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Publish Date: 16 December 2019
Buloke Shire Council’s December Ordinary Meeting was highlighted by important funding application decisions that will help shape many of its towns for years to come, awarding of tenders for the Lake Tyrrell Tourism Infrastructure Project and the Local Roads Rehabilitation Program as well as the adoption of key policies.
Council at the meeting considered its application for funding for the Wycheproof Early Years Facility and the Birchip Community Leisure Centre under the Drought Communities Program - Extension.
The Federal Government made the declaration that Buloke Shire Council is eligible to apply for funding under the program in November of this year. The fund is designed to support local infrastructure and other projects for communities and businesses that have been impacted by drought.
Council will apply for $500,000 from the fund for the Wycheproof Early Years Facility and will continue to work closely with the State Government to secure $500,000 from the Children’s Facility Capital Program.
Council will also apply for $300,000 for upgrades to the Birchip Community Leisure Centre from the federal program. Council has been working closely with the local committee for a number of years on delivering on the master plan for the site. Currently, the facility requires upgrades to change facilities (partially funded) and netball courts.
Council has been informed throughout this decision making process by the Community Plans of each of the Buloke townships as well as the Buloke Integrated Community Plan. Council will continue to work closely with the State and Federal Governments, both which Council enjoy strong working relationships with, to achieve the aspirational projects and programs within in these documents.
It has also been resolved that Council will apply for $1.45 million of funding under the Building Better Regions Fund. $1 million of the application will be for the Sea Lake-Lascelles Road and the Culgoa-Ultima Road.
$450,000 will be applied for under the same fund for the Birchip Safer Cumming Avenue Project. Council secured $320,000 of funding from Regional Roads Victoria in early 2019, with Council co-contributing $130,000.
The extra funding would allow the delivery of a range of safety upgrade and visual amenity improvements. In the event this funding is unsuccessful, Council will need to deliver upon the existing project scope. The planning for these works are well underway and tenders are to be called for in the first quarter of 2020.
The last of the funding applications resolved was to apply for $450,000 under the Regional Development Victoria Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund for the redevelopment of the Wycheproof streetscape. Council will consider a matching allocation of $150,000 in the 2020/21 budget deliberations for the Brightening Broadway project which would deliver a range of improvements including the addressing of accessibility issues, greening the street and key spaces, street art and furnishing, signage and parking and the lighting of key natural assets.
Council has awarded the delivery of the Lake Tyrrell Tourism Infrastructure Project to Gradian Projects Pty Ltd of Shepparton. The high profile project is set to underpin tourism at the popular sightseeing lake for generations. Amongst the list of upgrades will be a sky lounge, boardwalk, jetty, viewing platform, car parking, walking paths, interpretive signage and shade structures.
Harill Pty Ltd of Nyah will deliver on the Local Roads Rehabilitation Program 2019/20 after Council awarded it a contract to conduct works on the Watchem-Warracknabeal Road and the Culgoa-Ultima Road.
Finally, Council has adopted both its Complaints Handling Policy and Election Period Policy.
The Complaints Handling Policy aligns with the Victoria’s public sector values and provides details about how to make a complaint and the responsibilities of complainants. The policy underlines Council’s commitment to managing complaints in a transparent, fair and consistent way to help improve Council services and the way business is conducted.
The Election Period Policy aims to ensure general elections for the Council are conducted in a manner that is fair and equitable. Council Elections will be held on Saturday 24 October 2020. The Caretaker period begins on the Nomination day 22 September 2020 and is for a period of 32 days concluding on Election. The policy underlines Council commitment to transparency and good governance.
Minutes and documents relating to the December Ordinary Meeting will be made available on Council’s website.
The December meeting was Council’s last for 2019. The next Ordinary Meeting of Council will be held from 7.00pm on Wednesday 12 February 2020.