Resident queries Walhalla funding
Upgrades to a kitchen, external seating and toilet facilities will be undertaken after Cardinia Shire Council recently announced $178,000 in community capital works grants to 18 recipients.
Port Ward saw seven successful applicants in the 2018/19 round, with Garfield Bowling Club receiving an asphalt carpark upgrade grant and Tynong Public Hall Committee gaining a toilet facilities upgrade grant.
In Cora Lynn, the netball club will receive funds for a new portable electronic scoreboard and the recreation reserve committee gains funds to undertake interior painting.
Catani Recreation Reserve Committee will upgrade its kitchen facilities, Koo Wee Rup Bowls Club will upgrade external seating and Koo Wee Rup Senior Citizens will install automatic doors in its hall.
The Cardinia Shire community capital works grants program enables local community groups to upgrade community and recreation facilities.
Cardinia Shire deputy mayor Brett Owen said he felt privileged to be announcing this year’s successful grant recipients during a reception at the Cardinia Cultural Centre.
“I am honoured to be here tonight – joined by so many wonderful volunteers and community-minded people,” said Cr Owen. “On behalf of council, I thank you all for your ongoing contributions to making Cardinia Shire a wonderful place to live, work and play.”
“The incredible amount of dedication – the time and energy – that community groups and volunteers have expended to get these projects planned, funded, and delivered is commendable, and council is very proud to play a part in making these projects possible,” he added.
The community capital works grants are offered annually. In the 2018/19 round, matched-funding grants of up to $35,000 were available to eligible community groups to undertake upgrades to community and recreation facilities within Cardinia Shire.
A series of questions presented to Baw Baw Shire has queried council’s financial commitments to Walhalla.
Darnum resident Irene Broadbent used community question time to raise a number of questions with council, primarily about expenditure on infrastructure in Walhalla.
Ms Broadbent asked what percentage of infrastructure and assets council owned or was responsible for in Walhalla.
Chief executive officer Alison Leighton responded to the questions in open council.
Ms Leighton said council’s asset register showed “significant volumes of data on data that it has responsibility for managing in Walhalla.”
However, she said ownership did not always determine responsibility. Ms Leighton said where roads are Crown roads, council has the maintenance responsibility for the constructed road, roadside, drainage and footpath despite not owning the land.
Council recently committed $25,000 to share the cost of preparing a business case to assess sewerage options for the town. The Environment Land Water and Planning department will meet the other half of the cost.
Ms Broadbent said given DELWP was the biggest stakeholder, along with Parks Victoria, Tourism Victoria, Heritage Victoria and VicRoads, why was council contributing half the costs for the business case and why weren’t the costs being shared equally between all stakeholders.
She said the same question applied to council contributing $15,000 for design works for the footpath from rotunda to Tunnel Mine when all stakeholders should be contributing.
Ms Leighton said the sewerage project was identified as an economic development opportunity to improve the visitor experience and economy in Walhalla.
“The proposal was put to council and met with unanimous support in the adoption of the 2018/19 budget,” she said.
In relation to the footpath design, Ms Leighton said council was responsible for footpaths throughout the shire including Walhalla.
She said council had a responsibility for pedestrian footpaths throughout the shire, therefore the allocation was viewed by council as reasonable.
Ms Broadbent asked if council intended to provide the footpath out of ratepayers’ money with no input from other stakeholders.
Ms Leighton said council had only committed to design works at this stage.
“This will provide council with an estimate of the cost to construct. With this information, council would then be in a position to
apply for grant funding to construct the footpath which would reduce the council contribution.
Ms Leighton said no decision in relation to the construction of the footpath had been made.
Ms Broadbent also questioned why council paid the full amount of costs for construction of a footbridge in Walhalla a couple of years ago, when this was not a shire responsibility.
Ms Leighton said the bridge provided access to the band rotunda and Walhalla Masonic Lodge from the main road.
“Ownership and responsibility for repair had been disputed for some years. Our understanding is that the bridge had fallen down and presented a public liability risk.
“Council determined to fund the project in order to see the bridge repaired and pedestrian connections reinstated for the community and visitors alike.
“Expenditure on a project of this nature is entirely consistent with the provisions of the Local Government Act,” Ms Leighton said.