The skate park has been well and truly tested this week after opening on Friday. Almost immediately after the fencing came down, the skate park was full of skaters, scooters and bikes – what a sight!
We have a celebration planned for 11 September from 4pm with BMX demos, food and some speeches, so please come down after school and celebrate with us – all are welcome, young and old.
Boat ramp is open
We have also opened the new two-lane boat ramp at Milloo Street in Swan Hill (pictured). I’m pleased to say that work will start on the new toilets there next week too. The boat ramp is open with time to test it out before cod season closes, so soak up the sunshine and get out for a fish this weekend.
Great feedback
I want to thank those who have been coming along to Coffee with a Councillor events, most recently at Beverford. The next one will be this Sunday at the Swan Hill Farmers Market – I hope to see you there.
At these sessions, as well as at recent community events like Ladies Day At The Den and the fire brigade awards night – I have received both positive and negative feedback on Council issues, as well as ideas. All the feedback is appreciated. It is great to hear that the work of Council and our staff is valued, and to find out where we can improve.
Fairfax – get involved in free events
Please mark 16 to 19 September in your diaries, because the Fairfax Youth Initiative is on again and is offering four fantastic, and free, community events.
Council is proud to continue supporting Fairfax, and I encourage everyone (young and older) to do the same. You can see some high quality Australian performers right here in Swan Hill, and see the results of local students’ involvement in Fairfax too.
Community events include Shakespeare at the Pioneer Settlement, storytelling at the Gallery, and the finale of Fairfax, where young people will perform and there will be the premiere of a film made at Tooleybuc.
One of the real highlights of Fairfax last year was the community choir, and I’m told that this year’s version will be even bigger and better. It’s called Songs in the Key of Fairfax, and will be on 17 September. Organisers want to double last year’s effort of 200 singers, so get your singing voices ready.
You can find out how to get involved on Fairfax’s social media channels and Council’s website.
Robinvale Library feedback
It was great for Council and the College to get some feedback on concepts for the new Robinvale Community Library Hub last week.
About 25 people came along to our information session – thank you all.
Community members lead some great conversations about how the new library could be used, and the feedback on concepts was positive. There were also suggestions about the need for extra carparking. Unfortunately that’s not part of this project, but like all areas of operation, can be reviewed and considered once the facility is up and running.
If you’re interested and missed the information session, concept plans are still available to view at Robinvale College, Robinvale Resource Centre and on the mobile library.
The next step is to finalise designs and get ready to go out to tender. We’ll be working with the College, State Government and the designer behind the scenes to make this happen, and hope to go out to tender in November
Spreading the word about Robinvale’s population
The news about Robinvale’s population study is spreading far and wide. As well as great coverage from local media outlets including The Sentinel, we reached across the nation thanks to the ABC.
On Friday, there was TV coverage on ABC News 24 and the ABC Victoria 7pm bulletin, and coverage on ABC Radio throughout the state.
Relatives in Western Australia and Queensland called to say they had seen me on the TV news and were sympathetic to Robinvale’s plight. Let’s hope some people in the right places of power heard and saw it too.
The population study – which revealed that Robinvale’s true population is between 7000 and 8800 – is still available to look at on Council’s website.
Sharing ideas with our MP
A quick thank you to Member for Mildura Ali Cupper and her team, who met with Councillors in Robinvale last week. We were able to fill her in on all the projects that are up and running in Robinvale now, and some that are planned for the future. It was productive to discuss these with her and share some ideas. We plan to connect with her on a regular basis.
Some of the Council projects we discussed included:
• The $1.3 million Bromley Road beautification
• Robinvale Community Library Hub
• Discussing labour supply issues for the horticulture sector with our politicians.
• Installing a two-lane practice cricket net at Riverside Park
• Running the Robinvale Business program in conjunction with REBA
• Permanently running the L2P Program in Robinvale
• Drone training for farmers – held yesterday at Robinvale and Manangatang
• Supporting Robinvale events, including the Lantern Festival on 13 September
• Investigating possible upgrades to Robinvale Leisure Centre – a consultant is investigating the feasibility of an extra high ball court and gym expansion.
• Completing a Cultural Heritage Management Plan for Centenary Park, so we can determine what sort of improvements can be made there.
• Planning for upgrades to Robinvale netball courts, including lighting and changeroom
• Continuing to get permits and approvals for the Robinvale levee
• Advocating for improvements to the Robinvale-Sea Lake Road, Hattah-Robinvale Road and the Murray Valley Highway.
• Advocating for a truck stop and toilets at Wemen
• Lobbying to make Robinvale’s true population known
• Advocating for housing solutions, as well as working with developers on a number of private proposals