Holding The Fort For The 'tree-change' Generation
The Age
Tuesday November 15, 2005
IT WAS no coincidence that the State Government chose Beaufort, 50 kilometres west of Ballarat, to launch its half-billion-dollar helping hand for small towns.
With the populations of Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo and Mildura all growing faster than the national average, attention has shifted to towns with about 10,000 people or fewer.Treasurer John Brumby said small towns were generally doing well, but there were still some "finding it difficult", particularly in the north-west, facing isolation, lack of services and limited job opportunities.Yesterday he announced a fourfold increase in funding for small town development, to more than $33 million. Now, instead of matching local councils for infrastructure dollar-for-dollar, the State Government will contribute two-thirds of the costs, up to $250,000. "For many of the larger geographic councils with small populations, who could be a bit cash-strapped, this will help them get projects up that they otherwise couldn't," Mr Brumby said.Lester Harris, the Mayor of Pyrenees Shire, in which Beaufort, population 1100, is the biggest town, said people expected a good lifestyle but it was difficult for councils like his, trying to maintain 2000 kilometres of roads with a low income from rates. The town needed new recreational facilities, and had to upgrade asbestos-ridden buildings. Also on the shire's wish list were facilities for a skate park, and help in marketing wineries, the region's main attraction.Beaufort already has signs of a "tree change" phenomenon - where city residents move inland instead of to the sea - with three pavement cafes opened in the past five years. A timber manufacturing plant, Epping Timber, which moved to the town last year with the help of State Government incentives in the form of employee training, has also helped. The company opened in Beaufort in January 2004, with 15 employees. Today there are 22, all of whom live locally. The plant manger, David Fraser, 33, who grew up in the town, said there were problems. Roads were in bad shape, and too many young people were still leaving.
© 2005 The Age