Ararat Rural City Council was successful in attracting funding under the Stronger Communities Programme for three projects.

Ararat Rural City Council will receive $17,714 for projects at Lake Bolac Community Complex, Gordon Street Recreation Reserve and Alexandra Oval.

The Lake Bolac Community Complex will receive $3414 for a new trophy cabinet, projector and screen. 

“I congratulate all the community groups that have worked with Ararat Rural City Council to deliver these vitally important projects to the local community,” Mr Tehan said.

Ararat mayor Glenda McLean said was terrific to see sporting clubs across the municipality receive a boost thanks to the Australian Government’s Stronger Communities Fund.

“The audio-visual equipment at the Wickliffe and Lake Bolac Football-Netball Club has been in need of an upgrade for a long time and this grant will help modernise their clubrooms,” she said.

Mr Tehan was also given a tour of construction works for Ararat’s new Arts Precinct.

The $7.735 million redevelopment project is a joint Ararat Rural City partnership with the federal and state governments.

Builders from Ballarat-based firm, Nicholson Construction are expected to complete the works for an official opening in April.

“The federal government has contributed a significant amount of funding to the redevelopment of the Ararat Arts Precinct, so it was great to be able to show Mr Tehan through the site and give him an update on how work is progressing,” Cr Mclean said.

“He was very impressed at what he saw and that the project remains on time and on budget.

“The chief executive Allan Bawden and I are looking forward to having him back once the Art Gallery and Performing Arts Centre are back up and running in the brand new facility in 2018.”

Mr Tehan said the works would make a drawcard for Ararat even better.

“It’s absolutely fantastic. They’re making great progress, on time and on budget,” he said.

“When it opens, it is going to be wonderful for the Ararat community.

“The resulting tourism will create hundreds of jobs.”