FEBRUARY 2020 Gazette 3 Splash into Summer 8 Apply for 9 Share Your Vision at the Community Grants for Golden Plains Bannockburn Heart 2020 Council News From the Mayor It’s always nice to a few hours and it’s barely had a rest CHCV is an alliance of eight central end the year on since, with many more thousands of Victorian municipal councils – Ararat, a high point, and residents enjoying the Shire’s newest Central Goldfields, City of Ballarat, the opening of community space over the summer. Golden Plains, Hepburn, Moorabool, the Bannockburn Major projects like the Bannockburn Northern Grampians and Pyranees – Heart was the Heart do not happen overnight - they that advocates for a strong economic most wonderful are the result of many years of hard and social future for the region. We way to complete work – and, on behalf of Council, I’d work collaboratively on issues and 2019. like to acknowledge and thank the projects of mutual importance to make For many months, staff and community members who a positive impact on the communities great excitement planned and delivered this fantastic in the Central Highlands region. was building as the big pile of dirt facility for our residents. Over the past year, I have enjoyed and behind the construction fence grew As one busy year ends, so another valued the opportunity to represent into a playground, so seeing kids and one begins. As we head into the final the Golden Plains Shire and its families swarm the new community nine months of our Council term, I am residents at the CHCV table and I am space for the first time was a real honoured to be elected Chair of the excited for the opportunity to serve as treat. With the Twilight Market on Chair of this respected and important that evening, the Heart welcomed Central Highlands Councils Victoria (CHCV) for the 2019/20 term. local government alliance. more than a thousand people in just Cr Owen Sharkey - Mayor of Golden Plains Shire Council Planning for the Future of Bannockburn Golden Plains Shire Council has coming years, significantly increasing secured a significant grant from the the population of Golden Plains Shire. Victorian Government’s Streamlining Bannockburn is the largest town in for Growth Program to fund an Golden Plains Shire, and the town exciting partnership of Council and and surrounds is the fourth fastest the Victorian Planning Authority growing regional Statistical Area Level (VPA) that will develop the new 2 in Victoria. This growth has seen the Bannockburn Growth Plan in 2020. existing Bannockburn Urban Design The Minister for Planning has Framework (BUDF) realised, and a assumed planning authority for the new Bannockburn Growth Plan is Bannockburn Growth Plan, which will now underway. deliver 7,000 additional homes and Community engagement and approximately 17,000 new residents consultation on the plan will in the south of the town in the commence in March 2020. Have Your Say In March, Council and the VPA will run community engagement dedicated to the Bannockburn Growth Plan. A project publication will be distributed in hard copy to locations across the Shire and shared online at Council’s website and on social media. Residents are encouraged to have their say and share their thoughts on the future planning of Bannockburn: • In March, complete the Bannockburn Growth Plan survey at the Have Your Say page at Council’s website: goldenplains.vic.gov.au/consultations • In March, pick up a hard copy of the Bannockburn Growth Plan survey at Council’s Customer Service Centres in Bannockburn, Linton and Smythesdale. • Chat with Council and VPA staff at a Bannockburn Growth Plan conversation post: 9am to 1pm, Saturday 7 March 4 to 6.30pm, Thursday 19 March Golden Plains Farmers’ Market, Byron Street Bannockburn Plaza, High Street To stay up-to-date with the Bannockburn Growth Plan, follow Council on social media and goldenplains.vic.gov.au, and read the Gazette and Golden Plains Times. 2 | Golden Plains Shire Gazette | February 2020 Community News Making a Summer Splash The sun – and the brand new play space – were shining new shed for the Bannockburn Scouts, a new car park, the when Stage One of the Bannockburn Heart was officially relocation of the Bannockburn Playgroup, and the upgrade opened by the Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey, the Hon Senator of power and fire services at the site. Sarah Henderson, and Parliamentary Secretary for Sport Construction of Stage One of the Bannockburn Heart and Regional Victoria Danielle Green MP on Thursday began on 12 April, 2019 and the goal of completing the 19 December, 2019. project for the Golden Plains community to enjoy in the Stage One of the Bannockburn Heart Precinct at the summer school holidays was achieved. corner of Milton and Byron Streets delivered an impressive The $3 million Stage One project was jointly funded by new water and adventure play space, active recreation $1.2 million from the Australian Government through the equipment; and community facilities including public National Stronger Regions Fund, $1,233,500 from Council; toilets, seating, BBQs, shade, lighting and landscaped and $566,500 in grants from the State Government with community space. $500,000 from Regional Development Victoria’s Rural The Heart is home to the Shire’s first water play space with Infrastructure Fund and $66,500 from Sport and Recreation splash pads for toddlers and older children, which operate Victoria’s Community Sports Infrastructure Fund - Minor from morning to evening, seven days a week, during Facilities Program. In addition, Barwon Water supplied the summer months. The Heart features accessible play the precinct with drinking water fountains, and the elements and DDA compliant toilets, making it a regional Bannockburn and District Lions Club helped fund the BBQ. destination for people with disabilities and their families. Council continues to seek government support to build Stage One of the Heart project has also delivered an Stage 2 of the Precinct featuring a village green and upgraded site for the Golden Plains Farmers’ Market, a performance stage. The Bannockburn Heart was officially opened on 19 December 2019, by (left to right) Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Regional Victoria Danielle Green MP, Golden Plains Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey, and the Hon Senator Sarah Henderson. February 2020 | Golden Plains Shire Gazette | 3 Works in Golden Plains Building bridges in Golden Plains Wall Bridge works. Coopers Bridge works. Home to a remarkable total of 138 bridges, Golden The State Government’s Fixing Country Roads program Plains Shire Council faces an ongoing challenge to will contribute $300,000 to the project with Council replace and maintain important local bridge and major funding the remainder of the project in the 2018/19 and culvert infrastructure across the Shire. 2019/20 Budgets. Works on the new bridge are expected to be completed mid-2020. In 2020, four key bridge replacement projects in Meredith, Inverleigh, Teesdale and Napoleons will make Barwon Park Road Bridge, Inverleigh: With the old driving the scenic roads of Golden Plains Shire safer and bridge showing signs of structural distress, the deck of the Barwon Park Road Bridge is being widened and smoother for all residents and visitors. replaced. Council shares responsibility for this bridge with The following bridge projects are now underway: Surf Coast Shire; and of Council’s $310,000 commitment, $110,000 was allocated from the Federal Government’s Wall Bridge, Teesdale: Works are ongoing to replace the Roads to Recovery Program. existing 99-year-old timber structure spanning Native Hut Creek on Stones Road with a new single lane concrete Franklin Bridge, Napoleons: A $3.6 million project to structure featuring a wide footbridge for pedestrians replace the Franklin Bridge in Napoleons will become with a safety rail. Council secured a Federal Government a reality in 2020. A shared asset, the new bridge is a grant for $303,500 to partner in delivering the project. partnership project with the Federal Government and City The original Wall Bridge will be honoured with a special of Ballarat; with Golden Plains Shire Council contributing interpretative sign, erected on timber recycled from the $575,000. former structure. In September 2019, Councillors allocated $200,000 to review and investigate future bridge upgrade projects, Coopers Bridge, Meredith: Construction is well underway with preliminary work conducted in late 2019 on the on this significant $1.6 million project, which will deliver following local bridges: Slate Quarry Road in Meredith, a new two-lane bridge spanning the Moorabool River, as Russells Bridge Road in Russells Bridge; and Geggies Road well as new approaches linking the new bridge with the and Reserve Road bridges in Rokewood. existing road. Do you have a pool or spa? In December, the State Government changed pool prefer a hard copy, download the form from the website and spa barrier safety standards, which include new or collect a paper copy at Council’s Bannockburn, registration, inspection and certification requirements Smythesdale or Linton Customer Service Centres. for property owners. Once you’ve registered your pool or spa, you will receive Under the changes, local residents are required to a letter from Council confirming the next step to have it register their pool and spa with Golden Plains Shire checked by a qualified practitioner. Council by 1 June 2020, and have their safety barrier For more information on pool and spa barrier inspected once every four years. To register, complete requirements, visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au. the online form at goldenplains.vic.gov.au; or if you 4 | Golden Plains Shire Gazette | February 2020 " Recycling Recycling is back LET’S GET SORTED! Find out what's in and what's out at: www.thinkrecycle.com.au Put these items in the recycling bin and give them a second life.