General News
17 August, 2023
Local committees welcome $1.5 million funding boost
A host of local volunteer groups have received funding to help restore recreation areas and facilities following last year’s flood events. Under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, 125 voluntary committees of management...
A host of local volunteer groups have received funding to help restore recreation areas and facilities following last year’s flood events.
Under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, 125 voluntary committees of management across the state have received almost $12 million in funding.
The funding will support a variety of projects, ranging from replacement and upgrades of drainage and power, road repairs and replacement of fencing, to more complex rebuilding projects.
With this funding, local committees are restoring significant community facilities and tourist destinations including halls, caravan parks, camping areas and multi-use recreation reserves, with the projects also helping to improve infrastructure against future disasters.
Across Ripon, there are 25 separate projects sharing in more than $1.5 million in funding, including the Talbot Soldiers Memorial Park Committee of Management, who will clear the blue stone drainage.
The committee’s Kris Lynch is hopeful the project will be completed before Remembrance Day and said it builds on existing work at the park with the restored avenue of honour.
“I didn’t think we were going to be successful with the grant, it was a really nice surprise,” she said.
“Our main concern was the blue stones have been there for forever and a day and they have to be treated with care.
“We’ve been assured by Asteria, who will do the work for us, that they have the necessary skillset to do that.
“This project is enhancing what we’ve already done with the memorial park, now we can get that beautiful drain tidied up and little by little we’ll improve that space.”
The Avoca Golf Bowling Club have also received funding to reinstate 11 holes of the golf course and a footbridge, something men’s golf captain David Veitch welcomed.
“This will bring the course back to how it was if not better,” he said.
“The works are being done now, the fairways have been aerated and all the weeds that flooded in have been poisoned.
“Over the coming weeks and months it will be a case of re-seeding and fertilising those damaged areas, it’s great to see things underway.
“I can’t thank the DEECA people I’ve been involved with in getting this funding enough for their help and consideration.”
Other successful local applicants include the Majorca Town Hall, which will have fencing and drainage repairs undertaken, Deledio Recreation Reserve’s project to undertake tree safety works and the Avoca Sporting and Recreation Committee of Management for repair works not covered by insurance.
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said the funding would support community groups into the future.
“This important funding will ensure the hardest hit communities from last year’s floods are able to recover as quickly as possible,” she said.
“I’m thrilled so many hard-working volunteer committees across our region are benefitting from this funding — it will allow them to continue their amazing work for years to come.
“Community facilities are the heart of our rural and regional towns — it’s important they are restored and rebuilt for the benefit of local residents.”
Federal Member for Mallee Anne Webster also welcomed the funding for local groups.
“The Victorian floods were devastating for many people and community groups in Mallee,” she said.
“This funding is great for community groups to support their rebuild, getting our Mallee communities back to normal.”