The mayor stated council received correspondence recently from ministers Richard Wynne and Luke Donnellan stating that Option D is clearly their preferred option and they're not going to alter.

Council has never received correspondence to date which outlines this position.

The most recent correspondence is in contrast to comments made by the mayor, with the ministers intent on highlighting the way forward.

The formation of an advisory panel is to ensure the current views of the community and stakeholders are considered and definitely doesn't indicate a preference.

We both welcome further engagement with the community to address our local needs along with the national freight task.

We both oppose council's current position to not have a view, remain silent and sit on the fence.

Regardless we will continue to advocate for the best long-term interests of our community and hold proper process to account.

John Robinson and David Grimble, Horsham Rural City councillors

MURRAY Basin Rail Project upgrades will provide a critical boost for our food and fibre producers in northern and western Victoria.

The $440-million project, which has been proudly driven by Victoria’s National Party MPs, reached a significant milestone this week, with the Maryborough to Ararat line re-opening. It also signals imminent reopening of the Mildura line.

When the Murray Basin Rail Project is complete, it will secure an increase to maximum freight volumes, cut about 20,000 truck trips from our country roads and boost the productivity of industries that drive employment in the north and west, including agriculture and mineral sands.

I am proud to have been part of the former Liberal Nationals government that got this project off the ground in 2014 with a $220-million investment. The Federal Liberal Nationals contributed the final $220 million needed in April 2017.

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to standardise and upgrade freight rail in western and northern Victoria will make it more efficient for our farmers to get their product to port and to the rest of the world.

Peter Walsh, Leader of The Nationals

VICHEALTH is aiming to get more locals in Western Victoria taking part in community sport with around $400,000 in new Active Club Grants funding.

Community sport clubs in Western Victoria are encouraged to apply for the grants to start up new social programs and women and girls teams in a bid to make it easier and more attractive for less-active locals to play sport. VicHealth’s Active Club Grants program has enabled sports clubs in Western Victoria to deliver new opportunities for locals to get active.

Getting active is so important for our health, and grassroots sports clubs in Western Victoria play a vital role in helping people in our community to keep fit and healthy.

Active Club Grants are about making club sport more accessible, so everyone can get involved in the sports they love regardless of their age, gender or ability.

Active Club Grants provide funding of up to $3000 in tier one or up to $10,000 in tier two to community sport clubs to start up new social and modified sport programs, or to deliver new opportunities for women and girls to play sport.

Applications for VicHealth Active Club Grants close at 4pm on March 2.

For further information or to apply online, visit www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/activeclub.

Jaala Pulford, Member for Western Victoria