VOTING for the state government grant initiative called Pick My Project has opened.
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There was $30 million available to help projects and community groups across the state on their feet.
Community members must register a vote, the projects which receive the highest number of votes will receive grant money.
Voting closes on September 16.
People can vote for the following project ideas:
Fixing the Basketball Court & Scoreboard at the Ararat Fitness
We will replace the existing flooring on Court 1 at the much loved and used Ararat Fitness Centre.
This will include new sub-structure, flooring, sanding, varnish and polishing.
The project will also repair the existing grandstand and replace the scoreboard on court 1 which is no longer working properly.
Floodlights for night bowling – Ararat
Installation of four poles and appropriate floodlights will allow for night time bowling on our newly installed synthetic green (which was self funded).
Access to the facilities is open to the general public, including members of other bowling clubs.
It is anticipated that night time use of the facility will include formal competitions, informal competitions (such as barefoot bowls, Forty/40 bowls), general practice for all bowlers and an opportunity for members of the public to come and try bowls as an activity.
A formal quote from a local contractor, experienced in sports ground lighting, has been obtained for the project
Community Music for the Future
The Ararat City Band is actively working to provide musical education and entertainment to the community in Ararat and the wider region.
In our Development Program we currently have 37 students learning, ranging in ages from 6 years old to adult and musical ability from beginners to advanced.
However we require more instruments to expand our program and continue generating the success of our students now and into the future.
Being in a low socio-economic area many students are unable to purchase their own instruments and the band does what it can to provide them; and this project will assist greatly.
Aradale Asylum historic archive
This will be a collected archive and database of records, reports, documents and media coverage pertaining to the history of the Ararat Lunatic Asylum its heritage, patients and staff.
This will include both accessible documents, the location of records as well as artefacts, media and images.
These will be accessible to the public for researchers and the descendants of patients and staff.
The website will have relevant links, digital resources and location details.
This will be hosted by the Collaborative Research Centre in Australian History at Federation University.
Ararat West Primary School Shaded Area
All students (approximately 230) and staff would have access to the shaded area which would be utilised during recess and lunch breaks as well as during class time and learning activities.
After school care and holiday programs are also held on the school grounds so students involved in these programs would also benefit.
In addition, the school grounds are also used after school hours by children in the local community.
It is extremely important to provide protection from the sun for the school and local community at Ararat West Primary School.
Life Is A Song workshop program – Ararat
Wild At Heart Community Arts presents Life Is A Song, a songwriting workshop program in Ararat for people with lived experience of mental illness or disadvantage.
The program consists of 3 x 8 week series of half day weekly songwriting workshops over one year, beginning in early 2019.
Participants will work with professional facilitating musicians to learn how to write and record their own original songs based on stories from their lives.
Participants will present their songs in public performance in the local area, on community radio and through social media.
Buangor community sports centre multi court sport redevelopment
Redevelopment of the buangor tennis courts from a ageing bitumen surface to a multi use court to enable local community members of all ages to play sports such as tennis, basketball and netball with a view to many more.
The current playing surface is ageing rapidly and is over 30 years old and we would like the opportunity to give people of all ages, school kids included, the opportunity to experience and play new sports on a great sport court facility.
Community Sports Court – Buangor
Our sports court is as old as our historical school building. Our court is used daily by our students, visiting schools, after school activities and open to community use.
The state it is in makes it very dangerous to use.
There are cracks all the way through it, trees growing through the cracks and an ant colony has made its home under the court so we have to contend with these also (and they are not too good at basketball).
We desperately need to get the court resurfaced.
Beaufort Skate Park Upgrade
Upgrade to the existing park infrastructure is needed, it currently suits advanced skate/bmx ability and has very little options for children, youths or beginners.
The current features tower above children and youths, intimidating and preventing them from enjoying the park. This leads to an under utilisation of the infrastructure.
The park needs smaller features that are stepping stones to the existing larger elements. Without smaller features, the larger become dangerous for the inexperienced.
Upgrading provides a place for locals, visitors, competitions and fun days. Enjoying a sport of which there is no other parks within 60km.
Community Resilience: It's Everybody's Business
The Resilience Project is a well renowned, existing program which delivers emotionally engaging programs to schools and local community, providing practical, evidence-based, positive mental health strategies to build resilience and happiness.
Through presentations within the school curriculum, The Resilience Project seeks to help young people and their communities become mentally healthy.
This project will cover primary and secondary schools across the Pyrenees Shire, inspiring school communities to practice the evidence based strategies that build resilience and improve mental health.
Teacher and community sessions will also be held to deliver practical strategies to support students and build their own resilience.
Art for Youth – Avoca
To provide art lessons for the youth in Avoca and district at the Arts Hub, a bus will be hired to pick up the youth and drop them off.
A variety of art activities including visual arts, music and theatre will be shared at a gold coin donation for ongoing expenses.
Mature artists will be employed to direct the activities.
Community Food Van – Beaufort
We are in the process of designing a food van to be operated by the Beaufort Apex Club.
This van will be used by our club to raise funds to support community projects.
World-Class Kinetic Sculpture puts the Pyrenees on the Map – Beaufort
The Cradle is a mesmerising, wind-driven kinetic sculpture by regional Victorian artist Alex Sanson and sets the tone to develop a sculpture trail across the region.
We are working closely with Shire Council, local artists, community arts and recreational groups on the project.
Part of the creation of the new work invites community groups to participate in building the people figures who represent the villages of the shire, while ensuring quality control of the artwork outcome.
This brings diverse local interest groups together to work collectively toward a common project goal and to increase the tourism economy of the Pyrenees.
See The Stars, Under The Stars – Landsborough
The quiet town of Landsborough, located at the foot of the Pyrenees Ranges in country Western Victoria, provides the perfect location for a drive-in cinema under the stars.
The event will be held on the local recreation reserve, which sits unused since the town's football club folded in 2002.
With a large cinema screen set up one end, cars can enter the field and park along designated rows, where they can bring their own refreshments or purchase from the nearby kiosks, selling hot drinks, food and confectionery.
We propose to screen a series of approximately 5 movies over 5-10 weeks.
Pyrenees Organic Waste Environment Recovery – Avoca
A project to turn organic waste into wealth for the community, health for our soils, converting organic waste into biochar (dark earth).
The application of biochar will reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfill and pollution.
These also include carbon sequestration, nutrient and water retention, and enhanced plant and soil microflora.
This community run project will include workshops and a community garden, it will also supply the arts hub cafe with produce, and biochar for the Shire Council and its landfill projects.
Avoca Silo - Multiplex Outdoor Art Project
Located within the Avoca Arts and Gardens Precinct and currently under development with the Pyrenees Shire's collaboration, the silo offers unique innovative, inspirational art and cultural opportunities while building on community social capital.
Crowned with an illuminated sculpture atop and its large silvered walls serving as a 'blank-canvas' for multipurpose events, the transformational objective is its creation as an iconic landmark destination.
Out-door movie screenings or specialized art showings, sound and light shows for theatrical/aerialist performances, music concerts -staged and back-lit - along with digital image projection events are examples of the project's multipurpose/technological capability and expanded community-wide participation opportunities.
Chef in Residence: Pyrenees Farm to Table – Waterloo
Every Pyrenees producer has their story to tell about their passion for their craft.
Let’s put them on stage with the help of a celebrity guest chef! A chef, selected by competitive application or through appointment, will reside in the region for a four week period (one in autumn and another in spring).
They will work with local chefs, wine makers and producers, gaining intimate knowledge of Pyrenees local farms, artisan producers and wineries.
The chef will collaborate with producers to create farm-to-table menus and will be hosted by a handful of restaurants in the region to showcase their creations.
Storage Shed for Senior Golfers Carts and Mobility Vehicles – Beaufort
Walking 18 holes of Beaufort Golf Course has become difficult for many of our ageing club members.
They are faced with whether they can continue to play the game they love or give it away.
Several women and men have purchased golf carts, which assist them to remain mobile and involved for a longer period.
Transporting these carts in trailers is beyond most women and many older men.
A specific storage shed for carts on site would provide a safe alternative to transporting carts in trailers or driving carts on public roads to get to the course.
Naturally Active Concongella Primary School
Concongella PS has a long and proud history, but our playgrounds are no longer proud.
We want to replace our ageing playgrounds with natural playgrounds that encourage children to be more creative, take healthy risks, solve problems and be more active.
We have a beautiful rural setting, the school among the paddocks, so a natural playground would benefit the environment within which we live as well.
The students have a very active role in our school community, and the development of this playground would be no exception – students are already involved in the brainstorming and will help design the project.
Creation of a Community Hub – St Arnaud
The Station will create a valuable community asset, attract tourism, support business and address local needs.
All building renovations are provided by VicTrack funding. Included are workshop, office, meeting, studio and performance spaces, an Artist and Library Lounge, Art Gallery, kitchen, disabled toilets, parking and storage.
Workshops, events, exhibitions, services and facilities for community use will be provided, and local craft and regional products will be promoted.
Funds are needed to internally furnish and fit out the Station. Kitchen appliances, office and meeting room furniture, an art hanging system, technology, audio/video equipment, signage, security and landscaping are all needed.
Rural Rainbows: Building a Strong North Central LGBTI Community – St Arnaud
North Central Regional LGBTI Network was founded in December 2017 with the goal of building a safe, welcoming, respectful and inclusive LGBTI network.
This network consists of LGBTI people, their allies, advocates, service providers, community members and groups working together to promote LGBTI equity and inclusion in our North Central Region.
This region includes Birchip, Charlton, Donald, St Arnaud, Watchem, Wycheproof, surrounding towns and beyond!
Rural Rainbows is the social side of the network with regular social events held throughout the region to increase community awareness and provide a sense of community connection.
Rural Rainbows has its own Facebook Page.