River, roads, services in visit
Deputy Prime Minister Michael Mccormack has used a snap visit to the Wimmera to launch, announce funding for and get updates on major projects in the region.
Mr Mccormack also used the occasion to engage with business and community leaders, thank Wimmera-mallee people for their response to the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasised that ‘regional Australia was the best place to live’.
“But we can’t be complacent, we need to get the jabs and do what we’ve been asked to do. Regional Australians have been magnificent,” he said.
Mr Mccormack and his National Party federal colleague Member for Mallee Anne Webster visited Horsham and Warracknabeal during a Mallee electorate tour.
Other political representatives, Victorian Member for Mallee Emma Kealy, Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Victoria Danielle Green and other guests also attended events.
Headlining Mr Mccormack’s visit to Horsham was an announcement of a $4-million upgrade to the Western Highway, Henty Highway and Golf Course Road junction in Horsham.
Mr Mccormack announced the project, designed to deal with a growing build-up of transport traffic at the site, as part of a federal Roads of Strategic Importance program.
He said the government had ‘unlocked’ $13.88-million in the 2021-22 budget as part of an overall $60-million commitment to allow Victoria to start construction on four vital projects.
“This funding will deliver upgrades to the Horsham junction, and Western Highway intersections with Nhill– Jeparit Road at Nhill and Seaby Street in Stawell,” he said.
Mr Mccormack also helped turn the first sod of the initial stage of a Horsham Riverfront Activation Project, $1.6-million to upgrade Horsham’s riverfront parkways, and joined business, community and development representatives at a Business Horsham Re-imagine series breakfast at Maydale Reserve.
During the river-pathway project launch at Sawyer Park, Mr Mccormack said inland rivers were ‘very much the elixir of life’.
“The beauty of these riverside precincts is that people will come here for them,” he said.
“What we see here is a beautifying of riversides, what we will see here during the construction stage are jobs.”
Horsham Rural City Council had successful applications for state and federal government money to activate the Wimmera River precinct and its link to Horsham’s Central Activity District.
Mayor Robyn Gulline said the council appreciated the Federal Government’s contribution of $1.65-million, $500,000 from the State Government and was putting in $850,000 of its own money for the first stage.
She said the first project involved the widening and sealing of paths from Horsham City Rowing Club to Wimmera Bridge.
New park benches and bin surrounds will also be installed along the foreshore.
“This will be a civic gathering place with siting for a cafe to be constructed in the future,” Cr Gulline said.
“We now look forward to the construction phase, which will take about 12 months to complete.”
The Riverfront Activation Project is the first stage of 20-year City to River Masterplan.
Mr Mccormack also travelled to Warracknabeal to get an update on progress of a $2.5-million Woodbine disability accommodation centre. The Federal Government committed $1.2-million for the centre and Woodbine $1.3-million.
Mr Mccormack said the project would help the service provider refurbish its existing Harrop Lodge.
“This new accommodation will provide additional residential options for people with a disability in the region and accompanying housing for staff,” he said.
Mr Mccormack ventured into the Mallee after his Wimmera visit.