BOLD and compelling is the future for our municipality as detailed in the Southern Grampians Shire Council (SGSC) Community Investment Plan.

Released at the first ordinary council meeting for 2022, the plan outlines multiple, game changing projects, aiming to capitalise on the abundance of natural assets and landscape of the shire.

Mayor Bruach Colliton said this plan was as much for the community as it was for anyone looking to move here.

“We went to every small town and went out and did a lot of public engagement, including online,” he said.

“We got a huge amount of feedback from the community and have captured that and put it on paper.

“People are aware of most of the wonderful assets we have, like the volcanic plains and multiuse trails, but we want to create more vibrancy, connect people with them and give them more things to do, to see, to love and appreciate.”

Chief executive, Tony Doyle said the plan is about building our visitor economy and making Greater Hamilton an even better place to live.

“It’s really important that these projects came from the extensive community consultation council undertook,” he said.

“The community has a voice, and we listen when they speak.”

Revitalisation of Hamilton’s CBD

“A major component of the plan is the revitalisation of our Central Business District (CBD),” Mr Doyle said.

Public art, better signage, improved walking and cycling tracks, more trees and landscaping is part of the CBD plan.

Work on Melville Oval and Cox Street is already underway.

Further detailed design of Hamilton’s key streets, Lonsdale and Gray and other connecting streets and laneways, is included in the plan. 

The Hamilton Digital Hub

The CBD revitalisation also includes a new Hamilton Digital Hub, that Mayor Colliton said will be a significant space for addressing gaps in education.

“It’s about access,” he said.

“It’s where educational providers can work with businesses to help break down barriers for young people.”

The purpose built Digital Hub will comprise a mix of rooms to hire.

These might be training rooms for education providers including Universities and South West TAFE, collaborative and mentoring areas for businesses, or spaces where community groups can run programs.

“For example, 36 per cent of the shire’s students complete year twelve, compared with the state average of 54.5 per cent,” Mr Doyle said.

“If you then track post school studies, whether it be a trade or university degree, educational attainment in our shire is very low – which is why the Hamilton Digital Hub is a very important project.

“Before COVID-19, satellite digital versions of university were less considered and we believe this is one of the reasons why educational attainment is low and the Digital Hub, in many ways can help solve that,” mayor Colliton said.

“Any universities can be part of the Hub.”

Mr Doyle said that community demographics are driving these projects and what is intrinsic to that, is the connectivity between them.

“The linkage between projects is highlighted between education and public transport in the area.”

Public Transport

As an important part of the plan, the shire is asking for enhanced regional bus services.

“If you’re a young person and live in Coleraine, Hamilton or Dunkeld and you want to do a trade that requires travel to Warrnambool at various stages, you cannot get a bus there for a day’s training, and return the same day,” Mr Doyle said.

“We are probably one of the lowest serviced towns in terms of public transport in the state and increasing bus services is the first step.”

Convenient and dedicated passenger rail service into Hamilton is included in the Community Investment Plan and the lack thereof has disadvantaged the region compared with other towns like Swan Hill and Benalla.

Mr Doyle acknowledged the region’s desire for passenger rail but said a solution is needed right now.

“Passenger rail is a medium-term objective, but bus services can connect us right now,” he said.

“Getting to Ballarat for work, health or educational needs, or getting to Warrnambool, can be fixed with the stroke of a pen by the State Government, by committing to additional timetables.”

Volcanic Trail Masterplan

The volcanic masterplan has incredible tourism opportunities with vital economic benefits to the region, and includes seven sites, some of which are Ramsar listed and of international importance.

These sites would have improved interpretation and recreational experiences for visitors, with better facilities and signage to the Tumuli at Wallacedale, Harman’s Valley Lookout, the Wannon and Nigretta Falls, Mount Napier and Mount Rouse with links to the multiuse trail vision.

Multiuse trails

Construction of 42 kilometres of opportunities will be vital to link footpaths and shared user pathways (cyclist and pedestrian) across the shire.

These are in the urban areas of Coleraine, Balmoral, Cavendish, Dunkeld, Glenthompson, Tarrington, Hamilton, and Penshurst.

In addition, 65km of rural reserves and walking trails are proposed to improve connectivity in the Volcanic Plains’ sites, Grampians Peak Trail and Dunkeld Arboretum.

This will provide an exceptional visitor experience as well as of great economic benefit to the region.

The Penshurst Sewer/Recyclable Water Project

The township of Penshurst is the most densely populated, unsewered town within the shire.

The shire is asking for $2.1 million for 12 cluster sewerage precincts, using a hybrid approach that uses pods for recycling water. 

“This is really significant to Penshurst to help it grow,” mayor Colliton said.

Mr Doyle said that an audit has revealed 93 per cent of septics in the township are failing with some contamination starting to be picked up in the wetlands nearby.

“We are advocating this project to the State Government as a priority,” he said.

“Penshurst is strategically located with its proximity to Warrnambool and Hamilton.

“This project is really good for the township environmentally, and also economically, so we can start to develop Penshurst as a town.”

New Hamilton Art Gallery

Having reached capacity in its collection storage, the gallery is no longer able to meet requirements for travelling exhibitions and cannot run larger events.

Mayor Colliton said the new Hamilton Art Gallery is very significant in terms of costs and needs everyone behind it, especially at the state and federal levels of government.

“Council is working really hard to integrate it with the CBD revitalisation,” mayor Colliton said.

“Subject to completion of an assessment of the existing site for the new gallery, an agreed design and layout is the next step.”

Hamilton Botanic Gardens Play Space

“The new play space is a significant project that will really transform the whole gardens,” mayor Colliton said.

Really thoughtful design has been considered for the old emu section that is currently dead space along Martin Street.

“The design will bring a lot of key indigenous and cultural aspects to it, overlayed with a creative learning space.”

“Originally it was essentially for children, but really, it is an intergenerational space where grandparents can be active alongside their grandkids, in what will be a nature-based experience,” Mr Doyle said.

“It will be a jewel in the crown and it’s not a significant cost at $1.5m in terms of what it will bring to the community and takes in the original Guilfoyle design,” mayor Colliton said.

“It will complete the Botanic Gardens.”

Other significant projects

The plan includes the redevelopment of the Hamilton Base Hospital, construction of the Grampians Rural Water Pipeline, upgrading of the Maroona to Portland rail line and upgrades to the Hamilton and Coleraine Police Stations.

“WDHS has a very good master plan at very minimal costs compared to redevelopments in other regions and we’re advocating for its redevelopment along with other key projects that will have a significant impact on the region.”

The redevelopment of the Hamilton Base Hospital emergency, intensive care and radiology departments will ensure high quality services are provided for years to come, as a lasting legacy for the whole community.

Council is seeking a commitment of $44m from the State Government for this redevelopment.

SGSC is also supporting Wannon Water to secure water to the region and enable greater prosperity with the construction of the Grampians Rural Water Pipeline.

Across the west Grampians region there has been a decline in sheep and lamb production by 30 per cent in the last 22 years, attributable to the lowest rainfall and inflow on record between 2011 and 2016.

The pipeline will link a series of currently low-security, standalone water supply systems to townships to ensure local farmers have a dependable water resource for a more diversified rural economy.

The Hamilton and Coleraine Police Stations are also long overdue for upgrades with neither facility being fit for purpose any longer.

Funding is needed for a regional facility in Hamilton that will house detectives, highway patrol and general policing along with a courthouse and adequate detention facilities.

Overall vision

The Southern Grampians Shire Council also recognises the significance of the region, and respects that many of these sites are spiritually important, to the Gunditjmara, Tjap Wurrung and Bunganditj people, the traditional custodians of the land where we live and work.

Council recognises that there are gaps in services and opportunities in Greater Hamilton and has committed to ensuring locals have access to jobs, healthcare, sport, and leisure facilities as well as transport links to provide connectivity for work education and health to prevent social marginalisation.

An important part of the plan is advocacy of these projects.

“Council has already invested heavily to develop the design of a lot of these projects and the next step is to see construction,” Mr Doyle said.

“We want our own community to really grasp the vision that has culminated in the Community Investment Plan.

“We have prioritised making this a place for our community, and so that people will want to come and live here,” mayor Colliton said.

“And they are coming.”