General News
13 May, 2025
Funding for local communities
Five Central Goldfields Shire towns are set to benefit from round two of the Victorian Government’s Tiny Towns fund.
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett has announced more projects are being delivered in another round of funding for towns with populations fewer than 5000 people.
Local successful Tiny Towns project recipients include Wareek Public Hall, Avoca Entrance Sculpture, Bealiba Hall, Waubra Wind Farm Community Fund and Daisy Hill Community Centre.
Ms Haylett met with members of the Wareek Public Hall committee on Friday morning to announce the funding.
“We’ve got some money for Bealiba and Daisy Hill as well in this shire, and we have 13 projects in the Ripon region. This will include playground upgrades and toilet block upgrades,” she said.
“It’s a really fantastic fund that gives back to our smallest communities.”
Ms Haylett also announced the funding for Wareek Public Hall will go towards upgrading lighting, security, an awning verandah, and a concrete ramp at the hall’s entrance for wheelchair access.
“We wanted to give the committee that $12,000 so they can put in a ramp and do some improvments at the back of the hall,” she said.
“This is a hall that is really at the heart of the community.”
Chairperson of the Wareek Public Hall committee John Rowland said the group was grateful for the support.
“I just would like to thank the state government because the hall is a great asset. Over the years, there has been a lot of work to keep the hall in this condition,” he said.
“We are so pleased to have people in the district who feel happy to join in where everybody is welcome. Here we have made an awful lot of friends, and good friends. If you let the hall go, where does your community go.”
Central Goldfields Shire mayor Grace La Vella also welcomed the funding on Friday morning.
“It’s a place in the community where people can integrate with others, meet people and enjoy their company. Farms are huge, and you don’t walk next door across 10 paddocks,” she said.
“Thank you very much to the State Government for recognising the importance if this area, $12,000 is a huge amount for a small area.”
Overall, 350 projects are being supported across round one and two of the Tiny Towns fund throughout more than 300 towns around the state.
The fund is part of the Victorian government’s $45 billion investment over the past decade in projects and programs that support regional and rural Victoria.