Three Mitchell Shire facilities will share in $1.75 million worth in funding for improvements, updates and upgrades to better cater to the community’s changing needs.
The Wandong Community Centre, Kilmore Senior Citizens Centre and the Kings Park Play Space in Seymour are set to share in the funding, delivered through the state government’s Growing Suburbs Fund.
Mitchell Shire Council chief executive Brett Luxford said the funding would help bring the facilities up to scratch for the community’s current and future needs.
“We’re very thankful to receive this funding from the Victorian Government and look forward to getting started on these important projects,” he said.
“They are a mix of projects that are preparing for future growth and ones that are needed now.”
Wandong Community Centre will benefit from $800,000 in funding to revitalise the centre by reconfiguring and upgrading the internal floor plan to create a more versatile multi-purpose centre for shared community use.
The LB Davern Reserve facility upgrade has been funded by $720,000 through the Growing Suburbs Fund, $60,000 from Mitchell Shire Council and $20,000 from the Wandong and Heathcote Junction Sports and Community Committee of Management.
Kilmore Senior Citizens Centre will receive an $830,000 grant and a $70,000 council contribution to address accessibility, safety and programming spaces issues and provide a modern and accessible community facility to promote and support inter-generational and shared use activity in Kilmore.
Both the Wandong Community Centre and Kilmore Senior Citizens Centre upgrades are expected to be completed in November 2023.
Seymour’s Kings Park Play Space will receive a total of $220,000 to provide improved value and shade for visitors, as well as to assist in flood recovery. $200,000 has been provided by the state government with a $20,000 council contribution.
“Council would not be able to fund these projects without support from the state government,” Mr Luxford said.
“Council is committed to providing for the needs of our current community and those who will call Mitchell home in the future. This funding supports us to do that.”
Four projects will also benefit from a total of around $1.5 million through the 2022 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund.
Pyalong Recreation Reserve will receive $750,000 to reconstruct the outdoor sports courts, as well as upgrade to dual purpose netball and tennis courts by installing competition standard lighting and a warm-up area.
Wallan Tennis Complex will receive $300,000 to replace the existing synthetic surface, base works and drainage for the four courts within enclosure one, allowing for improved scheduling opportunities and a more modern facility.
Mitchell Majors Baseball Club at Broadford will also benefit from $350,000 to install a training standard lighting upgrade to improve scheduling opportunities and encourage greater participation.
The three sporting projects are expected to be completed in April next year.
$100,000 has been put towards the installation of a safe and compliant slide at Tallarook Outdoor Pool, as the slide was not accessible in the last two years due to safety concerns. The slide is expected to be complete by November 2023.