Council Welcomes Thriving Suburbs Program funding

Council is welcoming a $5.7m funding announcement from the Federal Government, which will support a new community and sporting pavilion at Don Road Recreation Reserve in Healesville. 

On Thursday, 5 December, the Federal Government announced the funding as part of its Thriving Suburbs Program, which helps fund community infrastructure projects with significant costs. 

The program also supplied $1.5m for improvement works at Lillydale Lake to enhance and activate parklands, improve access to the lake, carparking, recreation and fitness facilities. 

Yarra Ranges Mayor, Jim Child, said Council was appreciative of the significant funding announcement. 

“We are delighted to receive more than $7.28 million from the Federal Government’s Thriving Suburbs funds for some much-needed community assets in Yarra Ranges,” he said. 

“We know there is significant need for a new community and sporting pavilion at Don Road, with the current decades-old pavilion no longer meeting community needs. 

“The pavilion there has hosted countless community events and sporting games, and the redeveloped pavilion, when completed, will be a home-away-from-home for many Healesville residents for decades to come. 

“Improvement works at Lillydale Lake will help us to refine an already-fantastic community space and make it more accessible and an even better place to spend a summer afternoon.” 

We look forward to working with the community to start planning and shaping what the new facility at Don Rd will look like.