TRANSCRIPT:
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with Jan Smith, Doc McDonald and volunteers at the Gargarro Botanic Garden as they continue to push forward with the development of this incredible project. They have now submitted a $100,000 pitch to the Enabling Tourism Fund, which will allow for the next step towards the completion of the world-class botanic garden. The closure of the Heinz tomato sauce factory in the area allowed this ambitious, bold, beautiful and breathtaking garden to exist, creating a place that is wonderful for events, a place for education and a place to showcase native planting. I have been lucky enough to see this garden grow in recent years, with it becoming a crucial part of the Girgarre community, attracting tourism, promoting sustainability and improving the local economy.
I also co-hosted a meeting with my colleague the member for Shepparton and local advocates Sherri Smith-Hoyer and Rob Jones to discuss the future of Dhurringile Prison. Together we heard the concerns of more than 100 residents who attended, many of whom relied on the prison for work. It is clear from the meeting that the decommissioning of the prison site and the removal of local assets must be paused. A steering committee has been formed to advocate for the community. Their requests are logical and should be heard. We want more information on the decommissioning, we want to be kept in the loop about what is next for the prison grounds and we want a community open day to understand the future opportunities for this site.