The Weekly Advertiser - Wednesday, June 26, 2019

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Vol. No. Vol. 2118No. 5027

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Wednesday, January 13, 2019 2016 Wednesday, June 26,

Plans on ice BY COLIN MACGILLIVRAY

A

20-year masterplan to transform Horsham has been put on ice until Horsham Rural City Council’s next meeting.

At Monday night’s council meeting councillors voted on a proposal to publicly display a ‘Wimmera River Precinct and Horsham Central Activities District Vision and Masterplan’ for 28 days. The motion passed by five votes to two, with councillors John Robinson and David Grimble voting against the proposal. Immediately after the motion carried Cr Robinson gave notice he would move to rescind it at a future council meeting. Mayor Mark Radford said it meant the plan was effectively on hold. “He has to give notice to the chief executive in writing and then it has to go to another meeting; we have to vote again is basically what it means,” he said. “Nothing in the decision to publicly display the plan can be enacted until after that vote.” Cr Radford said the vote could take place at the council’s next meeting in a month, or sooner if chief executive Sunil Bhalla called a special council meeting. The masterplan is a multi-tiered document aimed at developing Horsham’s river, sporting and central activity district precincts during the next 20 years. The document states the project will attract investment, enhance Horsham as a tourist destination and provide infrastructure for many sport and recreational groups in the city.

The plan is conceptual and would be subject to change after community consultation. Mr Bhalla said about $2.5-million was already available for the council to start work on the project after the Federal Government pledged $1.65-million towards developing the Wimmera River precinct in May. Among proposals for the river precinct are a potential café-restaurant and boardwalks along the river. Mr Bhalla described the plan as a ‘transformational project that takes a long-term view’, but Cr Robinson said there were more pressing issues to address. “It is concerning that three groups that I’m aware of have already been advised of their fate before we’ve even agreed to take this out to the community for consultation,” he said. “The community has consistently told us there are a number of priorities that are an issue for them, and this isn’t up at the top of the list. “The standout seems to be a bridge to the west to get rid of the traffic, the trucks and dangerous goods out of the CBD and reduce the congestion on the Wimmera Bridge. “It seems to me the community feels this is more important than ‘lattes by the lagoon’.” Cr Robinson criticised what he described as a ‘taxpayer-funded $1.65-million grant for the construction of a caférestaurant on the Wimmera River that was negotiated without the knowledge or agreement of councillors’. Continued page 5

IN THIS ISSUE • WE

AN APPLE A DAY: The old saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ resonates with staff and students at Stawell Primary School, including Georgia Martin. The school will use a $5000 Northern Grampians Shire Council community grant to bolster its healthy eating program and allow all students to participate in a healthy eating ‘incursion’. Teacher Bronwyn Bant said the school recognised the importance of the health and wellbeing of students, and the impact it placed on their ability to learn, grow and interact with others. Other grant recipients, page 13. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

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