Goulburn has scored almost $1.4 million to improve two of its recreational facilities.
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Brave souls stretched out in sunny but chilly weather on the Wollondilly River Walkway on Monday as the popular track received a major funding injection.
Hume MP Angus Taylor, a regular pounder of the pavement himself, announced $937,147 to help complete the project's next stage.
The money, from the Building Better Regions Fund, will be matched either by council funds or another grant, if successful. The council has applied for $834,709 from the State’s Stronger Country Communities fund to complete 1.5km of the walk from Kenmore Street to Tarlo Street.
“I use the track regularly and every time I do, there are a lot of people on it,” Mr Taylor said.
“It’s very popular and a great project. It will be a fantastic extension to help get to that full distance.”
Mr Taylor said Goulburn Mulwaree had been more successful than many other councils with the Building Better Regions fund. It had also secured money for the wastewater treatment plant ($10m), the Performing Arts Centre ($1m) and the Rocky Hill War Memorial Museum ($1.25m).
“We sit down before every round and discuss what we want for Goulburn. The council has done a fantastic job in putting together the applications. It’s very unusual to be this successful,” he said.
“We’ll keep having a crack in future rounds. Goulburn is a good region for the federal government to invest because it has good business and economic growth.”
Councillors last Tuesday awarded the $1,486,225 tender to local company, Denrith Pty Ltd to complete the section. The stage two project is estimated to cost $1.87m.
Mayor Bob Kirk said the funding was a “marvelous outcome” for the ongoing work.
“We’ve lived beside these two river (including the Mulwaree) for a long time and never really done anything with them. Now we have the opportunity to capitalise on it,” he said.
“With all the clearing and cleaning up we’re doing, it will be a great attribute.”
The Mayor said he would continue talking “very nicely” to Mr Taylor about completing the remaining 3km section from Riversdale to the Eastgrove wetlands, linking up with improvements there.
Former triathlete and now cyclist, Cameron Roberts believed the extension would encourage even greater use.
“We’re a growing community and we need more things like this,” he said.
Seiffert wins boost
Meantime, Seiffert Oval has scored $415,000 to build a pavilion and install LED lighting. The Max Hadlow grandstand will stay but next to it, a storage shed will be demolished to make way for the pavilion. Plans have already been drawn up by local firm, SC Designs for the building, incorporating amenities, change room and showers, umpires/officials room, a function area and storage.
Four 25m poles with LED lighting will also be installed to enable a higher level of competition.
The council will match the federal funds. It has also secured $400,000 from the State’s Stronger Country Communities fund for lighting and $200,000 from the NSW Office of Sport for the pavilion. The total project costs $830,000.
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A working party, including Dale Godber, was initially charged with exploring improvements to the entire Victoria Park precinct. But gradually various aspects, such as the aquatic centre and adventure playground were split off to other working parties to give more focus.
“Today is a culmination of all the working party’s efforts,” Mr Godber said.
“It’s great to see so much money being spent here, with the aquatic centre and adventure playground too. This (Seiffert Oval) has needed money thrown at it for years, so this is great.
“Initially we wanted a grandstand. Our wish list was too big. Now this is about looking after the community rather than going after what we were never going to get.”
Both the Wollondilly River Walkway and Seiffert Oval projects will be completed this financial year.