Over the past few weeks, your Councillors have been out and about in the community, listening and engaging in a range of settings.
Specific Councillor engagement with the community was around the four-year draft Council Plan, 10-year Asset Plan, Long Term Financial Plan and the committee review discussions with volunteers.
Thank you to all community members who provided feedback through these forums.
It is an exciting time in our municipality as grant funding from both the State and Federal Governments are used to improve the livability and accessibility of our regional city.
Horsham Aquatic Centre will now have new and accessible changerooms following a successful Federal Government Building Better Regions grant application. Thank you to Dr Anne Webster MP for your advocacy for this important facility. Council will contribute 50 per cent of the cost to deliver the project this financial year.
Community members have been requesting the activation of the Wimmera River for many years. Thanks to over $3 million in State and Federal grant funding, delivery of the City to River stage 1 precinct is moving ahead with contracts awarded to construct the Nature Water Play Park, three river nodes and pergola. Works on the different elements will start in coming weeks.
Last week was Seniors Week. Unfortunately, the events planned to celebrate the contribution that our seniors make in our community were cancelled due to COVID restrictions. It is important to acknowledge and recognize the experience, knowledge and insight of our older citizens.
As part of the Committee Review, Council proposes to establish an Older Persons Advisory Committee to provide advice to Council on the different plans, strategies and proposals, to ensure that the needs of the older persons in our community are considered and met.
Recreational activities at Green Lake will resume this year following a wetter year and adequate supplies in the GWMWater system. Council will use the funds allocated in both last year's and this year's budgets to purchase the water.
