Prime Minister The Hon Anthony Albanese has officially opened Horsham's brand new $2.45 million Nature Play Park and $3 million Wimmera Riverfront Project.
Member for Western Victoria Jacinta Ermacora MLC and Horsham Rural City Council Mayor Robyn Gulline were also on hand for Thursday's ceremony.
Located at Horsham's riverfront precinct, the Nature Play Park will be free and accessible for all ages and capabilities, all year round.
It features a gently flowing water course, manually operated hand pumps, systems of adjustable dams and weirs, spray heads and pop jets – suited to operation by children of all ages.
The Riverfront Activation Project has provided new amenities, barbecue facilities, seating, landscaping, lighting, river edge decking and a pop-up cafe destination site.
Both projects are part of the broader City to River Masterplan and funded thanks to total contributions from the Victorian ($2.7 million) and Commonwealth ($2 million) governments.
"On behalf of the people of the Wimmera we sincerely thank Sport and Recreation Victoria and Regional Development Victoria for their important investment in our region, likewise the Federal Government for its support. Indeed we are tremendously honored to have had Prime Minister Albanese visit our regional city to open the Riverfront Activation Project and the Nature Play Park," Cr Gulline said.
A Community Reference Group (CRG) was established to help plan the improvements to the riverfront precinct in April 2020.
"The CRG ensured that quality and effective community engagement was undertaken and I commend them for their hard work," Cr Gulline said.
Cr Gulline said she was delighted for the many local residents who have told Council that activating the Wimmera River was a key priority for the community.
"For years people of the Wimmera have participated in surveys and provided their feedback on future planning and I would like to thank each one of them," she said.
"Seeing the riverfront projects open today proves that community engagement and having a long-term vision is the best way to attract the attention of higher levels of government. It gives them confidence that our municipality is a great place to invest funding," Cr Gulline said.
HRCC Chief Executive Officer Sunil Bhalla said the Nature Play Park had play elements that could be used all year without water flow, including small boulders for climbing, logs for balancing, stones for jumping along and sand pits.
"Barbecue shelters and a fully accessible toilet will help families to enjoy the park for decades to come," he said.
"What you won't see is a large aquatic theme park with bright plastic slides and other man-made elements. Our community told us through the engagement process that they wanted the Wimmera River's natural beauty retained and that's what's been delivered.
"The Nature Play Park is a wonderful example of partnership between the community, Council and higher levels of government," Mr Bhalla said.
