The project to establish an open community arts and reflection space on the site of the former Dimboola Hotel is one of twelve from the Wimmera to be granted funding through the Pick My Project program.

Member for Western Victoria, Jaala Pulford, today announced that along with the Dimboola entry, organisations from Horsham, Murtoa, Ararat, Goroke, Willaura, Nullawil and Kaniva will receive over $1.5 million combined to commence local projects.

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.

Projects in the Wimmera to receive funding include -
  • $200,000 for an open community arts and reflection space on the site of the former Dimboola Hotel (177 votes)
  • $152,501 to provide visitor accommodation options at Murtoa’s Lake Marma (192 votes)
  • $35,673 to replace the stage curtains at Murtoa Town Hall (194 votes)
  • $102,100 for the Goroke Silo Art Project (208 votes)
  • $199,600 for the Serviceton and Kaniva Silo Art Project (179 votes)
  • $140,280 to install lighting at Goroke’s tennis and netball courts (230 votes)
  • $186,680 to assist Horsham secondary students with a disability find work (182 votes)
  • $36,000 to repair the Upper Central Gully Walking Track at Mount Arapiles (198 votes)
  • $60,000 to bring pedal boats to the Wimmera River in Horsham (186 votes)
  • $192,000 to upgrade the basketball courts and scoreboard in Ararat (182 votes)
  • $129,000 to upgrade the tennis courts in Willaura to multipurpose courts (189 votes)
  • $115,480 for the Nullawil Silo Art Project (279 votes)

Ms Pulford said she was delighted with the quality of applications from around Western Victoria.

“I’m so pleased that so many of our local projects will get funding and support thanks to this ground-breaking initiative,” Ms Pulford said.

“Pick My Project will make a real difference across Western Victoria giving locals the power to choose the projects their community needs and wants,” she said.

More than 230 projects across Victoria received funding 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.