The City of Greater Bendigo this week travelled to Canberra to present its priority projects for Federal funding to all sides of politics ahead of the upcoming Federal election.
The City met with Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters and advisors to the Minister for Local Government Kristy McBain, Minister for the Arts Tony Burke, and Minister for the Environment and Water Tanya Plibersek, as well as Shadow Minister for Local Government Darren Chester, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Bridget McKenzie, and Patron Senator for Bendigo Sarah Henderson.
Mayor Cr Andrea Metcalf said the City’s number one priority project, the Bendigo Art Gallery, was well received.
“Our Gallery has a fantastic reputation and everyone we spoke to in Canberra was very receptive to the project, recognising the important cultural and economic contribution it makes to Greater Bendigo and the wider region,” Cr Metcalf said.
“Staff will soon submit an application to the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program and, when it opens, the next round of the Growing Regions Fund, to ensure we leave no stone unturned in our efforts to secure $15M from the Federal Government for this project,” Cr Metcalf said.
“Other tourism projects featured in our prospectus include $1.2M for detailed design and planning to support the Golden Dragon Museum’s vision to become the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Chinese Museum of Australia, together with $2.2M towards stage 1 of the $3.26M surface-level improvements to Central Deborah Goldmine.
“Support to transition Bendigo Library off gas, funding for stage 2 of Ironbark Gully Trail (from Arnold Street to Eaglehawk Road), funding for stage 2 of North Bendigo Recreation Reserve to deliver a second pavilion to support football, netball and female-friendly facilities, realisation of Brennan Park Swimming Pool becoming a year-round, electric-heated facility, a new skate park for Kangaroo Flat and a new pavilion at Truscott Reserve round out the list.
“Also included in the prospectus are the flood resilience projects the City is already seeking Federal funding for through the Disaster Ready Fund, which is to ensure we continue to keep pressure on delivery of these funds.”
City CEO Andrew Cooney said the list of projects intended to provide choice for Federal candidates to help them decide which initiatives they may like to fund.
“These projects relate to tourism, sustainability, health and wellbeing, and recreation. This is our list to say we would welcome a commitment to any of these projects, whenever the election is called, which will take place by May 2025, if not before,” Mr Cooney said.
“Some of these projects we would be funding from our renewal budgets over several years or simply can’t be delivered due to competing priorities, so having a successful Federal election commitment helps to then seek funding from the State Government or re-prioritise some projects internally, therefore fast tracking these projects and delivering them to our community quicker.”
Other local projects discussed in Canberra included future development of the Bendigo Regional Employment Precinct and preparation of the new Managed Growth Strategy, an update on Bendigo Airport following the recent opening of the new terminal building and seeking support to meet with airlines, the World Heritage bid for the Victorian Goldfields that is seeking a Tentative Listing from the Federal Government next year to progress the bid onto UNESCO, and Local Government financial sustainability.
