A $667,000 project to bring the Flowerdale cricket oval up to playing standard has been completed.
The oval became the town's temporary village after the Black Saturday bushfires.
Sport and Recreation Minister Hugh Delahunty said the oval was one of the area's most important recovery projects.
"In the aftermath of the bushfires, Flowerdale surrendered its cricket oval to make way for the temporary village, which was constructed to house those who lost their homes during the fires," he said.
"This was a magnanimous gesture on behalf of the cricket club and it meant that members had to travel a 110km round trip to play and practice each week."
The project includes lighting, a new pitch, seating, fencing, a scoreboard and extensions to storage.
The Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund provided $388,490 and the State Government contributed $278,119.
Foot feat a fit for a forensic fake
A GRISLY tip-off that a severed foot was in a Mildura alleyway over the weekend had authorities worried.
Investigators braced for the worst when they attended the alleyway between Rose and Chaffey streets about 5pm on Sunday to discover what appeared to be a severed and bloodied foot wrapped in a plastic shopping bag.
Detectives from the Mildura Criminal Investigation Unit took a closer examination of the limb to discover it was an elaborate fake.
The fake foot was taken to the Mildura police station where it is expected to be discarded, a police statement said.
Small town's big new look
A COMMUNITY centre, streetscape works and other projects have given the small town of Tarnagulla a facelift.
The seven-year $800,000 project has delivered a new community centre, playground, walking tracks, heritage street lighting and seating, an upgrade to Soldiers' Memorial Park and landscaping.
Planning started in 2004, and work on the community centre started in 2009, with $300,000 from the State and Federal Governments plus another $75,000 from the Loddon Shire and the Tarnagulla community.
Tarnagulla Community Action Group president Jan Sharman said the project had made a huge difference. The community centre is used for line dancing and strength training for the elderly, and has a small shop in one corner.
"We sell crafts made by local people, offer visitor information, and make a great cappuccino as well," Ms Sharman said.
"We hope to be able to offer computer classes soon."
Better way to walk on the wild side
THE Friends of Kings Billabong Wildlife Reserve, near Mildura, will use $40,000 to build a boardwalk around the park to protect vegetation and make the area more accessible.
The group is one of many in the Mallee Catchment Management Authority region to receive a share of $310,500 in Landcare Grants.
The boardwalk, to be completed by October, will provide access to an area affected by recent flooding.
Friends of Kings Billabong president Tressna Martin said boardwalks would be built between Sandy Crossing and the Walks carpark and the east side of Baggs Bridge.
"We are absolutely delighted about receiving the grant _ as volunteers, we are dependent on the generosity of other organisations to assist us to maintain and enhance such a tremendous community asset as Kings Billabong," Ms Martin said.
Camping free until park future decided
FREE summer camping is available at the former Bridgewater Public Caravan Park from this Saturday.
The interim accommodation will allow casual visitors a chance to stay but sites will not be serviced and bookings are necessary.
A camp ground supervisor will take bookings, collect boat ramp fees and manage the grounds.
The summer arrangements come as Loddon Shire calls for people to have their say on the design of the caravan park after floods destroyed facilities earlier this year.
The council has been working on park plans since July.
Submissions can be made until December 23.
