Mr Pallas will visit the abattoirs at 11am and then head to Lake Fyans where he will turn a sod at the Lake Fyans south bank development project at 12.15pm.

Mr Pallas is the second high-profile state government minister to visit Stawell in recent weeks, after Agriculture and Regional Development Minister Jaala Pulford travelled to the town on January 4 to announce a new jobs website and visit the site of the proposed Stawell Nectar Farm.

The visits by Ms Pulford and Mr Pallas follow a decision to cease operations at Stawell Gold Mines late last year, which has left up to 150 workers without a job.