GLOUCESTER DISTRICT PARK UPGRADES

Federal Member for Lyne, Dr David Gillespie, has congratulated MidCoast Council on the completed upgrades to Gloucester’s District Park, which was supported with $200,000 from the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.

“The funds from the former Federal Coalition Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program have enabled several improvements to be made to the park including the repair of 600 lineal metres of damaged pathway, and the installation of four picnic tables, shelters and slabs,” Dr Gillespie said.

Farley Gates, on Boundary Street, has also been revitalised, with a new hopscotch and platform bench seat. Council has also worked with the Neighbourhood Centre and the wider Gloucester community to undertake improvements in the Aboriginal cultural area, Minimbah Reserve, consisting of new signage and cultural plantings.”

Dr Gillespie said the program, which was created by the former Federal Coalition Government, had now become a critical program for regional councils in local infrastructure delivery.

“Despite Labor axing several regional programs, I am pleased that the government is going to retain the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.

“In my recent Vision 2030 Plan survey, of the 3,000 households that responded across the Lyne electorate, roads were the number one priority.

“This program will go some way towards getting more community and road projects on the agenda.

Dr Gillespie said that since the Federal election a year ago, he’d had several meetings with both the Minister and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport & Regional Development.

“I’ve discussed the need to not only maintain existing levels of funding for infrastructure in regional areas like ours, but also further investment given the importance roads are to our region and the economy,” Dr Gillespie said.

“In government, The Nationals put in place a number of good programs for regional Australia. These programs, combined with the regionalisation agenda we took to the last election, should be embraced if Australia is not only to bring regional infrastructure up to standard, but also move the growth out of our major cities and into rural and regional towns,” he added.