Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy was joined by Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh in Wangaratta last week to announce the Liberal Nationals’ plan for a $200 million Regional Tourism Fund.
Mr McCurdy called on the Andrews Government to establish the fund, with re-opening the iconic Mount Buffalo Chalet one local project that could be funded.
“The Labor Government really must show it cares about regional Victoria and not just
Melbourne by giving us our fair share,” Mr McCurdy said.
“The Mount Buffalo Chalet has been crying out for proper funding for years in order for the much-loved Grand Old Lady to be returned to her former glory and reach its potential once again.
“The Price Waterhouse Coopers report identified proposals for reinvigorating the chalet that included a café and glass-bottomed walkway at the gorge – now is the time to make those ideas a reality with this funding.
“The chalet survived this summer’s bushfires with CFA volunteers protecting the building around the clock but people fear the chalet is being left to rot under Labor.”
Mr McCurdy said the region was hit very hard during the summer bushfires with nearly a 100 per cent loss in tourism and before there was a chance to recover from that, coronavirus hit.
“This funding really is required to help our local tourism businesses recover and to stimulate our regional economy after the bushfires and COVID-19,” Mr McCurdy said.
Mr Walsh, who is also the Shadow Minister for Regional Victoria and Decentralisation, said the fund was part of the Liberal Nationals’ plan to get Victorians back in work and back to business.
“Our country communities and small businesses have been hit hard by drought, bushfires and now the coronavirus pandemic,” Mr Walsh said.
“Tens-of-thousands of regional Victorians who rely on their jobs in the tourism sector to pay the bills and put food on the table are counting on the Andrews Government to get them back to work and back in business.”
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