Federal funds a late boost for council budget

Almost $1.8 million federal funding was a late addition to Baw Baw Shire’s draft budget and will see three major infrastructure projects delivered in the shire.

The Federal Government recently announced $1.795 million through its Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program to support delivery of road and infrastructure projects across the shire.

Council identified three projects to benefits from the funding boost including:

Erica to Rawson intertown trail - $850,000 – construction of a 4.7 kilometre sand path connecting Erica and Rawson.

LED streetlighting upgrade - $570,000 - conversion of the remaining 1031 inefficient HPS, MV, fluoro and twin T5 streetlights throughout the shire to more energy efficient LED lights to provide more sustainable streetlighting and lower energy costs into the future. McCarthy Crt, Warragul upgrade - $370,000 – improving access to the new Warragul early learning centre co-located at Warragul Primary School by upgrading and sealing the road pavement, improving drainage with new kerb and channel, improved footpaths and carparking in the existing road reserve

The funding is additional to the pre-COVID19 works program announced for 2020/21.

Funding criteria required every project to involve the construction, maintenance and/or improvements to council owned assets that are accessible to the public.

There were 15 potential council projects evaluated against a scoring matrix before officers put forward the three projects supported by council.