Major shift in community needs voiced

Each year the Rural City of Wangaratta sets aside funds for their 'Rural Towns Development program'. They hold Community Meetings to find out the community needs. Typically, communities ask for upgrades to community halls, picnic tables for the local park or fencing around a playground.

This year, a major shift occurred at the Upper King Valley meeting. The local communities were not competing for the available funds as in the past. Rather, they were looking for council assistance in improving services.

It was about making the Cheshunt swimming area safer. It was about getting an open drain cleaned up. Most of all, it was about getting the council to support the community in seeking improved access to public health services for an ageing community.

With a community health centre that only operates one day a week with a visiting doctor and nurse for little more than half a day, the rural community is at a great disadvantage when it comes to health service access.

One physically disabled elderly resident can only get 1.5 hours of home help every fortnight. Another elderly lady decried the loss of the council handyman/lawn mowing service that had been available in the past. It was pointed out that there is no access to wheelchairs, crutches ot other medical aids outside of Wangaratta.

There used to be a community bus based at Whitfield but it died and was never replaced. Later there was a community car but that is now gone.

It appears the problem lies in the ongoing cost cutting at the State Government level and the council has not been able to meet the shortfall.

The meeting asked the council to advocate on behalf of the community to seek an improvement in access to basic health services in the rural areas.