Municipal leaders are overseeing plans for the final stages of a Dimboola civic precinct project.

Hindmarsh Shire Council is anticipating completion of a new Dimboola Library and council customer service centre and public amenities by the end of this month.

The next stages of the project will include landscaping a former car-park area and the refurbishment of the service centre. 

Refurbishment of the 1860s building will include demolition of the public toilets and establishment of a landscaped courtyard for use by the public and library patrons. 

Landscaping of the former car-park area will form part of a Dimboola visitor node of Wimmera River Discovery Trail and will incorporate the establishment of lawn open-space areas, construction of pathways, planting of appropriate trees, shrubs, plants and grass and installation of seating and picnic tables.

The project also includes establishing interpretive signs acknowledging Dimboola’s indigenous history and culture, environmental and historical assets and events.

Hindmarsh mayor Rob Gersch said the development represented one of the most exciting projects he had seen in Dimboola.

“The landscaping that will be carried out in the former car-park area will provide a very user-friendly and welcoming space between Lloyd Street and the creek and river environs at the rear of the new library,” he said.

“Because the verandah and deck of the library will have direct access to the lawn and landscaped gardens, this space will become a very versatile asset that will be able to be used for library and community events such as on Australia Day.

“We are pleased to release the final draft landscape plan for the Wimmera River Discovery Trail – Dimboola Visitor Node and when the plan is finalised we hope to go out to tender within the next month or so to have works carried out.”

The council will place the landscape plan in the window of the existing building, on its website and in regional newspapers. 

Partnership

Grants from various funding programs in partnership with the council have allowed capital works to go ahead.

The State Government’s Living Libraries Program has funded the new Dimboola Library and the Federal Government Community Development Grants Program has provided money to establish the Dimboola Community Civic Hub and refurbish the existing building.

Federal and state governments are jointly funding the Wimmera River Discovery Trail.

“I am really looking forward to the culmination of the Dimboola community and civic precinct project,” Cr Gersch said.

“It provides an example of how a long-term vision can be achieved by linking a range of projects with different funding sources and I am positive it will become a very popular facility for residents of and visitors to Dimboola in the future.”

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