Cultural Precincts in Regional Victoria Win Funding

Regional Victoria has won funding for key community development projects from the Commonwealth.

The Federal Government has allocated $21.5 million in funding through the $400-million regional Precincts and Partnerships Program to projects outside the capital.

About 300km west of Melbourne, Hamilton’s Community and Cultural Precinct has been allocated $5 million to assist with the development of the Hamilton CBD, Community and Digital Hub, and the new Hamilton Gallery.

Southern Grampians Shire Council chief executive Tony Doyle said the funding would be used for project design, “and importantly shows a real belief and a commitment from the Federal Government to invest in the future of the Southern Grampians”.

“We know the Hamilton Community and Cultural Precinct has the capacity to grow not only our local economy but really cement our place as a must-stop destination on the tourism map.”

On the NSW—Victorian border $800,000 has been set aside for the Thompsons Beach and Kennedy Park Precinct Plan at Cobram to fund infrastructure, while $7.7 million has been allocated for infrastructure for the Mansfield Station Precinct Activation Project, 210km north-east of the capital.

▲ Mansfield Station Precinct in Victoria north-east.

It will include an all-abilities playground, accessible changing rooms and a bicycle pump track.

The Cowes Foreshore Precinct project will receive $8 million to connect the foreshore with retail, dining and accommodation uses.

There will also be one-way traffic upgrades, landscaping and signs on Thompson Avenue North and The Esplanade, 140km south of Melbourne.

▲ The Cowes Foreshore on Victoria’s Bass Coast will be redeveloped as a cultural precinct.

Other Victorian projects to have already received funding through the program for a total of $3.8 million include plans at Bendigo East, Swan Hill and Colac Otway.

More applications are being assessed.