TWELVE clubs, groups and other organisations have been selected to receive funding in the Moorabool Shire Council\u2019s August round of Community Grants Program allocations.<\/p>\n
Councillors approved the allocations at their monthly meeting last week, but not without dissent.<\/p>\n
Three councillors \u2013 John Keogh, Sheila Freeman and Steve Venditti-Taylor \u2013 voted against a recommendation to approve a total of $95,284 in grant allocations.<\/p>\n
The 5-3 vote in favour of the allocations (Cr Ally Munari was not present for the debate and vote after declaring a conflict of interest) followed lengthy discussion and several questions from the council table.<\/p>\n
Recipients in the latest round are the Blackwood and District Historical Society, Ballan Cricket Club, Saints Junior Basketball Club, Pentland Calisthenics, Bacchus Marsh Lightning Basketball Club, Walking Football 4 Health Victoria, Bacchus Marsh Scout Group, Bacchus Marsh Golf Club, Moorabool Environment Group, Ri (Norma) Van Veen, Kathy Holowko, and the Clarendon Recreation Reserve Committee of Management.<\/p>\n
Cr Keogh\u2019s opposition to the recommendation stemmed from his objection to the golf club receiving a grant to help it upgrade its irrigation system.<\/p>\n
He said the program was designed specifically to fund community organisations.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as I\u2019m concerned a community grant should never be used to fund a privately-owned club,\u201d Cr Keogh said.<\/p>\n
He said that in contrast, the Mount Egerton Recreation Reserve management committee had contacted the Shire about securing funding for children\u2019s playground equipment there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe committee was told that there was no money in the budget and anyway there were many community projects in front of it,\u201d Cr Keogh said.<\/p>\n
Cr Freeman also spoke against the recommendation to award the grants \u2013 moved by Cr Jarrod Bingham and seconded by Cr Rod Ward \u2013 for similar reasons and said she believed the criteria needed to be reviewed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are a lot of community groups out there that are needing funding,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople are hurting, funding is short, [and] we do need to make sure we aim it at where it is best needed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cr Tom Sullivan, who had earlier in the debate suggested a review of allocation criteria, said he understood Cr Keogh\u2019s concerns but it would be disappointing to make a decision \u201cat this 11th hour\u201d to knock back a grant.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe that private organisations should have access to community funds, however the officers have followed our criteria as it currently stands,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Illegal dumping summit lauded<\/strong><\/p>\n Cr Ward told councillors that the recent Shire-organised illegal dumping summit in Bacchus Marsh was \u201cvery worthwhile but also very frustrating.”<\/p>\n \u201cThe underlying principle in illegal dumping is that the polluter pays, but it doesn\u2019t work that way,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to stand together in a united position to the State Government, because the way it works now is that the EPA (Environment Protection Authority) is basically lazy, and if we put cones around a truck that\u2019s got cylinders on it we\u2019re liable.\u201d<\/p>\n That comment was a reference to the Shire\u2019s dispute with the EPA over illegally dumped acetylene cylinders at Merrimu, near Bacchus Marsh, which it was forced to pay to have removed.<\/p>\n Cr Ward said it was very encouraging to witness the collaboration between councils and individuals at the summit.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019m looking forward to working with them as we tackle the scourge of illegal dumping,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Cr Freeman also spoke highly of the event. \u201cIt was well presented, informative and constructive,\u201d she said, adding that she was inspired by the attitude of \u201cwhere to from here.”<\/p>\n Transport strategy out for consultation<\/strong><\/p>\n Councillors voted to open the Shire\u2019s draft Ballan Integrated Transport Strategy to public comment for a period of four weeks.<\/p>\n The draft strategy has been prepared in the wake of initial community engagement in November and December last year and a consultants\u2019 report that identified several intersections in the town that would come under significant pressure as Ballan grows.<\/p>\n Key themes from last year\u2019s consultation included calls for a local bus service, walking and cycling links, parking, road safety and accessibility.<\/p>\n An officer\u2019s report to the meeting said it was clear that the Ballan community expected safer, more accessible and better-connected transport options \u2013 not only for vehicles but also for vulnerable road users.<\/p>\n The draft strategy\u2019s five main themes are the road network, major intersections, active transport, car parking, and public and other transport.<\/p>\n Community feedback will be sought through the Shire\u2019s Have Your Say platform and drop-in sessions, with an aim of adopting a final strategy early next year.<\/p>\n