$38.9m for capital works

A $38.9 million commitment to capital works projects, including infrastructure and roads, has been outlined in council’s draft budget.

While representing almost $9 million more than its 2020-21 capital works program, many of the projects are dependent on external funding sources.

The program represents $14.3 million for progressing key strategic projects, $15.7 million for infrastructure renewal and $8.9 million for general infrastructure works.

The capital works program is broken down into $14 million on roads, $4.2 million on footpaths and cycleways, $$9.5 million on recreation and community facilities, $6.2 million on buildings, $1.4 million on plant and equipment, $994,000 on bridges and $868,000 on drainage.

Streetscape works will feature in Drouin and Warragul with $1.5 million allocated to Drouin and $1.1 million for construction of the Queen St promenade.

A number of community halls and facilities will benefit from an $800,000 program for toilet upgrade works at Warragul Gymnastics Hall, Athlone Hall and Erica caravan park; storage sheds at Geoff Watt Track and Logan Park; and renewing the West Gippsland Arts Centre audio system and Fountain Room toilets.

Money also is allocated to implement the municipal pound masterplan, including improvements and clean-up works as well as $90,000 for extensions and improvements to the cat isolation bays at the pound.

Council has allocated $600,000 to upgrade the Drouin senior citizens hall to increase utilisation of the facility, enabling it to cater for a range of functions and providing a community space.

Other building commitments include:

$100,000 for a business case including planning and concept designs for the Warragul civic precinct masterplan;

$300,000 for replacement of the Burke St public toilets in Warragul, as well as minor refurbishments of public toilets shire-wide;

$330,000 on waste system upgrades to better manage street sweeper waste material; and,

$100,000 on solar panel installations on eight council-owned buildings.

Council will commit $150,000 to playground renewal works for Bloye Park at Drouin East, Buln Buln recreation reserve, Burke St netball courts, Hackett Park at Longwarry and Kiah Park in Warragul.

Council has allocated $1.5 million for strategic land purchases including: $370,000 to acquire land and create a nature reserve and urban forest in Roberts Crt, Drouin; and, $250,000 additional fund for land acquisition for the Pharoahs Rd-Tarwin St-Sutton St intersection.

The land purchases budget also allocates $850,000 for purchase of the land surrounding the Warragul Scout Hall in Bowen St to retain the area for open space.