Outdoor dining project in final stages

Published on 25 August 2022

Outdoor dining in West Wimmera Shire towns has improved after a raft of upgrades over the past few months.

Last year, Council received funding from the state government through both its Local Councils Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package program and its Outdoor Activation Fund program.

The funding was to assist with brightening streets and activating outdoor dining and entertainment experiences.

This funding has meant a variety of township improvements, including street cleaning, painting of public amenities, furniture refurbishment, and new outdoor dining options.

Council is now in the final stages of this project and is currently installing new bins at Edenhope, Kaniva, Apsley, Goroke, and Harrow.

The 120-litre bins are enclosed, and a mix of single and double units will be installed. Single units include a general waste bin only, while double units include both a general waste bin and a recycling bin.

Some new bins have already been installed in Edenhope, but there are more still to come.

Other improvements are currently underway at silo art viewing areas at Goroke and Kaniva.

New shelters are being built at both locations, and a new table setting will be installed at Goroke.

The existing table at Kaniva’s Band Park has been temporarily removed and will be reinstalled under the shelter once it has been completed.

Council Chief Executive Officer David Bezuidenhout said all the town’s main streets were looking fantastic.

“Not only have we refurbished our existing assets, but new dining options have been installed outside businesses throughout the shire,” he said.

“Council is aiming to make our towns attractive and inviting places for people to live, work and visit.

As part of the project, existing outdoor furniture at Kaniva and Edenhope have been refurbished, Edenhope’s Elizabeth Street shelter has been repainted, and the roof is currently being replaced.

Overall, more than 40 dining table settings, including five accessible settings, have been installed throughout the shire, mostly outside hospitality businesses.

There has also been some pavement construction done to create safer footpath and dining areas.

“We have received mostly overwhelmingly positive feedback from both businesses and residents about these improvements so far,” Mr Bezuidenhout said.

“I’d like to thank the State Government for their support in providing this funding – we look forward to celebrating the completion of this important project.”