Tuesday 16 June 2009
The Koondrook town centre will become a highly functional and modernised community-oriented events centre under an extensive improvement project backed by a $250,000 Brumby Labor Government grant.
Announcing the funding today in Koondrook, the Member for Northern Victoria Region, Candy Broad said the works would cover Apex Park, the town’s maternal and child health centre and public toilets.
She said the $406,000 Gannawarra Shire Council initiative would involve 20 tasks across the three locations.
The major changes include building a sound stage in Apex Park, relocating the maternal and child health centre to the Barook Senior Citizens Centre to create a multi-function facility, and converting the old maternal and child health centre into public toilets and a barbecue area.
“This initiative builds on previous works to develop the community’s vision for a highly functional town meeting space,” Ms Broad said.
“Existing buildings will be developed into better assets that are used more frequently and contribute to a more vibrant and interactive community.
“The area’s picturesque location on the Murray will provide high quality amenities that support the community and boost tourism.”
Ms Broad said the works program would include:
- Apex Park: constructing a platform sound stage, building an access barrier to match the heritage theme, upgrading playground equipment, installing solar lighting, and realigning the Punt and Station streets intersection;
- Barook Senior Citizens Centre: upgrading the centre to accommodate the maternal and child health centre, upgrading heating and cooling, installing playground equipment and building a sandpit area, and constructing fencing and access gates;
- New public toilets on the maternal and child health centre site: upgrading the centre to include male, female and unisex wheelchair accessible toilets, renovating the site to fit with the area’s heritage theme and upgrading access.
Regional and Rural Development Minister, Jacinta Allan said the grant for this project is being provided under the Small Town Drought Funds program in the Government’s Small Towns Development Fund initiative through Regional Development Victoria.
Ms Allan said the project typified fund initiatives which were making a big difference to drought-affected towns in provincial Victoria.
The fund has helped develop 425 community and social infrastructure projects, including the Benjeroop Hall upgrade, Mystic Park Water Supply Improvements, Lalbert Community Facility development, Lalbert Town Centre development, Kerang Town Entry and the Kerang Heritage Exhibition Centre.