Mayoral Column 10 December 2018
Published on 10 December 2018
Combined funding application receives good news
Loddon Shire has received some good news regarding a combined funding application submitted with our Victorian and New South Wales counterparts to the Federal Government’s Regional Growth Fund.
Led by Swan Hill Rural City Council, the combined application consists of $34 million of infrastructure projects in Swan Hill, Loddon, Gannawarra, Buloke, Balranald, Murray River and Edward River councils. Councils are seeking around $17 million in funding.
Included in this package are upgrades for the Wedderburn, Pyramid Hill and Boort caravan parks as well as the Bridgewater Foreshore Project – Stage 2. These projects are worth almost $1.6 million in total.
More than 300 applications from across Australia were submitted to the Regional Growth Fund, with only 16 of these submissions invited to proceed to full application, so getting to this next stage is a great achievement. The councils now have until late January to submit the full application and we are hopeful of a positive outcome.
Flood restoration works update
Works to complete flood restoration defects from the October 2016 flood event are continuing.
As reported at the November Council meeting, as of 30 September this year, 84 per cent of the original 2,237 instances of flood damage recorded have now been rectified.
Major works include the restoration of Sebastian Bridge, Appin South Bridge and Dalziels Bridge, and major road reconstruction works on Tandarra Serpentine Road and Rothackers Road.
If you’re aware of other damages to infrastructure as a result of the October 2016 floods, please ensure you forward the details to: loddon@loddon.vic.gov.au – Attention: Project Manager Flood Restoration. Please include Ref: October 2016 Flood Restoration Works in the subject line.
Please provide any supporting evidence in the form of photographs or anecdotal evidence describing the impact of flood on the asset. Damages must fulfil the Natural Disaster Financial Assistance (NDFA) criteria before Council can include it under the flood restoration program.
If you would like to discuss flood damage please contact Council’s Project Manager Flood Restoration or the Works Coordinator Flood Restoration on (03) 5494 1200.
The flood restoration program, which has been made possible through funding via NDFA (in accordance with Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements), is due to finish by 30 June 2019.
Echuca Serpentine Road works due for completion
Works on the rehabilitation and widening of Echuca Serpentine Road (approximately one kilometre south west of the Bendigo Pyramid Road) are underway, with completion anticipated for this week (commencing 10 December).
Along with rehabilitating the road, the works have included widening the road’s seal from 3.8 metres to 6.2 metres.
If you’re travelling along Echuca Serpentine Road, please make sure you follow all traffic management (including reduced speed limits if required) and be mindful of people working in the area.
Look Over the Farm Gate grants now open
What does your community need to come together and take a break?
Look Over the Farm Gate grants are now open for farmers and communities facing drought and dry conditions across northern Victoria.
Community groups, local government, and VFF branches are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $1,500 to run social events and community initiatives that bring together neighbours and the community to spend some time off farm to relax with family and friends.
Look Over the Farm Gate is a mental health and wellbeing initiative funded by the Victorian Government (drought support funding committed in September 2018), and managed by the Victorian Farmers Federation in partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Country Women’s Association, Country Fire Authority, and National Centre for Farmer Health.
Applications are being accepted for events until March 2019 and are assessed on a first-in-best-dressed basis.
For more information and how to apply, visit https://lookoverthefarmgate.org.au/ or contact the Coordinator at Lookoverthefarmgate@vff.org.au
Congratulations to Georgia
Congratulations to Georgia Welsh from Calivil on winning two gold medals at the recent International Kettlebell Marathon Federation Championships in Spain. Competing as a junior, Georgia won gold in the 16 kilogram one-arm long cycle (OALC) 30 minutes half marathon, and gold in the 12 kilogram OALC 60 minutes full marathon. A fantastic result!
Saluté Oliva takes out gold
I’d also like to congratulate Saluté Oliva on winning the 2018 Australian Food Awards Golden Medal for the best semi-dried Kalamata olives. This well-deserved recognition comes on the back of a recent gold medal and champion trophy win by Saluté Oliva at the Australian International Olive Awards.
Did you know?
Under the Natural Disaster Financial Assistance funding guidelines, any flood restoration works can only bring an asset back to its pre-flood condition – additional upgrades must be funded by Council. For example, an unsealed road damaged by flooding will be brought back to its original unsealed condition – it cannot be sealed under the funding arrangement.