www.omadvertiser.com.au
ADVERTISER, Friday, July 1, 2022 - Page 1
r
u l Yo oca LY ire K Sh L EEdigo
n
WrI Fo
BEECHWORTH - CHILTERN - RUTHERGLEN - STANLEY - YACKANDANDAH Friday, July 1, 2022
Phone (03) 5723 0100
www.omadvertiser.com.au
$1.00 (inc.GST)
INSIDE
Locals enjoy Christmas in June festivity Page 4
Kinder youngsters delight Page 5 HISTORY TALK: Beechworth volunteers Leo Nette and John Harvey speak volumes about local railway history with talks at the Old Telegraph Station. Story page 6. PHOTO: Coral Cooksley
Back to basics budget
A RENEWED focus on basic infrastructure maintenance, including greater investment in urban and rural drains and looking after the shire’s parks and gardens headline council’s 2022/23 budget according to Mayor Bernard Gaffney. Council adopted the $37.2M budget on Tuesday night, which included a $16.8M capital works program and 1.75 per cent rate increase as set by the Victorian Government. Cr Gaffney said the additional investment in drains and flood mitigation is a direct result of the community
Council responds p with ggreater focus on capital p works and heritage g BY CORAL COOKSLEY ccooksley@ nemedia.com.au
feedback received during the development of the draft budget. “We received the highest ever amount of community input into the budget build and we heard loud and clear from our community its desire for council to get back to basics,” he said. “We’re putting an additional $200,000 into improv-
ing rural and urban drains, bringing the total investment to $470,000.” The $16.8M capital works program is made up of $7.7M in new project allocations and $9.1M in projects already funded in previous years budgets, but have been carried forward into 2022/23. A significant portion of the carry forward funds is associated with the completion of large multi-year grant-funded projects including the Chiltern Community Hub, Beechworth to
Yackandandah Rail Trail and the Indigo EPIC Mountain Bike trail. Cr Gaffney stressed that the budget does not include any new money for cycling infrastructure. “We’re investing in services that enhance the shire’s liveability, amenity and future sustainability, including $3.1M on waste management service delivery and facilities, $1M on parks and gardens, $656,000 to deliver library services and programs, $553,000 on ini-
AU w}Z N 9tZT ɄǠǟșǨǟǟ ðĊÆ
THE ST, TOUGHTE& MOST HUSTLER HUSTLER PLES ATILE M I S MOUNTED BALE BALE MOUNTED VERSD BALE ROUNEDING UNROLLERS UNROLLERS FE ION! FEED OUT THE TIGHTEST OF SOLUT ROUND BALES, SILAGE, FODDER & MORE. Easier to use than any other chain type feeders on the market today, being the most innovative, with 6 unique features you won’t find on any other bale feeder that makes it easier to use, more versatile, and saves your precious time.
tiatives to support our early years programs and services, $221,000 on initiatives to support our young people,” he said. Cr Gaffney said heritage continues to be a high priority with capital works scheduled for the completion of the Beechworth Historic Precinct Courthouse Kelly Trials Experience, works at Chiltern Athenaeum, Platelayers Cottage renewal, and the painting of historical buildings. ■ Continued page 2
A passionate volunteer Page 9
Bushrangers’ big day out SPORT
Enquire: 0409 814 296 Location: 271-285 Tone Road, Wangaratta Phone: (03) 5722 9933 Email: sales@mcgregormachinery.com.au
