A number of projects within the Moira Shire have been awarded a share of $1 million drought funding including an upgrade to the changerooms and community gym at Jubilee Park Recreation Reserve Tungamah and the installation of an irrigation system, storage tank and boost pump at Vic Park Yarrawonga.
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The funding is part of the drought aid package from the Federal Government which will make an enormous amount of difference and allow council to undertake and complete projects.
Moira Shire Mayor Libro Mustica said he welcomed the aid package and the funding will assist in the delivery of projects across the shire.
“I welcome the news of this drought aid package from the Federal Government,” Mr Mustica said.
“The nominated projects are spread the length and breadth of the shire with the townships of Nathalia, Numurkah, Cobram, Yarrawonga, Picola, Yarroweyah, Wunghnu and Tungamah all receiving funding for much needed projects.
“It is in these times that our local businesses, community and council unite to support each other.”
Exact project allocations have not yet been finalised but one of the big winners in our part of the shire is Jubilee Park, home of the Tungamah Football Netball Club.
Tungamah Football Netball Club President Josh Buerckner said the funding was welcome news to the club and they were looking forward to ticking off the boxes of the masterplan.
“This is part of the first stage of the Jubilee Park Recreation Reserve and Community Centre Master Plan,” Mr Buerckner said.
“It’s a step towards getting our desperately needed change rooms upgraded and its welcome news to the Tungamah Football Netball Club.
“The bar is our next stage.”
In the masterplan documentation it states the football change rooms are attached to the Community Centre and are aging and do not meet current standards or expectations for change facilities.
Visiting sides currently do pre-game warmups outside in areas not developed for that purpose.
An asbestos audit has been undertaken of the change rooms which has detected Chrysotile Asbestos in the football clubrooms and changerooms.
This money will assist in upgrading the change facilities with improved accessibility and a space compliant with current sport recommendations.
Tungamah Football Netball Club are fundraising to replace the current change rooms.
The vision of the masterplan is to develop and maintain the Jubilee Park Recreation Reserve in a way that ensures it is inclusive, functional, sustainable and safe for use by the Tungamah community now and into the future.
Other high priority projects include drainage works to address flooding from the creek and a power upgrade with full investigation and upgrade of power to site to prevent blackouts.
The second project in the eastern part of the shire is the installation of an irrigation system, storage tank and boost pump at Vic Park Yarrawonga.
This will be beneficial for the number of sports played on Vic Park, namely cricket in summer as well as round robin junior football competitions and the annual Easter tennis tournament.
Cr Mustica thanked Federal Member Damian Drum and hoped for some more well needed rainfall.
“I would like to thank our Federal Member Damian Drum, who continues to work with us and advocate on our behalf,” Mr Mustica said.
“Even though Moira Shire has received some much-needed recent rainfall, we have experienced multiple disappointing growing seasons in a row, hopefully this year will be a bumper crop for our dryland farmers.
“For every job on-farm, there are at least four off-farm, for example in processing, transport and even finance and banking, so when our agriculture sector suffers there is a flow on effect to all areas of business.”
“The $1 million funding would assist the delivery of $2.34 million in projects including –
• Replacement of the change rooms at the Tungamah Recreation Reserve and Community Gym;
Installation of irrigation system, storage tank and boost pump at Victoria Park, Yarrawonga;
• Construction of an accessible bathroom with toilet and shower facilities and baby change table at the Yarroweyah Football Netball Club;
• Addition of a storage room and accessible toilet to the Picola Hall;
• Replacement of toilets, showers and change room at the Wunghnu Recreation Reserve;
• Expansion and upgrade of the existing irrigation system at
the Nathalia Recreation Reserve;
• The extension of the Numurkah Skate Park;
• Installation of a permanent outdoor gym at the Nathalia parklands;
• Installation of a playground including play equipment and rubber surfacing at Federation Park, Cobram.
“Councillors were keen to see the funding spread across the shire and I think we have been able to achieve that and link the federal funding into council budgets to deliver some larger projects than would have been possible through council funds.”