Vol. No. Vol. 2218No. 5 27
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Wednesday, January 13, 2019 2016 Wednesday, July 31,
MUSIC IN THEIR VEINS: Nick Shirrefs and daughter Clara put a comedic twist on a piano performance in the 2019 Wimmera Music Eisteddfod. The eisteddfod returned after a year’s hiatus at Horsham Town Hall at the weekend, offering musicians from across western Victoria the chance to compete in 52 categories, with seven new events including a ‘Family Groups’ section. Story, page 5. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Projects prime shire A
BY DEAN LAWSON
financial rubber stamp shoring up an underground physics laboratory project in Stawell has helped place the city and its surrounding district on track for a dramatic population increase.
Figures based on permanent fulltime jobs generated by projects underway in the shire suggest Stawell district population might grow by 1000 within five years. Northern Grampians Shire Council is already busy working on ways to accommodate a potential influx of workers, likely to include a broad mix of employees through Bulgana Green Power Hub as well as the underground laboratory.
It is working with neighbouring Ararat and Pyrenees councils to address a pressing regional housing shortage. Expectations are that the Bulgana hub, involving renewable-energy company Neoen and horticulture producer Nectar Farms, will generate hundreds of jobs while the lab will create about 80 ongoing positions. Northern Grampians council chief executive Michael Bailey said longterm development projects underway would have a profound impact on the municipality. “It’s going to involve a massive change in socio-economic dynamics, right across the shire,” he said. “We recognise Northern Grampians is on the move. We’re seeing different retail developments, Bulgana hub, the
physics laboratory, the reignition of Stawell Gold Mines, which is doing amazing things, and Frewstal continuing to be a world leader in meat processing and export. “And it’s not just Stawell – we have hay exporter Gilmac at St Arnaud and an expansion of events such as Marnoo Merino Field Days. “Councillors have been incredibly passionate about moving Northern Grampians forward through development and it’s paying dividends. “It shows what local government can achieve.”
Hard work
Mr Bailey said a $5-million State Government commitment to back Stawell Underground Physics Labo-
ratory represented about six years of speculation, investigation, planning and advocacy. “Just to understand what this project is about takes a lot of headspace and councillors have been able to articulate potential benefits, not only for Stawell and the shire, but internationally. It’s been a huge effort,” he said. “The reality is there could be a Nobel Prize for the science at the end of it all and to think our shire would be at the heart of this would be something special.” The science lab will be one kilometre underground at Stawell Gold Mine and provide environment and research facilities needed in the search for understanding about ‘dark matter’, one of the great mysteries in the universe.
Expectations are that the project will generate $180.2-million for the Stawell economy in its first 10 years. Most contractors for laboratory construction and fit out will come from Stawell district and western Victoria, with 15 full-time-equivalent roles created during the first phase of work. This will involve geotechnical engineers, earthmoving-equipment operators, electrical tradespeople and transport operators.
IN THIS ISSUE • River responds to winter rain • Monthly AgLife feature • Football-netball action Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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Education
Mr Bailey said education benefits for Stawell were considerable, especially when considering a counterpart project in Italy attracted visits from about 8000 students a year. Continued page 3