Some 10,000 Melburnians are expected to attend the Regional Living Expo at the Melbourne
Convention and Exhibition Centre this weekend, Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional
and Rural Development Peter Ryan said today.  Read More

Work has begun on the $40.3 million project to connect Victoria’s largest unsewered town, Loch Sport, to a reticulated sewerage system.

Deputy Premier and Member for Gippsland South Peter Ryan visited Loch Sport on Friday to inspect the first construction works on the Loch Sport Sewer Project.

Mr Ryan said more than 1500 residences would receive reticulated sewerage when the project is completed in 2015.

The Victorian Coalition Government contributed $9.2 million towards the planning phase of the project, with the remainder provided by Gippsland Water.

“The project will provide significant benefits for Loch Sport residents, as well as the Gippsland Lakes and its users,” Mr Ryan said.

“This can only be a good thing for everyone who enjoys fishing, swimming and boating in the iconic Gippsland Lakes.

“This project will also end many years of community concern regarding the public health and environmental risk of more than 1500 septic tanks situated on small sandy blocks beside Lake Wellington.”

Mr Ryan said the project had been a long time coming through its conception, investigation and planning stages.

“Loch Sport is the third community in the Wellington Shire connected to sewerage by Gippsland Water through the Victorian Government’s Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program, alongside Seaspray and Coongulla /Glenmaggie,” Mr Ryan said.

“These projects are significant to the future development of the Wellington Shire.”

Media contact: Stephanie Nicholls 0437 108 870 stephanie.nicholls@parliament.vic.gov.au Read More

A project to better connect Mansfield and improve its liveability will soon
be completed with the help of $100,000 in Coalition Government funding,
announced today by Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes on behalf of the Deputy
Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan. 
 
Dr Sykes said Mansfield Shire was one of Victoria’s fastest growing rural
municipalities, attracting more than 1.2 million visitors annually and
boasting population growth of 18 per cent over 10 years. 

“The Mansfield Landscaping and Pathways to Connect Community project will
consolidate Mansfield’s place as a prime tourism and rural/residential
lifestyle destination, supporting social and economic growth in the
community,” Dr Sykes said. 

“The project will improve key areas of public open space in the township,
building on its physical features and liveability. 

“Works will include improvements to the Botanical Gardens and the town
amenities used most by residents and tourists alike. 

“The project is consistent with Mansfield Shire’s strategic plans and
policies in relation to the preservation and enhancement of the key
characteristics of the town, which make it a prime tourism and lifestyle
destination.” 

Mansfield Shire Council’s Mayor, Cr Russell Bate said, “This particular
funding allows council to undertake works at Mansfield Botanic Park that
will make the Park more enjoyable for locals and visitors. In particular it
will allow the development of a series of connecting pathways that will
inter-connect community centres of activities around the greater Mansfield
township area.” 

Mr Ryan said the Victorian Coalition Government funding towards the $152,000 project
would be provided through the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund’s Putting
Locals First Program to Mansfield Shire Council, who will contribute the
remaining funding. 

“Putting Locals First is a $100 million initiative designed to enable
regional communities to plan and deliver the services and infrastructure to
meet local priorities,” Mr Ryan said. 

“It is supporting stronger and more sustainable regional communities by
building their capacity to drive development in their region.” 

The Mansfield Landscaping and Pathways to Connect Community project is
expected to be completed in October 2014. 

For more information about the Putting Locals First program, please visit
www.rdv.vic.gov.au/putting-locals-first  Read More

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan
today announced Coles Supermarkets as one of the official sponsors of the
2013 Regional Victoria Living Expo in Melbourne on Friday 19 to Sunday 21
April. Read More

A $1.2 million renovation of the Sacred Heart Mission dining hall and kitchen in St Kilda will ensure more than 180,000 meals continue to be served each year to people who are homeless and disadvantaged.  Read More

New property-based levy to take effect from July 2013 Reform to reduce costs for households and businesses  Read More