By Victoria Stone-Meadows
Casey Council has released details of its upcoming submissions to the State Government for grant money from the government’s Growing Suburbs Fund.
Each municipality identified by the State Government as being in a growth region can apply for up to $10 million in funding from the Growing Suburbs Fund.
Casey Council has pushed right up to the funding limit allowed by any one council, applying for a total of $10.57 million.
Sporting grounds and childcare centres make up the seven projects council is seeking State Government funding for.
The Jack Thomas Reserve, Frog Hollow Reserve, Lawson Poole Reserve and Sweeney Reserve are all included.
When it comes to childcare centres, council is seeking assistance from the State Government for the Hunt Club Family and Community Centre, the Marriott Waters Family and Children’s Centre and the Clyde North East – New Family and Community Centre.
Council is seeking $1.78 million from the Growing Suburbs Fund for Jack Thompson reserve to construct a new pavilion at the reserve to upgrade the facilities.
Council will contribute the same amount to this project if they win state funds, bringing the total project cost to $3.56 million.
The Hunt Club Family and Community Centre Redevelopment would see the centre expanded to accommodate the growing community’s needs.
The project would also see a number of other upgrades to the centre including to the community kitchen, outdoor areas, consulting rooms, reception area and installation of a community internet cafe.
Council is seeking $1.005 million for this project from the State Government, with an equal input from council to bring the total cost of the project to just over $2 million.
Frog Hollow Reserve is also looking at some major upgrades, with council seeking funding to upgrade and expand the current pavilion and build two additional rugby union fields.
Council is seeking a $1.68 million contribution from the Growing Suburbs Fund with funding matched by council to complete the $3.36 million project.
Lawson Poole Reserve will have its old pavilion removed and a brand-new one installed if council can secure $1.56 million from the State Government.
The new pavilion is expected to have a new multi-use pavilion comprising of six female friendly changerooms, the pavilion and one community space.
The total cost of this project is expected to be $3.19 million, covered in equal parts by the State Government and council.
Council is also seeking $590,000 to expand the Marriott Waters Family and Children’s Centre.
The project would see the extension of an existing flexible kindergarten/community room and upgrades to the kitchen, internet cafe area and outdoor spaces at a cost of $1.18 million.
Sweeney Reserve is slated to get a new softball/baseball pavilion and upgrades to car parking if council secures $1.21 million from the Growing Suburbs Fund.
The total cost of this project is expected to be $2.42 million, with equal contributions from the State Government and council.
Last on the council’s list for funding applications from the growing suburbs fund is a new Family and Community Centre in Clyde North East.
The new center would deliver for the growing Clyde community two kindergarten rooms, two Maternal and Child Health consulting rooms, one lifelong community room with kitchen and outdoor areas and staffed reception with an internet cafe.
The total cost of this project is expected to be $5.42 million, with equal input from council and State Government.
At a general meeting on Tuesday 18 July, Casey Council unanimously agreed to apply for funding for these projects in this priority order from the Growing Suburbs Fund.
