Page 6 The Moorabool News – 3 May, 2022
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A ton of car parks planned By Lachlan Ellis Council has applauded the announcement of up to $1 million from the State Government, to establish 100 new car parking spaces at Maddingley Park. Moorabool Shire Mayor Cr Tom Sullivan welcomed Minister for Regional Development, Mary-Anne Thomas, and local State Members Steve McGhie (Melton) and Michaela Settle (Buninyong), to the site at Taverner Street on Wednesday 27 April. Funding through the Regional Car Parks Fund (RCPF), the free car parks will be located close to the park, existing sporting facilities, the railway station, and the $15 million Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre (MARC) site – which is currently undergoing construction for Stage One, an indoor sports stadium. Mary-Anne Thomas said the new car parks would help relieve parking pressure, and improve access to facilities in the rapidly growing Bacchus Marsh area. “I always welcome the opportunity to work with Moorabool Shire, and to deliver for this fast-growing community. We will also be delivering fully accessible car parks, ensuring that we are growing access for all of our community members,” Ms Thomas said. “Our government is committed to ensuring we’re getting more regional Victorians
Letters to the Editor
Moorabool Councillors, three State MPs, and Council planning staff looking over the plans. Photo – Lachlan Ellis
moving more easily, getting where they need to go. Especially after COVID, we want to make sure people can get out and about, be part of their communities, shop local, and catch up with friends and family.” Mayor Sullivan thanked Ms Thomas for the
funding, and emphasised the necessity of extra car parks in Bacchus Marsh. “The redevelopment of this site does necessitate more car parking…there are also residential developments around here, we don’t want to intrude on their wellbeing
Dear Editor, I once thought that councillors represented the community and voted accordingly. Two letters in the Moorabool News (19 April 2022) particularly highlighted that fallacy. (a) I agree with Kate Sharkey, Balliang that pretend community, independent reviews, are ignored by council and not taken into account. (b) T hat Council finally voted for the tip tickets to be provided again and admitting that the community has wanted them for years is indicative. All we ever hear is ‘HOT AIR’ debates and excuses. All covered under the saying ‘There are lies, damn lies and statistics’. Everyone knows that council is the cause of the rubbish problems and that they then dare to complain about it. Rubbish is rubbish and every little bit that gets to the tip helps.
with people parking outside their properties. To provide for car parking here is a great incentive,” he said. “Bacchus Marsh is one of the fastest growing towns in regional Victoria. The provision of additional parking will service the schools, the train station, and the Moorabool Aquatic and Recreation Centre, which will be out there to the east. “We thank the State Government for their support to transforming an area which is set to become even more popular with families, once the first stage of MARC opens in 2023.” Steve McGhie MP (Member for Melton) said the car parks would be a vital part of the evolving plans for the area. “This is really about the long-term planning for this precinct, it’s going to be an enormous precinct for Bacchus Marsh and the Moorabool people, with the sporting facilities that will be here, and the residential development across the road,” he said. “This is a fantastic planscape for Bacchus Marsh, and the car parks I think will be welcome and needed.” Moorabool’s population is expected to grow 25 per cent by 2031, from 36,000 to 48,000 people – with the bulk of that population in Bacchus Marsh. Construction on the car parks is expected to start in the next couple of months, with completion due by the end of the year.
Of course, not everyone used their tickets because they had no way to get the rubbish there. Tip vouchers coupled with annual rubbish collections kept the shire much cleaner than today. Other councils still have annual rubbish collections, and we still should have too. Councillors are supposed to be representing the community, but it is obvious that they don’t. Vote correctly for those who clearly represent you at the next election. Personally, I would like to go back to volunteers councillors who weren’t salaried and gave much better community service, at far less cost and with far better real representation. Barry Riley Ballan