It was exciting to learn that Yarriambiack Shire was successful in obtaining funding for two projects at Murtoa when the results of the state government’s Pick My Project was announced.
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A grant of $151,000 for visitor accommodation at Lake Marma will enable us to expand the caravan park site to include cabins, and a grant of $36,000 will allow the replacement of the ageing stage curtains in the hall. Council will now look at opportunities for funding projects submitted by other communities in the shire.
Our advocacy package for November’s state election has been formulated, and already both major parties have responded positively to some key wishes.
Our sustainability as a small rural shire depends on ongoing funding from both tiers of government.
We were delighted to learn that the state government’s Fixing Country Roads program has been allocated $100 million over two years. We will be applying for the maximum grant of $500,000 this financial year to improve the safety of rural roads. VicRoads has recently created Regional Roads Victoria to facilitate maintenance on its major arteries in north-west Victoria.
We have already seen works carried out on the Borung Highway from Warracknabeal to Dimboola, and on the Henty Highway north of Lah and again north of Brim. Future maintenance has been scheduled for sections of the Warracknabeal to Stawell Road and the Wimmera Highway at Murtoa.
Emma Kealy visited Warracknabeal last Tuesday to announce a Coalition government would deliver $6.5 million to bring the SDS and college to the primary school site.
The educational precinct is currently one-third complete. This is most unsatisfactory. Our community is disappointed the current government has still given no indication of when it intends to finish this project.
Our advocacy for ongoing funding for early years education has been met with an announcement that a re-elected Labor government will offer 15 hours of kindergarten to children in six local government areas, including Yarriambiack, from 2020.
Tourism is growing in our shire as a result of the Silo Art Trail. We would like state government support for the development of caravan park master plans. This need will grow with new silo art projects in Nullawill, Goroke and Kaniva-Serviceton as a result of the Pick My Project success.
Cr Graeme Massey is mayor of Yarriambiack Shire Council.
