Ballarat Tramway Museum and Ballarat-Sebastopol BMX Club are among hundreds of grassroots organisations across Victoria that have secured funding through the Andrews Labor Government’s Pick My Project initiative.
Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford today announced $200,000 to replace aging track at Ballarat Tramway Museum, which is used by thousands of tourists and locals every year.
Ms Pulford also announced nearly $200,000 for a sealed all-weather surface at the Ballarat-Sebastopol BMX Club, which will boost safety and encourage more people to visit the region and ride the track.
They’re among more than a dozen projects across the Central Highlands region that have received funding through Pick My Project, which gives locals the power to choose the projects their community needs.
Through the $30 million Pick My Project initiative, Victorian residents aged 16 and over were given the opportunity to submit their idea for a project or program that made their community a better place to live.
People were then given the chance to vote for their favourite project. More than 95,000 Victorians cast votes, with successful projects receiving grants of between $20,000 and $200,000.
More than 230 projects across Melbourne and regional Victoria received support through Pick My Project, with funding divided equally between Melbourne and regional Victoria based on the population of each of the six metropolitan and nine regional partnership areas.
To ensure a range of small and large communities had the opportunity to be part of Pick My Project, no more than 50 per cent of a partnership areas funding was awarded to one local government area.
A full list of successful projects will be available at pickmyproject.vic.gov.au from midday.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford
“I’m so pleased Ballarat Tramway Museum will get the funding it needs thanks to this ground-breaking initiative.”
“The new surface at Ballarat-Sebastopol BMX Club will boost safety for riders and encourage more people to visit the region and hit the track – boosting businesses and jobs.”
“Pick My Project will make a real difference in Ballarat and communities across the state – delivering the projects locals need.”
Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Sharon Knight
“It’s great to see so many locals from Ballarat have embraced the Pick My Project initiative, meaning locals get to have their say on ideas that will make Ballarat an even better place to live.”
Quote attributable to Member for Buninyong Geoff Howard
“Pick My Projecthas supported a number of fantastic projects that have come about through the great ideas and hard work of people in the community.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020