General News
21 September, 2022
Moyne announces priority projects
MOYNE Shire Council has released its top five advocacy projects ahead of November’s State Election, with key projects in the South West Coast electorate prioritised.
MOYNE Shire Council has released its top five advocacy projects ahead of November’s State Election, with key projects in the South West Coast electorate prioritised.
The $10 million Koroit township renewal topped the list as council’s top priority project.
Other projects rounding out the top five Moyne Shire has prioritised for funding are:
Key worker Housing implementation - $5 million;
Narrow arterial road upgrades (Heywood-Woolsthorpe and Macarthur-Penshurst Roads) - $10 million plus;
Former Koroit Hospital master plan - $200,000; and
Port of Port Fairy master plan implementation - $6 million.
Along with projects, council also listed key issues which need attention from the state, including:
Renewable energy planning policy and a better deal for host communities;
Regional workforce shortages;
Princes Highway, Hopkins Highway and Hamilton Highway upgrades;
Dairy supply chain road upgrades; and
Renewal of former East Beach landfill sites.
Mayor Ian Smith said the list was presented in meetings with incumbent South West Coast MP Roma Britnell, Labor candidate Kylie Gaston and Independent candidate Carol Altmann, with further meetings to follow.
“We’ve made it very clear that these are our major priorities and the priorities of our community ahead of the state election,” he said.
“Koroit township renewal is our main priority – it’s a fully costed and scoped project and is ready to start as soon as funding is achieved. Koroit is booming and we want to make sure it has a
streetscape that is modern and fresh.
“It’s a $10 million project, which can be broken down into five stages. The central and western business areas in Commercial Road are the priority with new footpaths, underground power lines, street trees and furniture. That stage is around $7 million.
“Council has already budgeted around $1 million to the project and it has strong support from the community – council and the community are both very keen toget started.”
Cr Smith said the project had also been raised with Federal Regional Development Minister Kristy McBain MP in Canberra recently and with Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney.
He said roads were featured strongly in council’s advocacy ask which reflected the community’s feedback.
“We have almost 3564 kilometres of roads in Moyne and 600 kilometres of those are managed by the State Government,” Cr Smith said.
“We are asking both major parties and all candidates to make a significant commitment to improving the condition of state-controlled roads.
“Council has made significant investments in the roads under our control in this year’s budget, with $10 million being spent on road and bridge upgrades – we are asking the State Government to do its bit and make improvements to the roads it manages.”
Cr Smith said funding to implement the Moyne Shire component of the key worker housing report would help alleviate one of the key issues the region is facing in terms of worker and accommodation shortages.
“Moyne would welcome funding for projects across the region,”he said.
Cr Smith said assisting Moyne Health Services with master planning for its Koroit site was vital to ensure ongoing delivery of community health services in the rapidly growing Koroit community.
He said the Port of Port Fairy master plan was also a key project aimed at enhancing both the commercial and tourism aspects of the port.
“It’s about increasing the number of berths available, persevering and enhancing heritage features and improving access an amenity for what is arguably one of the state’s most picturesque working ports,” Cr Smith said.
“That plan has had significant community consultation and feedback and again, we are keen to start implementing the plan.
“We think we have a list of projects that will help our communities continue to and help encourage further investment while addressing key regional issues.”
Cr Smith said council would “use every opportunity it had to highlight the advocacy agenda to ensure all parties and candidates were left with no doubt about Moyne’s priorities” ahead of the state election.
“Advocacy is vital and we’ve had some great success over the past six months that has come as a direct result of the relationships we have built with governments,” he said.
“The $1.2 million to implement the East Beach master plan, $1.6 million to build new changing facilitates at the Gardens Oval from the Victorian Government and $11 million to upgrade roads in the north of the shire from the Federal Government are examples of that work and those relationships with those projects ready to begin soon.
“We are continually advocating for our key priorities, right across the year, not just at election time and it pays dividends for our community.
“Aside from our own priorities, we are also advocating strongly on behalf of the region as part of the South West Victoria Alliance on issues that impact the wider region.”