More than 90 projects across the Wimmera and southern Mallee were shortlisted for the state government’s Pick My Project initiative. Residents then voted for the projects they believed were most important.

A dozen organisations from Horsham, Murtoa, Ararat, Goroke, Willaura, Nullawil, Dimboola and Kaniva will receive over $1.5 million combined to fund the ideas.

One project that received $60,000 and 186 votes was the initiative to bring pedal boats to the Wimmera River in Horsham. Horsham Rural City councillor Mark Radford said he was thrilled the project was successful.

“There are many places around Australia using pedal boats and there is nothing stopping us from bringing them here,” he said. “It’s a great family activity that activates the river and has people exercising as well.”  

Cr Radford said the money would cover the cost of 10 pedal boats, life jackets and a trailer.

The most expensive project funded in the Wimmera was an open community arts and reflection space at the former Dimboola Hotel site, worth $200,000. Dimboola Arts Incorporated member Stoph Pilmore said it would be a great boost for the Dimboola community.

“We will be able to move on from the devastation of the hotel burning down,” he said.

Related: What’s next for the former Dimboola Hotel site | Timeline 

“That’s why it will be a reflection space; hopefully people will be able to go there and enjoy the space again. It will allow the community see that the space can be used for something useful into the future.”

Wimmera Mallee Tourism chair Helen Ballentine said it was great that silo art projects at Goroke, Nullawil, Serviceton and Kaniva had been successful.

“These were all places on our Silo Art Trail part two plan,” she said.

“Having more silo art in the region will encourage people to stay longer in the western part of the state.”

Murtoa Progress Association member Kendra Clegg said she was thrilled to find out the group had secured $152,501 to provide visitor accommodation options at Lake Marma.

“What we’re going to be able to achieve with this funding is so exciting,” she said.

“Our dream is to have three cabins set up by the lake, all with different configurations. This is a project that we have been working on for about a year.”

Ararat Basketball Association president Donna Dunmore said the basketball court floors and scoreboard at Ararat Fitness Centre was in desperate need of replacement. 

“It gets used every night … we were just waiting on the floor to fall through and then we couldn’t play any of our sports anymore,” she said.

“We didn’t know what we were going to do if we didn’t get the money … we would have had to beg borrow and steal.”

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