The City of Whittlesea has welcomed more than $6.8 million in State Government funding toward five local projects.
Quarry Hills Regional Parkland, Whittlesea Public Gardens, Whittlesea Community Skate Park, McLean’s Road Kindergarten and the Lalor Streetscape Upgrade project were all successful in receiving funding through the State Government’s 2019-20 Growing Suburbs Fund.
Council has received funding for 24 projects since the fund was introduced in 2015 to the value of $31m.
Mayor Cr Emilia Lisa Sterjova welcomed the funding announcement.
“This is terrific news for our residents that we can now go-ahead with these projects,” she said.
“This partnership with the State Government through the Growing Suburbs Fund enables us to build important community projects that otherwise may not have funding.”
The Growing Suburbs Fund is open to 10 councils in Melbourne’s rural/urban interface, including the City of Whittlesea.
The following projects were successful in securing funding towards the total project cost:
Development of Quarry Hills Regional Parkland $2.5 million
Stage 1 of the Quarry Hills Regional Parkland will include the construction of a new regional level public park to encourage passive recreation in a safe and accessible public space. This will include access roads, wetlands, public toilets, path networks, a regional scale playground, community social gathering spaces and fitness stations.
Whittlesea Public Gardens Revitalisation $2 million
The Whittlesea Public Gardens Revitalisation project aims to deliver key facilities and infrastructure to bring the gardens up to major community and regional park standards, providing a regionally significant recreation space. The priority works will include a play space, social gathering space, and public amenities including toilets.
Whittlesea Community Skate Park Activation $375,000
The Whittlesea Community Skate Park upgrade will include street skate and park elements, new social spaces, a refurbished BMX track and improve accessibility to cater for a broader range of age groups, encourage female participation, and skaters of different abilities, for the growing Whittlesea community.
McLean’s Road Kindergarten Upgrade $500,000
The McLeans Road Kindergarten upgrade project will address the need for an additional kindergarten room to meet forecast demand for 3 and 4-year-old kindergarten programs in the Bundoora precinct.
The additional funding will provide a larger foyer and community planning space for broader engagement with users of the facility.
Lalor Streetscape Upgrade $1.5 million
The next stage of the Lalor Streetscape Upgrade project will complete the vision of the Thomastown/Lalor Masterplan by installing a new community public space, replacement of toilet facilities, new turning lanes and pedestrian links to improve vehicular flow and improve pedestrian safety, carpark improvements and the planting of new street trees.
