Projects ready

Baw Baw Shire council has “shovel ready” projects that could be implemented immediately if the State Government would allocate funding under its COVID19 stimulus packages.

Mayor Danny Goss said grants had already been sought towards installation of a muchneeded synthetic soccer pitch in Warragul and construction of a multi-purpose pavilion at the Trafalgar soccer grounds.

With the soccer pitch we are only asking the government for $500,000 of the total cost of $3 million, he said.

“There are a lot of road projects that could also proceed quickly and plans for new facilities at Warragul’s Western Park netball courts, two additional basketball courts at the Warragul Leisure Centre and a community building at Bellbird Park in Drouin are almost complete”.

They only need the government to come to the party with money, Cr Goss said.

Other projects he listed as suitable for funding from the stimulus packages included bike tracks at Erica and Logan Park in Warragul as well as a proposed Rokeby to Noojee bike trail.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing told The Gazette last week that she was continuing to work with Baw Baw council, community organisations and service providers to get more shovel ready projects across West Gippsland for future funding.

However, Cr Goss said council had not had any discussions with Ms Shing.

Council would be happy to sit down and talk with her at any time about projects that are not proceeding because of the lack of government financial support, the mayor stated.

Cr Goss said council also would like to talk with members of the government about its plans to cope with the shire’s rapid growth now which was expected to continue.

“We don’t know what the government’s plans are, especially with schools”.

We don’t know if they want land set aside for future school sites to meet the needs of the growing population, Cr Goss said.

He added that construction of an additional Catholic primary school in Warragul was underway and plans already detailed for a Catholic college at Drouin, but council has heard nothing about any long-term plans for new government schools.