AN ambitious $4.7m project to complete Penola’s Border Road was discussed by Wattle Range Council at its historic live meeting webcast last night.
The upgrade was one of 12 major projects worth a collective $19.3m floated by council’s engineering services officer Peter Halton as potential recipients of State and Federal Government funding to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A $1.5m upgrade for rail line shared paths in Penola and Millicent and $1m to upgrade the Penola Pool was also suggested by Mr Halton as infrastructure projects to have ready to proceed in the event of a government “cash splash”.
Other projects highlighted by Mr Halton include $3.5m for a new council office, a $3m upgrade to Beachport’s Bowman Scenic Drive and $1.2m for works on Millicent Swimming Lake.
In a report to council, Mr Halton said the State and Federal Government had already started to roll out stimulus package and it was important for council to have a suite of “shovel-ready” projects to capitalise on any potential grant funding.
“This means having well defined project plans and budgets, independent assessment of the economic benefits of each project and approval processes under way,” Mr Halton said.
“This cannot be completed within council’s current resources.
“Officers are seeking the support of council to fund external resources to prepare a number of projects to a shovel ready status so that council can either fund these projects or seek external funding to deliver these in the short term.”
To advance the civil projects to shovel ready status, Mr Halton said around $300,000 would be required for preparatory work, including securing approvals, costings and plans.
Mr Halton said local government can play a major role in helping the recovery from the current economic downturn with the implementation of major projects.
“These projects will stimulate jobs with direct employment for delivery of contracts for those on the tools doing the work and indirect benefits in supplying materials right through to the café selling lunches for those working on the project,” Mr Halton said.
“Further to the benefits created during the construction phase, we believe a number of the projects will provide longer term benefits, such as bringing people back to our region as tourism has taken a major hit.
As well as the $300,000 funding allocation, Mr Halton sought in-principle support from council for 50pc of the project costs.
Mr Halton said he does not anticipate all 12 projects would attract subsidies in the upcoming 2020/21 financial year.
