NATIONALS Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty delivered a significant funding boost to assist Halls Gap and the Grampians region as a whole with bushfire recovery.
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Visiting Stawell and Halls Gap on Monday, Mr Delahunty committed $310,000 in bushfire recovery funding for the region.
Mr Delahunty, who was accompanied by The Nationals candidates Scott Turner for Ripon and Emma Kealy for Lowan, said $185,000 would be made available for Grampians bushfire economic recovery and a further $125,000 for Halls Gap recovery.
Mr Delahunty said he was delighted that the Victorian Coalition Government was continuing its commitment to helping fire-impacted communities in the Grampians.
He said the $185,000 in funding would be for a strategy to support the region's recovery, growth and sustainability, while the $125,000 has been provided for initiatives to attract more tourists to the area.
"The funding will be provided through the Victorian Government's 2014 Bushfires Economic Recovery Fund," Mr Delahunty said.
"The aim of the $1.2 million Bushfires Economic Recovery Fund is to support the recovery of communities affected by bushfires in January and February 2014 by stimulating economic activity.
"The Victorian Government recognises that economic recovery is often integral to the recovery of communities following natural disasters such as bushfires, particularly in those areas where the disaster has had a clear economic impact."
Mr Delahunty said the Victorian Coalition Government funding towards the $185,000 Grampians Tourism Bushfire Response and Recovery (GTBRR) Strategy 2014 would be provided to Grampians Tourism Board, which would contribute $18,500.
"The 2014 Bushfires Economic Recovery Fund is supporting initiatives such as tourism promotion, buy-local marketing campaigns, small infrastructure and streetscape projects and community development initiatives," he said.
"These initiatives will help build confidence in fire-affected communities and help accelerate the recovery process."
Nationals candidate for Lowan Emma Kealy said the strategy will recognise and promote key destinations in the Grampians Tourism region as 'Open for Business' and ensure the distribution of clear consistent messaging.
"As well as preparing the region for the coming fire season, the project will specifically address tourism and economic issues experienced by the directly impacted towns of Wartook and Halls Gap," Ms Kealy said.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan said the $125,000 investment in Bushfire Economic Recovery for Halls Gap would support the Northern Grampians Shire.
"The project will involve holding at least two events specific to Halls Gap as well as increasing participation in existing events. It will also complete the rail trail and associated infrastructure from Mt Dryden to Stawell and link to other trails in Halls Gap for greater connectivity," Mr Ryan said.
Northern Grampians Shire Council will be contributing $20,000 towards the project that will not only encourage more tourists to visit Halls Gap, but will complement and enhance existing tourism assets in and around the Northern Grampians.
