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Advocacy continues to deliver with Hospital and Back Beach Road fundingHistoric announcement of $115 million of funding for the Wonthaggi Hospital upgrade and $9.7 million for the upgrade of the Phillip Island Road/Back Beach Road intersection. By Portal Admin - 20th May 2018 - Back to News Bass Coast Shire Council joined the community to celebrate today’s historic announcement of $115 million of funding for the Wonthaggi Hospital upgrade and $9.7 million for the upgrade of the Phillip Island Road/Back Beach Road intersection.
These two projects are listed on Council’s advocacy priority document titled ‘Representing our community: shaping our future’, a document which Council has been sharing, promoting and presenting to ministers, local members and industry leaders at every occasion.
Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Pamela Rothfield, explained that these priorities, which were adopted by Council in September 2017, are the direct result of the Council Plan 2017-2021 community engagement campaign ‘Help shape a better Bass Coast’.
"Our advocacy priorities came about through our ‘Help shape a better Bass Coast’ campaign, the largest community engagement Council has ever undertaken," Cr Rothfield said.
"We asked the community what their aspirations were, and where they wanted Bass Coast to be in four years’ time.
"A significant proportion of the feedback related to state or federal issues such as health, education, transport and major roads indicating two things: firstly that the community wanted and expected Council to step up and be pro-active and have an opportunistic approach to advocating on these issues, and that for the community, the fruition of these projects is pivotal to the growth of Bass Coast.
"The recent funding announcement in Wonthaggi demonstrates brilliantly the results of a pro-active approach from Council and our strong partnerships."
From our advocacy priorities we now have four funded projects, totalling an investment from the State Government of over $150 million. These projects are:
- Wonthaggi Secondary College new senior campus: $25 million (expected completion February 2020)
- Wonthaggi Highball Stadium: $6 million (expected completion February 2020)
- Phillip Island Road/Back Beach Road intersection upgrade: $9.7 million
- Wonthaggi Hospital upgrade to sub-regional Status: $115 million
The remaining priorities Council are advocating for are:
- Transfer of current Wonthaggi Secondary College site to Council
- Cowes Jetty Replacement
- Wonthaggi North East Precinct Infrastructure
- South West Gippsland Transport Strategy
- 24 Hour Pharmacy Care and Nursing Facility in Cowes
"The advocacy priorities are a direct reflection of what is important to our community. For this reason they may change as the priorities of the community change and evolve," Cr Rothfield said.
"Our job as Councillors and representatives of the community is to continue to listen, ask questions, and act on your behalf, demanding the standards of healthcare, education, roads, transport, and other services our community need and deserve."
For further information on advocacy or to view Council’s Advocacy Priority document visit www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/advocacy. Or contact Council on 1300 BCOAST (226 278) or (03) 5671 2211.
Harriet Shing, Don Paproth (Chair BCH Board), Cr Brett Tessari (Deputy Mayor BCSC), The Hon Daniel Andrew (Premier Victoria), Cr Pamela Rothfield (Mayor BCSC), Jan Child (CEO BCH)
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: support@gippsland.com

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