COMMUNITY groups in Stawell will benefit from a major redevelopment of heritage buildings on the Western Highway.
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A $1 million investment will link the former courthouse, now home to the Stawell Historical Society, with the Northern Grampians Shire Council municipal offices. This will create a vibrant civic precinct, while at the same time preserving two of the town's most loved historic buildings.
The project will be funded by a $500,000 grant from the State Government through the Regional Growth Fund, along with a $400,000 investment from the Northern Grampians Shire Council and $100,000 from the Stawell Historical Society.
Deputy Premier Peter Ryan was joined at the funding announcement on Tuesday by Nationals candidate for Ripon, Scott Turner, Liberal candidate for Ripon, Louise Staley and Member for Western Victoria Region, David O'Brien.
Mr Ryan said the project would develop the space between the former courthouse and the municipal building, linking the two to form a community precinct for exhibitions, displays, public meetings and conferences.
The precinct will include:
* A gallery, meeting room, function space and conference area.
* Historical document library including research facility.
* Storage and display facilities for historical records, including climate controlled document storage.
Mr Ryan said the new facility was located on the Western Highway in a high traffic area, which would appeal to businesses looking to hold product or service displays, conferences and regional meetings.
"This is a terrific local project and one we are very proud to support," Mr Ryan said.
"This project will open up new opportunities for community events and will be well used by many and varied community groups and local schools.
"It is a project that is at the heart of many and has been driven hard by the community for many years."
Mr Ryan said the heritage preservation of the buildings was a key aspect of the development.
"There is a wonderful aspect of heritage about this precinct and it is very important that we preserve that heritage," he said.
"I think it will be a magnificent outcome and it is critical for the future age groups, that we retain these heritage buildings.
"To have the two buildings co-located lends itself to the growth of the project. It is a terrific project and again adds mass to a place like Stawell.
"We are all aware of the competition that exists for regions to attract people, have them stop and spend some of their hard earned money in the town. This all adds mass to the attraction that Stawell will have to bring these people here."
Mr Ryan said while the government and Northern Grampians Shire Council had provided the bulk of the funding, a large slice of the judos for securing the project and the investment, belonged to the Stawell Historical Society.
"In this day and age when there are many financial pressures on communities and individuals coming from many different angles, to have a group of dedicated locals raise $100,000 to support this investment is a truly impressive feat," Mr Ryan said.
"Today's announcement is reward for effort for these dedicated locals and they should take a lot of pride in what they have achieved."
Mr Ryan said it was important that the community and those groups involved, understood that the project was being funded and the announcement was not just an election promise.
"There are no what ifs or buts, the money is there and the project is funded," Mr Ryan said.
"It is not an election commitment, this project is funded and I expect to see work get underway very shortly."
It is expected the precinct will be completed by early 2016.