Turning a new page

By Lachlan Ellis

A new library for Ballan has been just a dream for many years, but thanks to a major funding pledge from the State Government, the dream will become reality.

Minister for Local Government, Shaun Leane, and Member for Buninyong, Michaela Settle, joined Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan, Deputy Mayor Cr Dudzik, and Crs Tatchell, Munari, and Berry, to announce the funding on Thursday 27 January.

Under the Growing Suburbs Fund (GSF), Council will receive $3.5 million for the Ballan Library and Community Hub, with a further $1.5 million coming from the latest round of the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program.

On top of this $5 million from the State Government, Council will provide $2 million for the Hub, which will be located at the former Commonwealth Bank building at 127 Inglis Street.

Minister Leane said he was proud to help secure the funding, stressing the importance of libraries in a time when staying connected has been difficult.

“The work that this Council, staff, and Councillors have done supporting your community during the pandemic has been fantastic. And the work that library staff have done in the last 20 months dealing with the pandemic has been nothing short of fantastic as well,” Mr Leane said.

“We all know that libraries are so much more than what they might have been perceived to be a couple of decades ago. They are now essential, important community hubs…the contribution of library staff is always fantastic, and in these times, they’ve gone over and above.”

Ms Settle added the Library and Community Hub had been a priority for Moorabool since she became the State Member for Buninyong in 2018.

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-02-01

in the 1 February 2022 edition
OR
pick up a paper around your town.