Victoria’s south-west region is a top location for career opportunities in the retail, professional
and construction services, Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development
Peter Ryan said today.  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 State Development and Regional and Rural
Development Peter Ryan today met with regional business leaders in Geelong
about the economic opportunities and challenges facing the region and wider
Victoria.

Mr Ryan said the forum was a chance for local business leaders to offer
feedback about investment; workforce development; export facilitation;
government policy and local issues.

“The forum is about what we can do to support the productivity and
competitiveness of the region. This includes new projects and ideas that
will strengthen economic development, industry sustainability and
investment attraction,” Mr Ryan said.

“The Geelong forum concludes a state-wide series of six forums to engage
with key regional business leaders that I launched in Bendigo last year.

“A key part of the Coalition Government’s business engagement strategy is
to build enduring relationships with individual businesses to promote
productivity and export development.

“We are also encouraging individual businesses to take part in our Super
Trade Missions to markets including China, India and the Middle East, as
well as focusing on the future of Geelong and the South West through the $1
billion Regional Growth Fund which is helping to manage the impact of
change and plan for long-term diversification and economic growth.

“The Regional Growth Fund has provided $15 million towards the Geelong
Library and Heritage Project, $7 million to the new Regional and Community
Health Hub building at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus in Geelong,
and we have also created the $15 million Geelong Development Fund,” Mr Ryan
said.

Mr Ryan said the Coalition Government had contributed $65 million to
Section 4B of the recently completed Geelong Ring Road, $85.5 million
towards Princes Highway duplication between Waurn Ponds and Winchelsea, and
$5 million so far towards a rail link to Avalon Airport, as well as $25
million for the Doug Wade Stand at Simonds Stadium.

“We are determined to further enhance the economy of Geelong and the South
West,” Mr Ryan said.

Media contact: Ben Bulmer 0437 547 731 ben.bulmer@minstaff.vic.gov.au  Read More

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