2021/2022 Budget – Council continues its investment in community projects

The City of Greater Bendigo’s proposed 2021/2022 Budget will fund the next stage of several large community infrastructure projects that have been the subject of Council investment over many years.

The Budget will include $650,000 towards the construction of the $7M Bendigo Botanic Gardens Garden for the Future central hub. This project has already received $350,000 from the City in the current financial year, as well as $4.3M in Victorian Government funding and $1.75M from the Australian Government.

The central hub will form the heart of the Bendigo Botanic Gardens precinct by formalising the entrance to the Gardens, providing a visitor centre, café, amenities, wetlands/ponds and landscaped gardens, and areas where people can gather.

The Budget also includes $1.5M to contribute to providing recreational facilities at Catherine McAuley College Junortoun that will be shared by the College and the local community. This project will deliver two sports ovals with synthetic cricket pitches, two outdoor netball courts, car parking and multipurpose community building.

Separately, Catherine McAuley College will construct two indoor multi-purpose courts and an indoor cricket training facility following receipt of funding from Cricket Australia and the Victorian Government.

The Kennington Pavilion upgrade at Harry Trott Oval will receive $3.2M for construction planned for 2021/2022. Design for this project is already completed and a tender for works is due to be awarded in the coming weeks. The $4M project has been jointly funded with $2M from the Victorian Government committed in 2020/2021.

The Municipal Baths redevelopment will also receive $1.5M for the first stage of construction works, including enhancements to the adjacent dam wall. Construction of this multi-year project will be completed in 2022/2023.

Mayor Cr Jennifer Alden said these projects had been the subject of community consultation, detailed planning and previous investment by Council.

“It is wonderful to be able to allocate funding towards the construction of the central hub at the Bendigo Botanic Gardens, which will connect the 19th century Heritage Gardens with the contemporary Garden for the Future,” Cr Alden said.

“The City has worked collaboratively with Catherine McAuley College to deliver much-needed facilities to the growing community in Junortoun, which will be shared by the school and the wider community.

“It is very exciting to see some of these long-term projects come to fruition.”

To view the proposed Budget, go to https://letstalkgreaterbendigo.com.au/budget-2021-2022