Budget pleas heard

A wish list of community projects will be included in Baw Baw Shire’s final budget after council approved an additional $854,000 expenditure.

The voices of many submitters who presented to council’s special budget meeting last month were heard when council incorporated 16 extra projects in its final budget.

Planning for improvements at Longwarry Recreation Reserve will get a $190,000 kick start for design works for a new pavilion and two oval upgrades; while council also endorsed $122,000 for an indigenous art garden at Rotary Park, Warragul.

Major sporting facility developments and millions of dollars of roadworks are highlights of the budget adopted by council last week.

Recreation and sporting facilities are the big winners with the headline project being stage one of a $10 million new basketball stadium in Warragul.

Council also is committed to a $4 million multi-use pavilion at Bellbird Park and, $1.7 million will be spent to complete a pavilion at Trafalgar Recreation Reserve.

The basketball stadium and Bellbird Park pavilion will be part funded by state government grants of $6 million and $2 million respectively.

The $2.25 million Rokeby to Noojee trail also is included but is dependent on external funding.

Council received 155 submissions during its public exhibition period and 40 people presented to council’s special meeting to outline their projects.

Many of the budget allocations will fund design and planning works for major projects and upgrades including:

Geoff Watt Track - $80,000 for design of a synthetic track and lighting

Yarragon streetscape vision - $60,000

Western Park seating - $50,000

Eastern Park seating and shelters - $60,000

Burke St netball courts - $65,000 to upgrade fencing and drainage

Warragul Leisure Centre - $30,000 to design dry area spaces for swimming user groups.

Council also allocated an additional $60,000 to its placemaking program for rural and remote communities.