Friday 12 April 2024

Published on 12 April 2024

SAVE THE DATE: VOLUNTEER FORUM

Volunteers are the lifeblood of communities – including ours!   

The reality is that volunteering is changing, and we know that many volunteers, community groups and organisations locally are doing it tough.

That's why the Maryborough Volunteer Resource Centre initiated the formation of a Volunteer Stewarding Group with Council staff, to try to tackle these challenges together.

To help shape what comes next - we need you!

Everyone in the Central Goldfields Shire - no matter what age, background or interests, is invited to join us for:

• The Changing Face of Volunteering - Something for Everyone Forum

     Thursday 30 May, 5.30pm for 6pm start at Salvation Army, 27 Wills Street, Maryborough

To find out more, including why it's important for you to join us, visit www.engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/volunteering

PROJECT UPDATES

Indoor Pool retiling

The retiling project at the Maryborough Sports and Leisure Centre continues to progress and remains on track for completion late May.

The old pool tiles that were 25 years old and at the end of their life, have now been removed.

A structural engineer then inspected the pool shell to make sure the surface was in perfect shape for the new pool tiles.

Due to its age, the shell wasn’t in tip top shape and so we’ve since laid a brand-new concrete slab at the base of the pool and carried out repairs to the walls.

With these works now complete, the new tiles are ready to be laid and we can all be confident they’ll stand the test of time!

The project is made possible thanks to funding through the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.

Octagonal Pool restoration

The re-build of the Octagonal Pool at the heritage-listed Maryborough Outdoor Pool is taking shape.

The tiles have been laid with final detailing and grouting to come next. Contractors will then move on to the concourse works and the construction of the plinths that will display the conserved heritage tiles and the original workers’ initials.

The $1.3 million project is funded by the Victorian Government and is being delivered by SJ Weir Ballarat Pty Ltd.

The project is expected to be complete mid-year and has involved construction of an entirely new pool shell, recovery of as many of the original tiles as possible and repairs to the concourse.

We have worked closely with Heritage Victoria to ensure the significance of the complex is maintained.

We are currently awaiting the outcome of two funding applications that would see the Maryborough Municipal Outdoor Pool facility restored and re-opened. To find out more visit www.engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/maryboroughoutdoorpool

Town Hall electrical works

Earlier this year, a project to replace and upgrade the electrical switchboards and emergency lighting systems at the Maryborough Town Hall kicked off.

Some minor roof repairs are also being delivered as part of the project.

Works are expected to be complete by end of June so the Town Hall can be re-opened for community use.

The $539,639 contract is being delivered by EPM&C Pty Ltd and is funded by the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program.

To complement the project, officers are also working on a full audit of the building against the Building Code and Disability Discrimination Act and investigating Heritage Conservation elements to develop a short, medium and long-term strategy to bring the building up to contemporary standards.

Long term, Council will continue to seek funding opportunites that would allow us to restore the Town Hall to its former glory.

New toilet facilities for Rene Fox Gardens

The upgrade to the Rene Fox Gardens public toilet facilities will start soon.

We were recently granted Heritage Victoria approval for the project and the tender for the contract has been awarded to Masterson Builders following a public tender process.

The $211,000 project is fully funded by Council and will deliver:

• upgraded disabled toilet to comply with current standards
• full refresh of the male and female toilets
• replacement of the existing roof
• replacement of the existing crushed rock with exposed aggregate throughout the Gardens.

The project is expected to be completed late June.

Flood Recovery Works

Works to repair and restore our road infrastructure following the 2022 flood event are continuing across our Shire.

We have now completed four packages of works, with the fifth package now underway.

The current package of works will deliver sealed road and shoulder repair upgrades.

Fulton Hogan are delivering the upgrades which are expected to be completed in May. To see the list of locations please see link below.

Culvert and structure erosion repairs will be carried out next. A tender for this work will be advertised this month.

To find out more, including progress to date and a list of locations, visit www.centralgoldfields.vic.gov.au/floodrecoveryworks

HAVE YOUR SAY

Road Management Plan

As the road authority for around 1,300 kilometres of roads, 79 bridges and 175 major culverts in Central Goldfields Shire, we are required to update our Road Management Plan every four years.

The review of the Road Management Plan is important because it determines the way in which Council manages, inspects, repairs and maintains its roads.

The aim is to ensure our road network is safe and well presented, while affordable for our community.

To find out more, and to review the Draft Plan and provide feedback, visit:

www.engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/roadmanagementplan2024

TULLAROOP ADVISORY GROUP

In 2021 Council developed a Waterway Management Plan for Carisbrook to identify priorities for the future management of the Tullaroop Creek.

The Plan includes the establishment of a reference group made up of community members, a Councillor and our relevant staff. Expressions of interest to join this group are open.

Community members who wish to apply will ideally have:

• Knowledge of the local creek and associated environment
• Community development experience
• Community asset management experience

Appointment to the group will be for 24 months. Expressions of Interest close Thursday 18 April 2024.

For further information visit:

www.engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/tullaroop-creek-advisory-group

WHIRRAKEE RISE

We'd like to thank the many people who made contributions to our engagement website about an open space in Whirrakee Rise, Maryborough, being named after Cyril and Myra Martin.

These were reviewed for presentation to Council in November last year, then the proposal was put to the State Government for official naming.

We are now advised by the State Government that the official name, "Martin Reserve" has been gazetted. It is now registered as a Geographic Name in Victoria under the Geographic Place Names Act 1998.

You can still see the details, comments, plus old pics and articles about the couple at:

www.engage.cgoldshire.vic.gov.au/whirrakee

TENDERS

Tenders currently available through Central Goldfields Shire Council are listed below.

Tender documents can be downloaded from e-Procure, accessible via Council's website www.centralgoldfields.vic.gov.au/tenders