Council & Business
27 March, 2026
Council advocate for State Government funding
Central Goldfields Shire Council have announced what projects and services they hope to get funding for this state election.
Central Goldfields Shire Council (CGSC) has released its 2026 advocacy package, seeking State Government support toward services and infrastructure critical to the region’s future.
CGSC has just listed 18 projects and opportunities they are seeking support for. The heart of this wish list is an $8 million funding plea to preserve the heritage listed Princes Park grandstand.
Launching the Advocacy Campaign on Wednesday morning, the shire met with representatives from local sporting clubs, Maryborough Highland Society, Energy Breakthrough and Country Education Partnership to announce the call for the modernisation of the downstairs area, ensuring it provides functional, accessible, and fit-for-purpose facilities.
The backdrop of some of the shire’s biggest events, $550,000 has already been secured in State Government funding toward female friendly change rooms.
Deputy mayor Anna de Villiers highlighted the historical significance of the grandstand, noting its rarity and heritage value.
“Built in 1895, the Princes Park grandstand is believed to be the first brick grandstand constructed in country Victoria,” she said.
“A Conservation Management Plan completed in 2021 identified a range of urgent works required to preserve the structure.
“The plan provides a clear roadmap for conservation and heritage management, ensuring the grandstand can be protected and enjoyed for years to come.”
Energy Breakthrough event director Alisha Chadwick said it would be monumental for the event if more modernised facilities were available.
“The plans for new change rooms and toilets and showers would be a huge benefit for the event, one of our biggest issues is toilets and showers for people that are camping,” she said.
“At the moment, the showers are an open space, so we do put dividers in but then it limits space. It would just make it easier for our visitors, and then more flexibility not only with Energy Breakthrough but other events down here.”
Another option outlined by the council is $2.5 million towards Go Goldfields to ensure coordinated delivery of vital services to support children and families, including The Nest.
Despite its success, including winning an Early Years award in 2024, the shire’s Carolyn Bartholomeusz said the service has since ceased due to a lack of ongoing funding.
“Go Goldfields really built a play space model to put children and families at the fore front of a lot of the service provision in Maryborough because of the need,” she said.
“Part of that was establishing The Nest ... a drop in space for new parents, a place where programs could be offered for families, but also a place where families could meet practitioners in a warm and friendly environment.
“Unfortunately, it was time limited because it was from a grant from the State Government, it won the Early Years award in 2024, but unfortunately there are no funding opportunities to keep The Nest going. It’s such a critical element of services provided to families here in the Central Goldfields.”
The release of this list also follows the shire’s current crusade for more frequent passenger train services between Maryborough and Ballarat.
With a campaign resulting in 200 recent responses in just over a week to a survey calling for more trains, particularly around commuter times, this is another project outlined in the advocacy document.
CGSC mayor Ben Green said government investment was needed to repair deteriorating heritage assets, improve transport connections and stimulate growth.
“We’re a small shire facing financial challenges caused by low revenue growth, rate capping and cost shifting by the State Government,” he said.
“We’re custodians of important historic buildings like the outdoor pool, Princes Park grandstand and the Town Hall. The government should fund these works to ensure fairness and equity.
“Central Goldfields Shire is one of the most disadvantaged communities in Victoria, and we believe that policy makers have a responsibility to ensure equity.”
Other projects outlined by CGSC’s advocacy include extending the Wimmera-Mallee Pipeline to the Central Goldfields, improved mobile and internet coverage throughout the shire, establishing a ‘Learning Hub’ to provide facilities and opportunities to improve access to higher education, relocating and improving facilities of the Maryborough SES, and $5 million toward completing the re-development of the outdoor pool.
Cr Green said the council has begun presenting its advocacy proposals to government ministers and the Opposition.
“We’ll be talking to political parties and local candidates in the lead-up to this year’s State Election, and we hope they’ll support our vision for Central Goldfields to be inspiring, thriving and prosperous,” he said.
The advocacy document can be found online at www.central goldfields.vic.gov.au/advocacy