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Ovens and Murray Advertiser 080923

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omadvertiser.com.au

ADVERTISER, Friday, September 8, 2023 - Page 1

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BEECHWORTH - CHILTERN - RUTHERGLEN - STANLEY - YACKANDANDAH Friday, September 8, 2023

Phone (03) 5723 0100

www.omadvertiser.com.au

$2.00 (inc.GST)

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Trek4Kidz thanks local Lions Page 5 WINNING SMILES: Beechworth Secondary College student Alistair Merrit (left), maths teacher Taylor Dowling, with a school captain Lexi Bussell and Year 12 student Will Usher-Clarke had heaps of fun on Monday celebrating Book Week. Story page 6. PHOTO: Coral Cooksley

Capital challenge By JAMIE KRONBORG INDIGO Shire Council has been told its near-$20 million 2023-24 capital works program continues to face labour and service shortage risks. Capital works and infrastructure services manager Nathan Mullane reported to the council’s August 29 meeting that suppliers and contractors need more staff to keep up with current workloads. At the same time, council procurement’s often “hampered by low response rates” when seeking pricing and services from

businesses in the open market, Mr Mullane told councillors. The council also faces challenges from cost overruns affected to some extent by staff and service availability. “There are a small number of projects where costs are expected to exceed available budgets and we may need to defer some items in the capital budget to facilitate these overruns,” Mr Mullane said. On the bright side, the council’s been advised that an additional $616,300 from the federal government’s local roads and community infrastructure

funding programs will be available for road projects this financial year. The council’s current budget includes almost $1.1m from this program. Mr Mullane said a recommendation would be presented to Indigo’s September council meeting about the extra funding allocation. “With the road network heavily affected by the wet conditions of the past two years, the significant need is to increase our repair works to sealed pavement through the sealed road rehabilitation and

major patching programs,” Mr Mullane said. In his progress report, Mr Mullane said Chiltern Community Hub construction was almost finished, Chiltern Caravan Park works, including toilet and show amenities block renovations, were underway, and a new synthetic playing surface at Kiewa Bowls Club had been installed. Almost $420,000 from the council’s $19.9m annual capital works budget for council and community-controlled assets was spent in July, the first month of the current financial year.

Indigo Interview Page 9

Bushies’ bow out Sport

THINKING TRACTORS?

MCGREGOR MACHINERY Think

171-336HP Brenda Brendan an Breen Bree Br een ee n 202 737 0427 20

Hayden Hayden M Hayd Murray urray 0409 814 296

271 Tone Road Wangaratta Victoria 3677

130-140HP

Call the Office (02) 5722 9933 www.mcgregor-machinery.com.au


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