October 8th, 2021Funding for Talbot

NEW outdoor exercise equipment has been installed at a park in Talbot, thanks to funding from the state government.
Minister for Regional Development Mary-Anne Thomas opened the Activating Talbot project last week. It was given a $150,000 investment from the Healthy Heart of Victoria initiative.

Ms Thomas also announced funding of $630,000 to go towards future development in the town, which has been identified as a growth corridor for the region. The Growing Talbot program will enable Central Goldfields Shire to plan for a centralised sewerage system in consultation with the community and to identify Talbot’s future subdivision and development zones.
The exercise equipment initiative is a Loddon Campaspe Regional Partnership priority project and supports communities to be more active by investing in small infrastructure and activation programs. The project is part of the Victorian Government’s $5 million investment in Healthy Heart of Victoria.
Talbot now has six new pieces of outdoor gym equipment at Pioneer Park, providing the community with free and accessible options to exercise and keep fit.
The new equipment includes a cardio bike, stretch station, body pull- and push- up equipment, chest press, leg press and elliptical trainer. The local community provided input on the selection, design and location of the equipment.
The Growing Talbot program arose after the pandemic resulted in unprecedented numbers of people moving from metropolitan Melbourne to regional and rural Victoria, increasing demand on the already tight housing market in many areas.
The Victorian Government has previously invested in the Talbot Station upgrade which has positioned the town to support growth and provide affordable land and housing options for nearby towns including Maryborough, Ballarat and Castlemaine.
The Growing Talbot project complements the Victorian Government’s $5 million Regional Workforce Pilots which are strategically located across the state to help regional and rural communities attract the workers they need to grow.
The pilots have been designed to tackle housing shortages and other barriers to regional workforce attraction, which are threatening economic recovery and growth.
Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Contributed