lights in Grant and Griffith Street, the extension of the Maddingley bus service, and the dog park at Peppertree Park.”

Federal Member for Hawke, Sam Rae, said he would continue advocating for Federal funding for the indoor pool, on top of other projects planned for the electorate.

“I strongly support building the Bacchus Marsh pool and will continue to work with all stakeholders to get it built. My local priority for our community has been to kick start the Western Highway upgrade with the $10 million secured in October’s budget,” Mr Rae said.

“The Albanese Government is working through the budget process now, with a central focus on targeted cost of living relief for families. Up in Canberra last week I caught up with the Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, to discuss a number of budget proposals for projects here in Hawke.”

For more information on projects Council is advocating for funding for, head to www.moorabool.vic.gov.au/advocacy.