Indigo Shire Council secures funding for trees and awards contract for Barnawartha netball and tennis courts

Indigo Shire Council, located in the Hume region of Victoria, has successfully secured $160,000 to support Naturally Cooler Indigo, a project that will fast track urban tree canopies across the Shire to reduce the urban heat island effect.

Council also awarded a contract in April of almost $750,000 to iDwala Pty Ltd to carry out the design and construction of the Barnawartha netball and tennis courts redevelopment.

Key actions include the development of an Urban Tree Canopy Strategy, mapping of existing canopy gaps and the planting of at least 600 climate-ready street and park trees.

The initiative follows the Naturally Cooler Towns Project facilitated by the Goulburn Murray Climate Alliance (GMCA) in 2021/22.

Mayor Sophie Price has welcomed the funding, which will be supported by a $140,000 co-contribution from Council, as a fantastic opportunity to improve Indigo’s disaster preparedness and climate change adaptation activities.

Mayor Price noted “we’re grateful to have the opportunity to advance this important work. Indigo Shire is one of the most beautiful parts of the State and we need to ensure that this amazing natural environment is in the best position possible to withstand the impacts of climate change and natural disasters.”

Mayor Price says that the project is also an opportunity to engage and educate the local community on climate change adaption and the vital role of street and park trees.

“Engagement and education of our local communities will be embedded throughout the project. We want to involve the whole of the community in planting trees and establishing canopy cover so that together we can see the difference we’re making today and long into the future” Mayor Price added.

This project is being made possible with funding provided by the Australian Government in partnership with the States and Territories under the National Partnership Agreement for Disaster Risk Reduction.

iDwala Pty Ltd has been awarded the contract to carry out the design and construction of the Barnawartha netball and tennis courts redevelopment.

The project is funded by the Victorian Government’s 2021-22 Local Sports Infrastructure Fund – Female Friendly Facilities stream, and contributions from Council and the Barnawartha Netball Club. The project will see two hardcourts at the Barnawartha Recreation Reserve redeveloped, new LED lighting, fencing and player, official and spectator shelters installed to a competition standard.

Works include reorientating the two netball courts into a north-south alignment to comply with current guidelines, line marking the courts for both netball and tennis and an upgrade from an asphalt to acrylic surface.

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, Cr Larry Goldsworthy said Indigo is a sporting shire and when considering the work that’s been undertaken at facilities in Yackandandah, Wahgunyah and Beechworth, this project will bring Barnawartha up to speed and it will be well received by the community.

Deputy Mayor, Bernard Gaffney echoed Cr Gaffney’s sentiments, saying that this is an amazing amount of money for Barnawartha, which is a real sporting community.

“It is great that Council has supported the community to gain government grants and to progress this project with a contribution of our own as well.”

Construction is scheduled to begin in August.