New projects boosting tourism in the macedon ranges

The Macedon Ranges will be an even better place for locals and visitors to enjoy thanks to a new investment by the Andrews Labor Government to help the region continue to thrive.

Minister for Regional Development and Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas today visited Trentham to announce a grant of $3.5 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund – Stimulus Round towards a new multipurpose community hub to be built at the site of the town’s Mechanics Institute.

The new hub will include the town’s library, visitor information centre, customer service, meeting and function rooms, and the Mechanics Institute’s original main hall.

The Labor Government is also investing another $500,000 under the Fund’s stimulus round for the first stage of the Wombat Hill Gardens Master Plan to transform the location into a tourism hotspot. The funding will help revitalise the historic Daylesford gardens which overlook the town and surrounding areas.

The Regional Infrastructure Fund is part of the Labor Government’s flagship $156 million Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund, helping businesses create more jobs in regional Victoria, supporting community projects and backing councils to build the infrastructure that locals and visitors need.

The stimulus round will boost local economies as they recover from the effects of the pandemic and create jobs while improving tourism and community infrastructure.

The fund is key to the Labor Government’s $8 billion investment across regional and rural Victoria unveiled in the Victorian Budget 2020/21 to support communities to come back stronger than ever.

The second round of the fund’s program is due to open for applications from 16 June. Under this competitive round, local regional and rural councils will be invited to apply for grants.

Information and guidelines for the Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund can be found at rdv.vic.gov.au.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development and Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas
"The Macedon Ranges is a stunning part of our state that locals love and visitors flock to – these investments will make the region an even better place to live, work, visit and invest."

"These projects will deliver immediate benefits by creating jobs and increasing economic activity. This round of the Regional Infrastructure Fund will ensure Victoria continues to have our nation’s most vibrant regional economies."