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Advocacy

Revitalisation of Hamilton CBD
Hamilton’s CBD is the premier retail and services precinct in Southern Grampians Shire. Little investment has been made in this space in the last 30 years (Gray Street) with other streets not upgraded for over 50 years. To progress the redevelopment of the Hamilton CBD, detailed designs and drawings are required to provide a robust costing to inform future investment by Council and avoid any missteps in the project implementation.
Multiuse Trails
Recent audits have found an estimated 42km of missing links in footpaths and shared user pathways (cyclist and pedestrians) across Southern Grampians Shire in the urban areas of Hamilton, Coleraine, Balmoral, Cavendish, Dunkeld, Glenthompson, Tarrington and Penshurst. Construction of these missing shared user pathways is necessary to provide connections for pedestrians and cyclists throughout the Southern Grampians Shire townships.
West Grampians Water Pipeline
Ongoing dry conditions and lack of a secure water supply has significantly impacted primary producers in the Western Grampians for the last three decades. Southern Grampians Shire is partnering with West Wimmera and local farmers to establish a dependable water resource for farmers to plan for a more diversified rural economy.
Penshurst Sewer Project
The township of Penshurst in the Southern Grampians Shire Council region of south-west Victoria is the most densely populated unsewered town within the municipality, and is situated on a sensitive groundwater setting near an extinct volcano. The town is located on the busy Great Southern Touring Route which connects Great Ocean Road with Dunkeld. Despite this strategic location, the town has experienced little tourism investment due to the lack of a sewer scheme for cost effective effluent treat
Hamilton Botanic Garden Playspace
The Hamilton Botanic Gardens Masterplan proposes a new, nature-based children’s play space on the site of the former Australian animal enclosure in the Hamilton Botanic Gardens. A new, nature-based children’s play space is proposed on the slope of the hill on the site of the former animal enclosure. The design of this space focuses on the provision of intergenerational nature based, non-equipment plan with the central feature being a large water play area and rock cascade.
Hamilton Digital Hub
The residents of the Great South Coast region experience disadvantage in terms of attainment of digital skills and access to broadband internet, compared with other parts of Victoria. A needs analysis has been completed and a location for the facility has been identified in-principle within the Hamilton CBD.

Enhanced Regional Bus Services
Regional bus links from Hamilton to key regional centres such as Ballarat, Mt Gambier and Warrnambool are weak. Strengthened regional bus links on the Ballarat-Hamilton-Mt Gambier route is required, and further investigation by DoT on the level of service between Hamilton and Warrnambool is warranted.
Re-Introduction of Passenger Rail to Hamilton
There is a lack of a convenient and dedicated rail service into Hamilton, linked with Ballarat via Ararat is disadvantaging residents and visitors of Southern Grampians Shire. Many comparable towns such as Swan Hill, Benalla and Yarrawonga have access to passenger rail in Victoria to travel to larger regional cities which the Southern Grampians currently lacks. Detailed design is needed for conversion of existing track between Ballarat and Ararat from broad to standard gauge; new rolling stock,
Maroona to Portland Rail Line
The Maroona to Portland rail line is 172km long and connects the western half of Victoria to the national grid and Port of Portland. The deep-sea Port of Portland is considered the best in Regional Victoria. The line links Portland to Ararat and is essential to the wider network. The track is a timber sleepered line that has deteriorated in last nine years since Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) took the lease from Victorian State Government.
Western District Health Service Hamilton Base Hospital Redevelopment
The redevelopment of the Hamilton Base Hospital (HBH) emergency, intensive care and radiology departments will ensure high quality clinical services are provided to the Southern Grampians Shire community for years to come. Council is seeking a commitment from the State Government to fund a $44m redevelopment at HBH.
Hamilton and Coleraine Police Station Upgrades
Hamilton and Coleraine Police Stations are no longer fit for purpose. Victoria Police are currently working with the Investment Management team to finalise a business case for ERC funding and Council strongly support this project.
Road Upgrades, Safety and Speed
Roads within the Southern Grampians comprise 603km of arterial roads classified as highways and main roads which are managed by VicRoads, with 2,818km of municipal roads managed by Council. Council is the responsible authority for approximately 1,573km of sealed rural roads, 1,085km of rural unsealed roads, and 160km of sealed and unsealed urban or town roads.