A NUMBER of Ballarat cemeteries will receive a boost from the Victorian government thanks to an almost $1 million investment across the state.
The region will gain more than $50,000 of that funding for a variety of projects with the money to be given to local cemetery trusts.
The Dowling Forest Cemetery received the largest amount of funding obtaining $25,000 for the construction of a new rotunda.
Clunes Cemetery will also receive a $10,000 boost to repair a perimeter fence around the facility.
While Learmonth Cemetery, Creswick Cemetery and Smeaton Cemetery all received lesser amounts for a variety of projects.
Dowling Forest Cemetery secretary Barbara Harris said a building had already been appointed for the rotunda project.
“We had a whole lot of large trees at the cemetery that we had to have removed,” Ms Harris said. “Now we have no shade or anywhere for anyone to sit.”
“The trust made the decision to get some plans for the rotunda we liked.
“We were just so thrilled (to get the funding), it is something the trust needed. Because we are out in Miners Rest and the area is growing, it is something that was needed.
“We have had some small maintenance grants in the past but this was a very big project to get some plans and put it together.”
Ms Harris said the trust was now only waiting on approval from the City of Ballarat to get things underway in terms of construction.
“We are hoping it should probably take a couple of months allowing for the weather,” she said.
She said the rotunda would also include guide boards to help people access and inform them about parts of the cemetery.
Western Victoria MP Jaala Pulford said the grants would be a major help for smaller cemetery trusts across the state. “This grants program aims to help volunteers who run Cemetery Trusts maintain and improve cemetery facilities, so they can be enjoyed by many generations to come,” she said.
