Page 12 The Moorabool News – 8 March, 2022
News
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
Be part of the live and local program
If you are a young musician or an aspiring event organiser, Council wants you. They require people to put their hands up to organise a youth-led event, with free training and remuneration on offer. As part of the ‘Live and Local Program’, Council has invited residents aged between 12 and 25 to apply for the ‘Young and Local Music Program’, which will provide a series of three-hour workshops and short presentations throughout April and May. The workshops will be followed by the Moorabool Live and Local Event in June, with program participants performing, organising the sound and lighting, and managing the event. Program participants will not only get the chance to collaborate with peers, learn from experts in the events industry, and hone their performance skills, all for free – they will also get paid for their performance and production work. Musicians should have at least basic skills in their chosen instrument and be able to play a song all the way through, but no prior experience is needed for production and event management, with the necessary skills to be taught through the program. If this sounds like music to your ears, visit www. moorabool.vic.gov.au and search ‘Calling all Young Moorabool Music Makers’ and click the ‘Apply Here’ link to bring up the Expression of Interest form. The form will only take a few minutes to fill out, with questions such as name, contact details, what kind of work you’d like to do for the event, and why you’d like to join the program. The deadline for Expressions of Interest is March 21, with participants to be selected between March 22 and March 31.
The Western Irrigation Network (WIN) commenced construction in December 2020, creating a major recycled water supply system for dryland farmers in the Parwan Balliang region. Photo - WIN
Two swings at Maddingley Park Adventure Playground have been removed over safety concern. Photos – Lachlan Ellis
Safety major concern
By Lachlan Ellis Playground equipment at Maddingley Park has been missing since December, but Council says parents and kids can expect to see them back within the next three months. The swings were removed just before Christmas last year due to safety concerns, and Council has apologised for the wait, but said safety will always be its highest priority. “Council removed two swing assemblies from Maddingley Park Adventure Playground on 22 December 2021, as a result of several safety related defects. Replacement assemblies have been ordered, with an expected installation timeframe of late May/early June,” Council CEO Derek Madden told the Moorabool News. “The delay in installing the replacement equipment is a result of a high demand of materials and labour shortages from the supplier. The fort and bridge structure were also barricaded off, preventing use, due to structural issues that are currently being investigated.” Mr Madden said Council apologises for any inconvenience this has caused. “However, the safety of playground users will always take precedence.”
Recycled water boost for region
The Western Irrigation Network has taken a crucial step towards delivering a new reliable water supply to local farmers, with water now flowing into the recently completed recycled water storage dam in Melton. The new storage dam at the 1.1 gigalitre Melton Recycled Water Plant will be used to irrigate thousands of hectares of farmland from early 2023. The Western Irrigation Network is delivering more than 50 kilometres of pipeline to bring recycled water to the region, transforming it from dryland farming to a thriving agricultural precinct. Other works underway include the construction of infrastructure to connect existing recycled water supplies between the Melton and Bacchus Marsh plants to feed into the network.
Member for Melton Steve McGhie said unreliable rainfall has been a significant issue for local farmers. “This new recycled water supply will help them to grow the district’s economy.” The $116.3 million Western Irrigation Network project is jointly funded by the Victorian ($65.6 million) and Australian ($48.1 million) governments and other partners ($2.6 million), delivered in partnership with Greater Western Water and local farmers. Combined with existing storages, the dam will be part of a network capable of supplying 18.3 gigalitres of recycled water a year by 2050. With access to a new water supply, the local farming community will be able to expand agricultural production, generating local jobs and growth in Victoria’s agriculture sector.