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Welcome $250,000 Funding Boost For Wonthaggi

Successful application for grants from the Victorian Government

By Bass Coast Shire Council - 13th May 2002 - Back to News

Bass Coast Shire Council has successfully applied for two grants from the Victorian Government’s Rural Community Infrastructure Allocation.

The grants total $250,000 and together will fund major upgrades to Wonthaggi’s infrastructure.

The $250,000 will come from the State Government’s $10 million Rural Community Infrastructure Allocation through the Regional Infrastructure Development Fund.

A grant of $110,000 will fund improvements to Apex Park and the Wishart Reserve. This project is due for completion by December 2002.

Improvements to Wonthaggi’s ‘Civic Spine’ will be funded by a grant of $140,000. This project is due for completion by February 2003.

The two projects will involve landscaping, new seating, lighting and traffic management improvements.

Mayor of Bass Coast Shire Council, Cr John Gains, welcomed the State Government grants as an opportunity to make major improvements to Wonthaggi’s infrastructure.

"Developing major projects like these needs patience, negotiation and long term planning – but all the hard work does pay off in the end," he said.

"These projects are just part of a wider range of work being done by Bass Coast Shire Council to make long overdue improvements to the town’s infrastructure. The future for Wonthaggi and the rest of Bass Coast Shire is very bright and very exciting."

In announcing the grants, the Minister for State and Regional Development, John Brumby said "By revitalising the town’s Civic Spine and reserves, we hope to make Wonthaggi a more attractive place to live, work and do business."

Mr Brumby and Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, said that a number of studies undertaken by Bass Coast Shire Council over the past eighteen months had led to the identification of the two funded projects. The studies, which ran concurrently, were the Urban Design Framework, jointly funded by Pride of Place and Bass Coast Shire Council and the Wonthaggi Heritage Precinct Study funded by Council and Parks Victoria.

Mr Bracks said "Council in partnership with my Government, has identified future directions of infrastructure needs for Wonthaggi. It is a great example of how appropriate planning can assist Councils in seeking funding from the State Government and to develop close working partnerships."

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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