My adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for Sport and Recreation. Like Mr O’Brien, the matter I raise is centred on the Golden Plains shire but is in relation to the Batesford community playground project. I recently met with representatives from the council, including the CEO and the mayor. We dealt with a number of projects being undertaken by the shire council, primarily the planning issues in terms of infrastructure for the small communities within the shire.
Some members of the chamber would be aware that the Golden Plains shire, with its appeal of country living along with its close proximity to the regional cities of Geelong and Ballarat, is currently experiencing a major growth spurt. Young families with children represent something like 45 per cent of the population of the shire.
The shire has a high proportion of young people, and it has the highest percentage of children aged between 0 and 4 years. It is therefore particularly important that we provide opportunities for sport and recreation activities for our young people in this community.
As I understand it, the shire council has made an application to the state government for funding for the Batesford community playground project. The council aims to develop a playground with access to children of all abilities within the Batesford Riverstone Estate development. If the proposal is successful, it will encourage community engagement and interaction, and physical and recreational activity. It will provide a regional community activity hub, and it will also provide an increase in the ability for social activities to be conducted in the township. Given the sheer acceleration of population growth, it is important that this application be funded.
The action I seek from the minister is that he take note of the application and of the support this project has from the local community, as well as the support it has from the Labor members of Parliament for Western Victoria Region.