General News
17 April, 2023
Masterplans add up to $30m investment
Three Wimmera townships are set for a huge investment totalling almost $30 million for recreational and streetscape improvements. Masterplans for Warracknabeal, Rupanyup and Murtoa are now "shovel ready", according to Yarriambiack mayor Kylie...
Three Wimmera townships are set for a huge investment totalling almost $30 million for recreational and streetscape improvements.
Masterplans for Warracknabeal, Rupanyup and Murtoa are now "shovel ready", according to Yarriambiack mayor Kylie Zanker.
The $3.2 million Rupanyup Streetscape masterplan will promote the town with a more aesthetic Cromie Street, and invest $434,000 into refurbishing the silo art.
“The Rupanyup community has been very passionate about the silo, so we’re looking at refurbishing it, whether it be a different artist who will come and paint or pop-up silos,” Cr Zanker said.
“We’re definitely looking at the silo as a priority for the community. It’s like a badge of honour for a lot of our towns across the shire.”
Though the streetscape masterplan has been adopted, council has acknowledged that it “can’t make everyone happy” and will continue community consultations.
The $9.8 million Murtoa Recreation Reserve masterplan includes new netball change rooms, and rebuilding the White House to incorporate a show pavilion.
The 10-year Warracknabeal Anzac Park masterplan seeks to boost equality across the park with new changerooms for netball, football and the swimming pool, as well as more courts from tennis and netball players.
The projects are expected to cost $16.7 million and will be prioritised for completion in two, five and 10 years.
Cr Zanker said timelines depended on available funding: “(Millions) can seem like a large amount, but when we look at how big the project is and the number of user groups, it requires realistic expectation,” she said.
“Unfortunately, it’s not cheap to build anything these days, but each project will be state-of-the-art facilities and we’re really looking at the best practice that fits our communities going forward.”
Council will also be seeking co-contributions from user groups in each masterplan, which may include monetary contributions or volunteer hours, depending on funding.
“These plans are all very exciting," Cr Zanker said.
“When something comes up that matches whatever the masterplan requires, we can go for it and have confidence that we’re ready to go when we’re successful in obtaining the grant.
"It’s about managing those projects and making sure we can give back to the community as we’re saying we’re going to."