Brumby Labor Government funding of $124,905 to develop modern facilities at Minyip Wetlands will encourage more visitors and provide a restful social environment for residents, the Member for Northern Victoria Region, Candy Broad said today in Minyip.
Ms Broad said the Brumby Labor Government’s Small Towns Drought Program is providing $124,905 to Yarriambiack Shire Council for the $172,450 project, which will include:
- Construction of a pedestrian bridge and all-weather parking area;
- Barbecue, shelter, picnic tables and seating
- Bench seating along the walking track
- Amenities block with toilets, showers and a disabled toilet, and.
- Powered camping sites
“Twelve years of drought have severely affected the Minyip community, and the Minyip Wetlands Travellers’ Rest Development will provide social, economic and tourism benefits to the local and wider community,” Ms Broad said.
“In encouraging visitors to stay longer, it will help diversify and increase regional income to be less dependent on agriculture, and support community-owned enterprises such as Emma’s Café.
“It will provide jobs and activities for local residents – all goods and services for this project will be sourced locally, with local contractors to be engaged for the works.
“It will promote eco-tourism with a landscape design that brings out Minyip’s natural assets.
“The community of Minyip has identified this project as its priority.
“That tremendous community support is demonstrated by the amount of voluntary labour and equipment to be supplied by the community,” Ms Broad said.
“This project will also provide a quiet, peaceful area for the local community to enjoy for community barbecues, social gatherings, or family recreation, all of which foster social inclusion and interaction.”
Ms Broad said small towns like Minyip need infrastructure that encourages social inclusion and interaction, particularly in these harder times of drought and economic uncertainty.”
Regional and Rural Development Minister, Jacinta Allan said the grant for the Minyip Wetlands Travellers’ Rest Development is being provided under the Small Towns Drought Program as part of the Brumby Labor Government’s Small Towns Development Fund initiative through Regional Development Victoria.
Yarriambiack Shire Council is providing $37,500 funding and in-kind community contributions $10,000.
Ms Allan said the project typified fund initiatives which were making a big difference to drought-affected towns in provincial Victoria.
The fund has helped develop 436 community and social infrastructure projects.