Upgrades to community halls, sports facilities, walking trails and improvements to power sources are on the way for Indi, through $2.69 million in Local Economic Recovery projects announced this week.
Six Indi based bushfire recovery projects have been approved in the first round of local community grants under the Local Economic Recovery program, which is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments. The projects are among 15 approved across Victoria, worth a total of $5.1 million.
Wodonga-based Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie said all six projects had been put forward by the community, with funding focused on local solutions to local needs.
“These projects have been identified by the people of Indi and will make a big difference locally, creating spaces for us to build community cohesion and also to gather in times of crisis,” she said.
“Improvements to recreation facilities will be drawcards for year round tourism, and power upgrades will ensure key community assets can continue to operate during outages.”
- More than $470,000 will be invested in the Walwa Services Memorial Hall Revitalisation Project, supporting upgrades to the building’s utilities and standalone emergency refuge functions so it has the necessary amenities and facilities required for an emergency relief centre.
- More than $540,000 will be invested in the Towong Soldiers “Our Place” project, to refurbish the Towong Soldiers Memorial Hall, including upgrades to make the hall a more accessible and comfortable meeting place.
- $800,000 will be invested in the Upper Murray Place Based Power Plan – Energy Nodes Project to help protect against power outages in various towns across Towong Shire. The project will help install Energy Nodes (consisting of solar power, batteries, generators and smart energy controllers) for key community assets.
- More than $380,000 will be invested in the Game, Set, Match – Corryong Tennis Hub project. The project will upgrade the facility to an eight-court central tennis hub for the Upper Murray region that can accommodate more players in one location, offer adult and children’s tournaments, and host a summer competition.
- More than $295,000 will support the Kergunyah Hall Upgrades project to allow greater inclusion for elderly, less mobile community members or those with a disability. The work includes upgrading the kitchen to allow for catering for community events (when allowed) and in times of crisis, and improving accessibility access to the whole hall.
- $189,000 will go to the Jean Francois Rupp Ta Alpine Nature Experience, to help improve the current surface and drainage on Possum loop track and Dargo lookout trail. The work will allow use of the trail all year round, encouraging more visitors to the region.
These projects are the latest to be announced as part of a joint investment of $68.6 million in Local Economic Recovery, jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments to support locally led bushfire recovery initiatives. The money is already funding five Victorian projects announced in October and $8 million in programs for Victoria to grow jobs, create apprenticeships, attract more visitors and help farmers.
Funding for LER projects is just one of the initiatives supported by the Australian Government’s National Bushfire Recovery Fund, which is worth more than $2 billion. To date, more than $1.8 billion in Australian Government support has been provided to help bushfire affected communities, including $1.2 billion spent so far from the National Bushfire Recovery Fund.
Details of successful local economic recovery projects in Victoria are available on the National Bushfire Recovery Agency website at www.bushfirerecovery.gov.au/local-recovery-projects.
For information about future rounds of the Local Economic Recovery program in Victoria, visit www.vic.gov.au/local-economic-recovery-program-bushfire-affected-communities.