I raise a matter for the Minister for Regional and Rural Development in the
other place with respect to an application for funding for the Bannockburn
community and cultural hub. Golden Plains Shire Council has applied for funding
under the Small Towns Development Fund. That fund has proved very successful in
Western Victoria Region. In the last eight months the fund has supported
projects such as $100 000 funding for new sporting facilities at Bob Petit
Reserve at Jan Juc; $250 000 for the Ballarat-Skipton rail trail; and $150 000
for the redevelopment of Camperdown’s Theatre Royal.
The Small Towns Development Fund is helping
Victoria’s smaller towns create jobs, improve community infrastructure and drive
economic growth. I recently toured the Golden Plains shire area with the mayor,
Des Guinane, and was shown the intricacies of current and future planned works
that have been and will be undertaken by the shire. I was duly impressed with
the professionalism demonstrated by the Golden Plains shire. Bannockburn is the
fastest growing town in the Golden Plains shire, with an annual growth rate of
11 per cent over the past 15 years. Undoubtedly this will continue as
Bannockburn is close to the Geelong ring-road.
The project application for the hub includes a major upgrade to
the existing Bannockburn Public Hall to create a 200-seat multipurpose facility
including capacity for performing arts and cinema. Among other things it will
also include a new community learning centre and neighbourhood house to be built
at the rear of the existing hall.
I therefore urge the minister to seriously consider this
funding application for the Bannockburn community and cultural hub and request
that she avail herself of a tour to Bannockburn to see firsthand the need for
planned social and physical infrastructure in this major growth area in regional
Victoria.