Hepburn Shire is strapped for cash and has to chase money from the Commonwealth and State Governments for the projects it wants to pursue locally. At this week’s Council meeting Council officers proposed 10 projects and Councillors added one more -Wheeler’s Bridge to the list as an amendment in the meeting.

Officers had recommended the permanent closure of Wheeler’s Bridge which has already been shut for safety reasons for the past 3 years. The addition had a $500,000 price tag for Hepburn Shire residents.

The complete list of projects is:

  • Wheelers Bridge
  • Glenlyon Recreation Reserve Pavilion
  • Aquatic provisions
  • Doug Lindsay Recreation Reserve – Female friendly soccer facility
  • Clunes Recreation Reserve Masterplan
  • Victoria Park, Daylesford – Soccer pitch realignment
  • Albert Street, Daylesford Realignment
  • Future Hepburn Settlement Strategy
  • Daylesford Community Facilities – Phase 1
  • Improved Workplace Occupation Violence Legislation
  • Financial Sustainability of Councils

The Council Statement indicated that funding for soccer facilities in Creswick and Daylesford, continuation of Future Hepburn (strategic land planning), workplace safety legislation and the financial sustainability of councils are all key projects named in the priority projects statement endorsed by Council.

Mayor, Cr Tony Clark, said that the projects represent a range of important issues and infrastructure in the Shire.

“The eleven projects have been selected based on recent capital works planning, Council resolutions following significant decisions, collaboration with peak bodies and consultation with Councillors and officers,” he said.

“All of the projects we carry out here at Council are important. This priority statement does not represent an exhaustive list of future initiatives and Council will continue to advocate for other projects as they arise,” he said.W

Whether or not any of these projects are actually delivered will depend on Council’s ability to convince State and Federal authorities they are worth funding. It is likely that Council will be required to make significant contributions as well for any projects that are agreed.