Corangamite lists priority needs for State investment

Published on 23 August 2022

Corangamite Shire Council has released its list of priority projects for State Government funding ahead of the upcoming election.

Mayor Ruth Gstrein said the list details areas where Council would like to see commitments made in the lead-up to the election.

“Mobile phone blackspots and roads continue to lead our Shire’s needs,” Cr Gstrein said.

“One of our most pressing needs is to fix mobile phone blackspot and upgrade NBN in Port Campbell.

“We welcomed recent announcements for new towers in Scotts Creek, Noorat and Ecklin South, and NBN upgrades in Timboon through the Federal Government Regional Connectivity Program but more upgrades are needed across our Shire.

“Black spots have impacts on emergency management, tourism, agricultural innovation and liveability.

“Businesses in Port Campbell’s main street experience poor phone coverage and slow internet speeds impacting their ability to do business.

“Major residential housing developments and the return of tourism will see growing demand for more reliable phone coverage and faster NBN in the town as we move out of the Pandemic.”

Cr Gstrein said Council would work with both sides of government to achieve $31M in upgrades to the region’s dairy supply chain roads each year for the next decade.

“It’s a lot of money but a fair investment in our region which produces more than a quarter of the nation’s milk and is forecast to grow by 20% by 2045, to about 2.5 billion litres a year,” Cr Gstrein said.

“Cobden Warrnambool Road and Cobden Port Campbell Road are in need of urgent upgrades to support that massive industry.”

Council is also asking for $30 million to implement enabling infrastructure works for the Camperdown Production Precinct.

“Camperdown is in the centre of an agricultural production area and on the highway not far from Melbourne markets and ports,” Cr Gstrein said.

“It makes sense to process and manufacture goods in the town.

“There has been a significant increase in inquiries for industrial land in Camperdown and developing a coordinated master plan will help attract investment and development opportunities which means greater local economic output and new jobs.

“It’s an ambitious plan but quite achievable if we can get the support.”

Council’s other priorities include:

• $8.4 M for Darlington Road to be widened to the National Performance-Based Standards (PBS) Scheme.
• $5.4 M to upgrade Skipton Recreation Reserve
• $5.1 M to upgrade Mockridge Park in Camperdown
• $5 M to implement Stage 2 of Camperdown Theatre Royal Master Plan.
• $1.81 M to widen Darlington-Terang Road, Kolora
• $1 M to replace three bridges along Camperdown- Timboon Rail Trail
• $150,000 to develop an Indigenous tourism model and signature winter event for the Twelve Apostles region in partnership with Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation.

Residents can read more about the priorities at www.corangamite.vic.gov.au/priorities or can pick up a hard copy from the Corangamite Shire Civic Centre.