Just hoping we have all had enough to green the pastures and allow our farmers to put the winter crops in.

While our farmers have been watching the skies for this much-needed break, West Wimmera Shire Council has been busily working on the draft budget for 2019-2020.

Council has held several in-depth meetings and is planning to invite public submissions following the May 2019 ordinary council meeting.

We will take into account requests from the community for new expenditure in the next financial year, while closely monitoring the bottom line.

Council's ongoing advocacy for improved sanitation in Goroke has resulted in the April 23, 2019 announcement of a new environmental health project in the town.

GWM Water now plans to upgrade the wastewater infrastructure within Goroke, to collect effluent waste from septic tanks and greywater systems.

In 2014 in response to concerns that had been raised, council commissioned a domestic wastewater investigation, which resulted in the Domestic Wastewater Management Plan Final Report of December 2014. This report identified the specific wastewater issues and risk factors in Goroke, along with possible solutions.

Since then, council has been talking to the Victorian state government and GWM Water about funding options for this much-needed infrastructure upgrade in Goroke.

GWM Water has held three Community Information Sessions in Goroke in late April and early May 2019, so that local residents could meet with GWM Water representatives and ask questions about the project.

All Goroke residents have also received detailed information in the mail about the project. Stage One of the Project is due to commence in late 2019, and should be completed by mid-2020. We are very excited to see our lobbying bring such a great result for the residents.