Bland Shire boosted with $3.7 million in infrastructure projects
A youth space in West Wyalong, a new adventure playground in McCann Park and a saloon car drag strip at the town’s airport are among 10 projects Member for Riverina Michael McCormack has announced will be delivered to Bland Shire residents in Round 3 of the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program.
Mr McCormack said the Government had approved of and would fund Council’s list of projects worth $3,699,654.
“This is great news for Council, which has worked hard to identify infrastructure projects it believes will be of maximum benefit to the community,” Mr McCormack said.
“The schedule of works will support more than 80 Council and private sector jobs and deliver more infrastructure which Bland residents need, want, deserve and expect.”
Mr McCormack said the LRCI Round 3 projects would build on the benefits of projects the Liberal and Nationals Government had delivered in the first two rounds of the national $2.5 billion program which he initiated in response to the COVID-19 crisis while Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development.
“We are delivering $6,939,684 to Bland Shire through the three rounds of LRCI,” Mr McCormack said.
“I have travelled throughout the Riverina Electorate and seen the massive benefits of the first two rounds of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program and am excited at what will be improved on and built in Round 3,” Mr McCormack said.
As well delivering a youth space ($350,000), adventure playground in McCann Park ($400,000) and drag strip at the airport ($950,000), Round 3 LRCI funding for Bland Shire includes $1.15 million for rehabilitation of rural roads, $350,000 for improvements to the West Wyalong sewage treatment plant, $335,00 for a new animal pound and relocation of solar panels from adjoining council land and $50,000 for a mural in Main Street.
Bland Shire Council General Manager Ray Smith welcomed Mr McCormack’s announcement and said Council had agreed on a schedule of works which would benefit all corners of the shire.
Mr Smith said the youth space was something the community had been calling for over the past 12 months.
“Young people are keen to have a space for themselves outside of the school environment,” Mr Smith said.
Mr Smith expects the saloon car drag strip will become a tourist attraction.
Total LRCI funding for the 12 Local Government Areas in the Riverina Electorate is more than $54.5
million.
For more information on the LRCI program, including Round 3 allocations, visit https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/local-roads-and-community-infrastructure/.
Bland Shire LRCI Round 3 projects
Project name | Project Description | LRCI funding | Estimated jobs supported
Multiple roads in West Wyalong | Rehabilitation of the following roads: Uncle Bills Road, Tyndells Lane Brennan Tank Road, Kildary Road, Quambatook Lane, Berendeba Lane, Condobolin Road, Sprys Lane | $1,150,000 | 19 (15 council jobs and four contractor jobs)
New lining pool slide splash pool | Due to an increase in visitors and, in turn, pool users, the existing splash pool is no longer considered large enough to meet demand and has to be enlarged to cope with current numbers | $45,000 Seven (two council jobs and five contractor jobs)
Sewage treatment plant rehabilitation | Infrastructure upgrade at sewage treatment plant to enable the system to cope with increasing number of tourists and transient workers | $350,000 | Five (two council jobs and three contractor jobs)
Bland Shire Youth Space | Improvements to community facilities – fit out of a building to create a local youth space in West Wyalong | $350,000 | Six (one council job and five contractor jobs)
Main Street Mural | Painting of a mural in Main Street, West Wyalong, with a focus on the history/heritage of the town. The 10m by 30m mural will be on a building on the Newell Highway | $50,000 | Five (one council job and four contractor jobs)
New animal pound and relocation of solar panels | Construction of a new animal pound to meet RSPCA and industry standards and relocation of solar panels from adjoining council land to future development of the precinct | $335,000 | Eight (three council jobs and five contractor jobs)
Natural Heritage Reserve | Landscaping improvements | $34,654 | 10 (seven council jobs and three contractor jobs)
Additional water reservoir for truck wash | Installation of new reservoir as the current facilities are unable to meet rising demand. The new eco-friendly reservoir will increase capacity for heavy vehicle operators to maintain their vehicles. | $35,000 | Four (all contractor jobs)
Adventure playground McCann Park | Installation of a new playground to address ageing infrastructure in McCann Park | $400,000 | Seven (five council jobs and two contractor jobs)
Saloon Car Drag Strip at the airport | The development of a purpose built regional motorsports facility to facilitate driving events and straightline competition. The track will run about 500 metres long at the West Wyalong airport. | $950,000 | 10 (all contractor jobs)
TOTAL $3,699,654 | 81 (36 council jobs and 45 contractor jobs)