Motorcycle riders in Wangaratta learning how to get on their bikes safely may soon be able to get lessons in the city.
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For the past 10 years, the RideSmart Motorcycle Training course has been conducted out of the Wangaratta Airport on Greta Road, where a section of the car park was set up for lessons.
A planning application lodged with Wangaratta Council has revealed the training program now has to move out of the airport.
The new location proposed is a vacant lot on Gibson Street, in an industrial estate to the south east of the Wangaratta township.
"The proposal will have no adverse effect on the amenity of the area as the surrounding area is for the use of industrial development," the application stated.
"The proposed motorcycle training centre is considered to be an essential service that needs to be retained within the region to ensure the future safety of motorcycle riders on our roads."
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RideSmart is a VicRoads accredited training program providing classes for new and experienced riders.
The proposal is to move the portable classroom and toilet block to the Gibson Street site.
Wangaratta Airport is about to undergo a major upgrade, including the construction of two commercial hangars.
Meanwhile, the council held a special meeting on Monday night to finalise its 2018-19 financial statement.
Councillors ticked off on carrying forward $3.05 million of its capital works budget to the current 2019-20 financial year.
This included $671,893 for Wangaratta's new pool development, $558,172 for the organics processing plant and $299,949 for roadworks.
Cr Ken Clarke said he was happy for the money to be shifted, "knowing that those projects have been carried forward and will be carried out in this financial year".
He said he was also happy with the $3.6 million surplus, while still completing the jobs they wanted to during the year.
"I think it's a very good result for the city this year," he said.
The performance statement for the last financial year revealed the amount of grants received by the council dropped for the second year in a row due to a decrease in recurrent federal funding for the roads to recovery program.
Mayor Dean Rees thanked councillors Clarke and Mark Currie for their accounting knowledge, giving him the confidence to sign off on the documents.
