By Mara Pattison-Sowden
MONEY is being injected into improving sporting grounds and the Warburton Rail Trail throughout the Upper Yarra in the council budget for 2011/12.
The Yarra Ranges Council plans to spend money on a number of improvements to public spaces, parks, roads, buildings, drainage and footpaths along the Warburton Highway.
Funding has also been brought forward for restoration of the LaLa turntable in Warburton after last month’s clearing activities.
This year will see more than $22.5 million of council funding spent on major projects.
The Wesburn Recreation Reserve will see parts of its master plan implemented, Wandin East Reserve will have drainage installed and Wandin North will get improvements to the netball courts, while $50,000 will go towards the Wellington Road Equestrian Trail in Wandin East.
Warburton Reserve will have a synthetic bowling rink built for $100,000, and the pool precinct will get $153,000 towards its redevelopment.
Two information shelters will be built along the Warburton Rail Trail in Warburton and Woori Yallock for $82,000 and works on the turntable and open space corridor in Warburton will receive $35,000.
Doon Reserve Caravan Park and Warburton Caravan Park will get fire service upgrades and Doon Reserve will also get an amenities upgrade over the next five years.
More than $50,000 will be spent on Seville township improvements, with a further $150,000 in next year’s budget.
A new town car park will be constructed in Yarra Junction at a cost of $340,000.
Drainage improvements of $321,000 will take place in Coleman Street, Wesburn and Warburton Highway, Seville, while footpaths will be constructed in Don Valley between the Yarra River Bridge and Harberts Road as well as Railway Road in Wesburn.
Mount Bride Road in Three Bridges will have road strengthening works and Woori Yallock’s Sheepstation Creek Road will be improved through a special charge scheme.
