Council’s advocacy priorities outlined
Strong community support is the key to Baw Baw Shire successfully advocating for grant funding, according to economic development and advocacy manager Melissa Langstaff.
Outlining the shire's key advocacy priorities to councillors last week, Ms Langstaff urged the community to support council.
"The power to create change and achieve a vibrant future lies in the hands of each of our community members, not with us.
"Advocacy is only as strong as our community and your are our strongest advocates," she said.
Ms Langstaff said advocacy was all about giving "a voice to the needs of our community."
But, she said it was a marathon, not a sprint - "some of the things won't happen overnight but it will happen."
"We are growing and we need state and federal governments to provide much needed resources," she said.
Ms Langstaff said examples of recent advocacy success included: $155,416 for artwork recognising the contribution of three First Nations' Kurnai women, a $110,000 changing places facility grant at Warragul leisure centre and $69,341 for the L2P program.
"These are examples of how important grants and advocacy are to all members of the community," she said.
Ms Langstaff said council had been actively lobbying at all levels of government to secure funding for key projects.
The major priorities identified by council include:
Warragul and Drouin traffic improvements; Baw Baw Culture and Connection precinct; Rokeby to Noojee trail extension;
Logan Park cycling centre of excellence; and, A new West Gippsland Hospital.
An example of community organisations backing council's advocacy was local library organisation Myli (My Community Library) and the Baw Baw Arts Alliance throwing their support behind the $30 million proposed culture and connection precinct.
Council has pledged $10 million towards the project and recently secured $3.5 million state government funding. But the project is dependent on another $16.5 million external funding.
Myli chief executive officer Leanne Williams said the project would provide a much-needed investment into accessible and diverse library services to a growing community.
She said the current Warragul library was in a small and ageing building with limited space for popular programs and larger events.
"This project is much more than just shelves of books. It would offer a dynamic and inclusive range of cultural resources and experiences for all members of our community. This precinct will create connection and social inclusion across library, learning, arts, culture and tourism services – a true hub for all residents.
"Baw Baw Shire has over 13,000 library members, with 60 per cent of those members of the Warragul library. The new Warragul library will be the largest in the shire and the flagship library for the region," she said.
BBAA also supports the need for a local dedicated arts space.
President Anne George said the shire had an incredibly talented and diverse pool of local artists but the lack of central and accessible gallery space was limited.
Mayor Michael Leaney said council would work with Myli and BBAA to lobby all levels of government to show them how valuable the precinct would be for the community.
"Our shared vision for this precinct is so much more than a new library – it's a place for young children to create memories through story time, a welcoming space for locals to learn new skills and access technology they may not have at home. It's a place for community groups to meet and plan the events and activities that are part of Baw Baw's fabric, like local markets and festivals.
"It's a place for our local art treasures to inspire us and new gallery spaces that we desperately lack. Places like this strengthen communities, this is our goal for Baw Baw," he said.